Hey there! This is Heather checking in with an update on my Kai’s progress. A member of our family for a little over 11 weeks now, Kai just graduated from his introductory level training course at Pet Smart. Our Pet Smart trainer, Sue Doyle, provided us with a lot of commentary, individual instruction and friendly support as we helped Kai overcome some of his issues, worries and drawbacks.
For those of you just joining in the Story of Kai, you can see how we acquired our new family member and what happened in the first few weeks by visiting A Story of Kai (Part I) and A Story of Kai (Part II). As I mentioned in those entries, we signed Kai up for an Introduction to Training Course at our local Pet Smart. The staff at both the Pet Smart and the Banfield Veterinary Hospital were both fantastic as we sorted through Kai’s issues.
On Wednesday, April 5th, Kai graduated from his introduction class. He showed knowledge of sit, stay, down and sneak. Yes, I said sneak. Sneak is a little trick that he is still learning, but basically once your dog in is the down position and laying forward. Sneak has them scuttle forward on their belly – like they are sneaking forward.
In the first few weeks that we had Kai with us, we were intensely wary of letting him near the front door. He didn’t understand not to bolt and twice he ran straight for the road. At the end of his introductory training, he was sitting two feet away from the door and waiting when it opened.
He also mastered the command Leave It and that command is worth the entire course alone. He no longer tries to snatch food off plates, out of the trash can or even items like shoes off the floor when we’ve told him to leave it. He’s also learning wait when we need him to not dive at the food or water bowls when they are being filled.
On Saturday, April 2, just three days before his graduation – Kai began Intermediate Training at Pet Smart. Sue Doyle is still our trainer and she’s as delighted with Kai’s progress as we are. He’s still learning manners around other dogs, but he’s figuring out the commands of Heel and Come when he is called.
Oh, and a footnote to Kai’s health – he now weighs in at a strong 48 pounds. He’s blown his old coat entirely and now possesses a softer, finer coat that is healthier looking. He’s doing great and he’s no longer just a rescue case; he’s a full-fledged member of the family who is behaving as one.