Good news on the housebreaking front, as Rowdy recently had a whole day of sitting by the deck door every time he needed to go out. Whether due to his baby bladder or the fun of the new In-and-Out game, he “needed” to go out every 15 minutes between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm, but hope outweighed hassle, and I was happy to accommodate if it meant dry rugs and clean floors.

I don’t expect we’re out of the potty puddle woods yet, but suspect we’ve slogged our way through the heaviest thicket – definitely see a light in the forest.

We started Puppy Kindergarten and like many youngsters, Rowdy’s favorite class is recess – the 10 minutes at the beginning of the session during which the puppies are free to act like puppies. He loves the wrestling matches, being taken down more often than he takes down, though he’s one of the bigger boys in the group.

After a short break, which generally turns into a outdoor recess extension and an opportunity to slop drinking water across the training room floor, we practice some basic obedience skills. It’s all positive fun, with much string cheese and hot dog, and Rowdy willingly participates in any activity that involves feeding his starving belly.

Because neither of us fosters much tolerance for dull drills, I try to work obedience activities into our everyday life. He sits to get a treat, and stays in a sit to have his leash snapped on. Walking without pulling is an epic work in progress, but shows potential as long as I dangle the proverbial carrot. Kibble crumbs in my left pocket have been replaced with a stick of string cheese which can be nibbled on the move.

We’re a long way from finished, but thanks to the food and the little bit of core strength I’ve managed to muster out of my yoga class, my shoulders are still in their sockets and my knees remain scrape-free.