Since there is a lot to say about an adoptable dog who has been in foster care for more than a couple weeks, I’m breaking this into a few posts.
If you want to see cute pictures of Eddie, go here. To see Part I, go here. To see Part II, go here.
Training
Eddie knows a number of commands or cues. Some of these are rock solid, others we are still working on perfecting. He often does better with hand signals than voice commands, particularly when he is exited. His obedience is much better inside than outside. I’m pretty sure I’ve left a couple things off the list, but these are the majority of words and phrases he knows.
Sit
Stay
Come (indoors)
Down
Touch
Drop
Crawl
Here (go to wherever we are pointing)
Roll Over (onto his side)
Sit pretty (sit on hind legs only)
Go to your room (crate)
Go to bed (room he sleeps in at night)
Get out of there (leave the kitchen or other designated area)
Don’t fixate (leave sliding door if he’s getting excited about something he sees outside)
Heels or walks on a loose leash
Okay (general release word)
Lick (lick his lips)
Look (look at handler)
Place (weaker at home than it was at training but we can work on it some more the next few weeks)
Leave It
Don’t beg
On the couch/bed (by invitation only)
Off (off the couch if he sneaks onto it uninvited)
Gentle (take treats gently if he is getting excited and wants to snatch them).
Leave It
Practicing “place” in obedience class.
Eddie is looking for his forever home or a new foster home. Applications for both adoptive and foster homes can be found at crossroadsanimalrescue.org.
Couches for Breakfast 
I find it hard to believe that Eddie is not getting anywhere..he is such a sweet boy with so much to give..i really hope you are getting some interest from people about him..fingers crossed still..
Fozziemum
We are actually getting some interest currently although it took some time to get going! Like I said yesterday, he does need a slow intro with other dogs, which not everyone can handle, and he’s not the face-licking sort of lab. Not ever family is a good fit for him and vice versa, and that’s okay. There are tons of families out there that WOULD be a good fit, but weren’t getting too many inquiries from them before recently.
That’s good news…I can understand..our Forrest loves Doc but has issues with other dogs..it makes for some hard work,the work you have done with him is amazing and I am sure the match will come for him..he has that face that melts me 🙂 ..Good luck sweet Eddie 🙂
Have a great day guys 🙂
Hugs Fozziemum
I love “don’t fixate.” It made me smile.
I don’t even know how he figured out what I meant by that one. I just started saying it one day and it was that magic little word that (usually) got him away from the door when previously he’d have to be led away.
His family is just around the corner. I can just feel it. Also… that is an impressive list of commands he knows! Nice!
I have this tendency to get bored of working on the basics and feel the need to do something new. Gives them a good number of tricks, though!
He is going to make one lucky family very happy! And how great that – thanks to you – he has the chance to wait for the right one to come along! 🙂
Yow Eddie ya are such a handsum poochie…doze big brown eyez made me Mum melt on da couch…dere iz sumone out dere fer ya sweet boy….bee payshunt….you wull find a furever home soon.
Lub Nylablue n SherriEllen
I need to follow your lead – my dogs don’t know 1/4 of these commands! Good for Eddie.
In our prison program, my blind Beagle, Magic, is close to passing his CGC and his colleague, their mascot, blind and deaf Aussie (lethal white), Windsor, PASSED his CGC completely, even after AKC gave him a “bye” on “come” and “distraction.” His handlers wanted him to pass full throttle so for distractions, they waved a towel (air movement), walked by with a bag of treats (nose twitched enormously, but he didn’t react), and touched him all over (sensory) except in his “command” spots. For “come,” handler moved his hand from the back of Windsor’s head to the front, then backed up quickly and not straight – Windsor came right to him. Quite amazing.
Eddie’s home is out there; it’s just taking them a bit of time finding him.
Nice! We are nowhere near the point of CGC with either of the boys, but their at home manners are pretty good.