SOLOMON at the pet store

Today SOLOMON and visited every pet store in town-literally. The reason is because I wanted to test him. I've been working him on the gentle leader since Azalea Festival (where his heeling was less that desirable due to all the chaos). He learned how to accept it quickly and has been an absolute ANGEL when using it. That's why I wanted to test him. In the past, the pet store (any pet store) has been a bit more of a challenge than he can successfully handle. Well, I am proud to report that he handled them all (4 stores) very well today. For all the skeptics out there, I was very careful not to hold him tightly. I don't believe a dog is really doing well until he has a choice between the distraction and doing the right thing-and he chooses to do the right thing without my persuasion. So, he was kept on a nice loose lead while I held just enough of the leash so he wouldn't trip. He did beautifully!! Dog food isles, cat food isles, toy isles, bowls, leashes, you name it-he did it. He did need a few light reminders (he's not perfect yet) but was very successful. More so than ever before. He had the most difficult time with birds. Small birds in glass cages sitting at his level so he could see them. He didn't pull, they just wigged him out a little bit. He wasn't quite sure what to make of them. He needed "leave it" reminders when walking on rugs (they just hold so much scent that it's hard for him to ignore) and a couple times when he thought he would get a pet (whenever he thinks he'll get a pet he gets distracted and wiggly in excitement). In one pet store, as soon as you enter the door, there's an isle about two feet wide and it's lined on either side of three layers of bins full of every kind of dog treat and and rawhide imaginable. SOLOMON passed by without even a sniff!!! YAHOO!



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