He's a Pwah-di-jee!

I find myself talking baby talk to my puppy. The above is my latest statement to him after our fun training session this morning. Pinch really is getting the deeper concepts of our training games. This morning's big breakthrough was the "find it" game. This consists of manila folders set up randomly (thanks Renee!) with a treat underneath one of them. I'd been doing this already using tiny tupperware bowls but I think the folders are much cooler as it better hides the treat. We did the game in a new area (inside the basement) and I had about 10 folders up. Bless the little guy, he put his nose down and sniffed and sniffed until he found his treat. The biggest thrill was when a folder was knocked over. Unfortunately it was the one that had the treat, which was now underneath. Pinch realized this and used his problem-solving skills: he used his paws to move the folder, then stuck his head the rest of the way under and got the treat. GOOD BOY!
I've changed up the way I train Moto in the hopes of getting more out of him in the ring. It's exhausting but it's doing quick dynamic exercises in rapid succession. We're constantly in motion and maybe there's treats and maybe not until we're all done. A toy may be hidden under my arm and suddenly appear. Even setting up is fun (I hope) quick and dynamic, incorporating Rally moves as we go from one station to the next. We both have our tongues hanging out after these sessions. Everything is coming along but the danged broad jump exercise. I cannot figure out why sometimes he'll do the exercise beautifully, walk over the jump, or run around it. It's totally random. I thought if we did the BJ every day we'd get over this quirk but it's still there. Doesn't matter if it's at home or somewhere else, I still get this random behavior. Everything else is coming along nicely, thank you.
Today is my day off and it's a gorgeous summer day. I may make it a true summer day by bathing some Shelties. Nothing is more fun than five wet Shelties careening around the back yard. Yes, I'm being sarcastic! But it's high time they had a bath and Pinch needs to get used to it if he's going to be a conformation boy. Plus I could use the exercise.