Progress

 If dogs could go to college, Shadow would be a shoo-in. He's already got the merchandise, the golden boy good looks, and lots of smarts!

Shadow has made great progress in the last week in terms of obedience and behavior. Our biggest breakthrough is that he will stay put with a treat just a few feet away -- even when Chris or I move behind him -- until we give the "okay." There is something special about how he looks up at me, waiting for my approval, like he’s a little kid.

In terms of biting/mouthing/nipping, he's still got work to do. Sunday night, however, he made a breakthrough.  While he was in a calm state, Chris and I each began scratching his belly. The moment he pressed his teeth into one of our hands, that person would cry a high-pitched "ouch!" and both of us would either turn our attention elsewhere or leave the room entirely. We repeated this many times, and finally he began to keep his mouth closed.

Today and yesterday, it was amazing and so rewarding to see him working it out in his head that he isn’t supposed to use his teeth. Like a fish gulping air, he now opens and closes his mouth but the vast majority of the time doesn’t actually bite. I’ve actually felt him soften his mouth when my hand (my fault) accidentally strayed to his teeth. Because it’s natural for a dog to play bite with his siblings, there’s something really touching about him holding back so as to not hurt us.

Like his accidents, there are still nips, but they are pebbles compared to boulders.

He isn’t going to win any obedience competitions, but I have it from several experienced dog owners that a 10-week-old puppy who can already sit, stay, lay down, and offer his paw has a very bright future : )