Well, our third visit with TK rolled around for this past Sunday, and I honestly couldn't believe that it had been 2 weeks since we had last seen him!
These past two weeks, TK has been learning "FORCED FETCH". It sounds awful, and Trainer Matt says that most dogs think it is, but they all get through it {and of course, it doesn't harm them at all}. Forced Fetch is basically training TK to fetch up anything that is asked of him. Trainer Matt always uses his hat as an example. If his hat blows off of his head, he should be able to use his name as a command to pick the hat up. This is useful in a duck blind when the wind blows your hat into the water!
Although Trainer Matt said that TK hadn't had a good week, TK still clings to his side, and that's the way it ought to be. He knows when Trainer Matt means business and when it's play time. Even though they haven't had a good week, Trainer Matt assured us that it was all part of it.
He said that TK has a "soft mouth", which is also good of a retrieving dog. You want them to have a soft mouth because they won't puncture your harvested game.
This is a photo of TK being asked to "PLACE" in a place where he wasn't all that comfortable. However, he did what was asked of him... reluctantly.
TK missed Matt, of course! I think of all of us who visit, he enjoys seeing Matt the most. I'm glad that he does because despite what I may like to think sometimes -- He IS Matt's dog! :)
Daddy didn't get to go with us last time, so he went with us this time & Mom stayed home. This is the struggle you face when your biggest vehicle is an SUV & three full grown men want to go!
TK also has another milestone as of today! He turned 6 months old today!! WOOT!
He's halfway grown, and I happen to think he looks a lot like his cousin Marlee here!
While TK spends a lot of time "working" or "learning", he still loves to play. Even though we have seen some significant changes in his maturity, he still hosts a ton of puppy inside. I forgot to mention that last time we visited, someone said something and we all began to laugh, and when TK heard that, he started running around and jumping {playing}. It was too cute! We had gotten him excited just by him hearing our laughter.
In this photo, he and Matt are playing some sort of patty-cake!
Also this week, TK got a familiar new roommate added to the group! His sister, one of the two Sadie's of the litter, joined TK for the next 2 months as she goes through Obedience and Retrieving training! It was so neat to see her. I know in my last post I mentioned that TK was beginning to look a lot like his dad, and his sister looks just like Jenny Claire {her mom} to me.
We are good friends with Sadie's owners, and I talked to one of them yesterday & she said that Jenny Claire was really missing Sadie. {They were also the breeders! So, they kept Sadie!} I can only imagine what Jenny Claire is thinking about where Sadie is!
They're in really good hands, rest assured!
Leaving TK wasn't hard to do Sunday. I think it's easier knowing how attached he is to Trainer Matt, and I really believe that he was sad the first time we visited, as he stayed really close to us, but the last time and this time it seemed more like maybe he understands what's going on. He still remembers us, but he knows that he's not leaving with us yet!
Truth be known, it will probably be sad when we DO bring him home! I have looked forward to the roadtrip, the fellowship with Trainer Matt, and the anticipation of learning about what TK has learned.
I guess that means we will just have to get another one to take to Trainer Matt soon.
:)
just kidding....
All in all, I am still so impressed with what Trainer Matt is able to do with those labradors. I am thankful that he is so sweet to TK and that TK clearly loves him. Matt has been so impressed with things that Trainer Matt has said about TK and his potential, and I think that has really given Matt the reassurance he needs to keep TK there while he fights the urge to bring him home.
We all miss him. We all think about him and talk about him, and I can't wait to readjust to what life will be like when he's back here. All will be well!
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