Finally! Training is getting fun

Moto is finally understanding about the dumbbell, and that he has to take it whenever I say, whever we are. We have a 100% success rate now (10 X/day) whever we are in the house, front yard or back yard so it's time to take the show on the road, or rather a park setting with mild distractions. The dumbbell is getting lower and lower and pretty soon we will finally have a retrieve....couldn't happen soon enough.
Gosh his heeling is coming along beautifully. So is his attention. He understands going deep for his swing finish. I made a little box out of PVC pipe like in Laurie's video and am having him do his signals in it, and that is where he goes, turns and sits for go-outs. Once he decides he wants to learn, he learns very fast. And above all - GREAT attitude. I am really thrilled as huge progress is made each day.
Even bigger strides have been made in tracking. After a month off our trainer laid a regulation-length TD track. The corners were marked but I did not know which direction they went. Only once did Moto stop and quit. It was a very difficult corner where an off-road vehicle had been earlier, with deep ruts which got him lost. Once he was lost, he just turned and sat and looked at me. I gave him the start article to smell again, led him to the turn and off he went. Other than that he did very, very well. We are getting closer and closer to certification!
The sad part of this post is I don't think I will ever be able to compete with Blitz. After training him regularly (short periods) and taking him to class, he has slipped downhill. Sores are on his legs and head and once again his skin is "creepy crawly". He is having trouble eating his soft food breakfast and once again is the last one to finish eating. My theory is he puts so much into his work - such excitement and energy - that it drains him from fighting his battle against this disease. So, my beautiful Prancing Puppy will have to prance just for me. I sure wish the world could have seen this amazing dog. At least the You Tube video will always be out there, a happy reminder of what could have been.
Other than that it is a beautiful sunny Sunday, with highs in the 40's. I'm completely exhausted as like Oprah, I don't sleep well these days and last night was really really bad. I've trained Moto, played with all the dogs, everyone did their special "job" (Dusty got the morning paper, Blitz helped with the Laundry, Shiloh retrieved the ball, and Daisy led in a fence game we play). All poopsicles are safely in the poop bucket with a nice tight lid Moto cannot open. Dogs are sacked out. I think I will curl up with a nice book and a latte and enjoy this glorious lazy day - there are never enough like this!