Stuart's Big Breakthrough

Since getting Stuart back in June - Florida has been hot enough that the house is closed up with the a.c. on. Finally the weather is cooling off and it was time to turn the a.c. off - and open up the house - the entire back is made of big sliding glass panels. Which leaves Stuart total access to the pool on the lanai - so how to keep him out. I tried to teach him that if his collar was ON then the pool was off limits but it didn't work very well as I was not as consistent as I should have been, clearly not his fault. In an act of desperation I took one of our free standing gates that I have used to separate off the back hallway. Guess what? Stuart gets it!!! Even though he clearly could walk right around the gate or get in from either side of the shallow end and get right in. Stuart has been attending a Good Manners Training Class and he is just a rock star there too. Stuart is just so cute and goofy acting but he is proving that he is also a smart boy - good job Stuart!!!

You can see the gate and that he could totally just get right in.Here is Stuart checking out the spa.

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Permalink Reply by Joanne ~ Spud* on October 21, 2011 at 6:27am

Good boy. Impossible feat for sure to train him NOT to just jump right in that beautiful pool. He is looking really handsome I might add!

Permalink Reply by Sharon & Monty on October 21, 2011 at 6:30am

Smart little man! Three cheers for Stuart.

Permalink Reply by Jane, Guinness and Murphy on October 21, 2011 at 6:40am

Good boy Stuart! Jane, he's a big beautiful boy!

Permalink Reply by Jane, Rooney & Stuart on October 21, 2011 at 6:48am

He is a cutie pie isn't he? LOL - NOT that I'm prejudiced or anything ;) You can't really see it but he has 3 white feet and white on his chest. He isn't the most doodly looking - just kinda goofy - but I ADORE him! I kiss that black nose 20 times a day at least.

Permalink Reply by Leslie and Halas on October 21, 2011 at 8:11am

I think he's getting very doodly looking!

Permalink Reply by Leslie and Halas on October 21, 2011 at 6:42am

What a smart boy! He's really getting his doodley look, isn't he?

When I had my husky, we lived in an apartment with a fenced in patio/grass area. The fence was only about 30 inches high, but he never jumped over it. He could practically hang over it and put his front feet on the other side, but he never went over. He just knew that was his boundary. Stuart must be figuring out the same thing with the barricade in front of the pool.

Permalink Reply by Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom on October 21, 2011 at 6:53am

Wow, he really has grown a lot. He certainly is getting his Doodle on! It is amazing all it takes sometimes to keep them from doing something. Also interesting what works for one would never work for another. We had one foster that could jump our extra tall baby gate standing flat footed. It has never occurred to Lucy and Sophie to even try and jump over it. Should this stop working, there is a add on that the "invisible fence" brand fence company has (not sure about others) that can be used indoors to keep them out of particular areas of the house so something like that might be an option. Hopefully though since he understands the boundary this is all it takes for you.

Permalink Reply by Cindy M, Zachary & the Frenchies on October 21, 2011 at 6:56am