This dog politely told me he was done

Every Monday, I drive three hours round trip to train Shiloh (fka: Monstro: Essex/Razar).

Today, I want to share what a joy it is that Shiloh lives close so I can still see him.

What a pure, innocent, loving soul he is!

Shiloh is learning how to be a mobility service dog.

He began his training as an adult after being retired from breeding at around one and a half years old.

So he is learning to become a service dog as a young adult, not a puppy.

Training an older dog is a little different than starting with a puppy.

There minds have matured some, and they can think through more difficult problems.

Shiloh definitely still has a goofy side, but his mind is able to connect tasks to one another much easier than a puppy.

For example, Shiloh has been learning to find and stay in “heel position” no matter where I move.

I teach service dogs to heel much differently than I would teach a pet dog.

Service dogs need to be sure about their proper placement when out in public, no matter what happens.

A good service dog will have zero confusion and fit seamlessly into a person’s daily routines.

This takes a very regimented and comprehensive training style, where the dog is an active participant in its own learning.

Dogs trained this way use a LOT of mental brainpower.

You should have seen Shiloh today!

He was the cutest, tired-out service dog in training (SDiT) you ever did see!

We worked on:

1. right turns
2. left turns
3. downs from a distance
4. sits from a distance
5. backing up
6. walking in heel
7. long sit stay
8. long down stay

and so much more!

When it was time to go in after another break, I thought it might be a good idea to do a few more repetitions in the garage to make sure he understood the new concepts in a different location.

Boy, were we in for a surprise!

As polite as possible, Shiloh told us he was done with training for today.

It was SO CUTE I had to post it on YouTube.

https://youtube.com/shorts/PXxzk4Fwkgc

Jennifer Stoeckl is the co-founder of the Dire Wolf Project, founder of the DireWolf Guardians American Dirus Dog Training Program, and owner/operator of DireWolf Dogs of Vallecito. She lives in the beautiful inland northwest among the Ponderosa pine forests with her pack of American Dirus dogs.