Bella (service dog APBT)

My new friend, companion, and service dog in training is a 14 month old American Pit Bull Terrier.  She is a very quick learner and is already opening the door so i can get into the house.  That's not bad for being with me a little over a month.  Shady and Coco get along with Bella nicely and Shady is even learning how to play. 


We have been to the pet store and other stores close by which is nice for training and just getting out for a change of pace.  She is very polite although a bit too friendly.  I don't mind if she is friendly as long as i give her the ok.  She can;t be distracted when she is working. It's just part of the job.  After Bella gets more experience, and when I give her permission, she will be able to say hello to people and dogs and other critters.


I'll keep you posted on her progress.

2/15/2011
We are making progress!
Bells is now opening the outside door for the laundry room which is nice because I don't have to wait for her and Shady to let me know they are ready to come in.  I was surprised one day to find them insode when i was reletively certain I hadn't let them in.  I tested this and found that even after making sure the door was latched and couldn't be pushed open they still got in.  Ok, it was a fluk, or was it.  When this happened again, i decided to watch and see what happens.  Well, you guessed it!  Bella opened the door.  She is a self taught door opening canine.  I like a thinking dog especially one who wants the job of being a service dog.


She is getting very good at laying down on command as well as when ever I stop for more than 20 to 60 seconds.  When i find a place for us to relax she is very quiet, relaxed, and content to lay next to me.  When someone stops to say hello she is eager to say hello but waits for permission to do this, and when I'm ready to go do something again she is pleased to be active with me.  I can't ask for anything any better than this.  There are times when I do not give permission for Bella to say hello to people.  This is when they would prefer to not have interaction with a dog.  She takes this well and ignores them; which is what she should do unless directed to do a task for me.  As long as she doesn't get distracted and is doing what she is supposed to do, she can do what ever she wants as long as i say it is ok.


Some other tasks Bella has learned is "paw" and "other paw"  Which will help when I need her to use her right or left paw to do something,  to hold an object in her mouth until I'm ready to take it from her, and to come onto my lap when asked so that I can do something with her or get something from her.  There are still many, many things for her to learn.