I'm so smart!

I have a big brag about Ziplock. It's no secret that I took Jen's clicker training class and taught my girls so much from it. Today, I worked with Ziplock on touching the cup to get a treat. When the light finally went off in his head that if he touches the cup he gets a treat, he was so excited and, I have to admit, so was I. Now he knows that if he does something that makes me happy, he will be praised, get food, etc. He has also learned to bring his ball back instead of hiding it. He knows when he brings it back to me, I will throw it again and he can run after it AGAIN. Yea! Now it's so much fun to play with him. He also will get his ball when you tell him to. He is tailor made to play now. He's all set to fetch for you.

My only problem now is, he's afraid of the camera. Not the camera exactly but it's the red light that comes on in front of it that scares him and he runs and hides. I'm afraid I won't be able to get a lot of pictures now. I guess I can make him forget about it with some treats. LOL

He's the whole package

I truly cannot believe that Ziplock hasn't been snatched up yet. Is it the black dog syndrome? It's always the black dog that lingers longest in the kennel because people prefer another color dog? If that's the case, it's a huge shame. This dog is just a wonderful boy. He plays and loves stuffed animals, runs, does tricks, chases a frisbee/ball (doesn't bring it back yet but we're working on it), exercises himself (he runs in the backyard if he builds up too much energy), sits for his food, is a wonderful bath taker and leash walker, barks but very little, likes other dogs, is very smart and learns very quickly. I just can't think of anything that is wrong with this boy. This is the first male dog that I've had in a while and I had forgotten how loving the males are. He is much more affectionate than my girls have ever been.

If you are reading this blog, you've obviously gotten past the black dog syndrome. Come and take a peak at him. You'll understand why we have fallen in love with him.

Mr. Z is a love

Zip is a lover. He loves to come over and just lean his head on your lap, chest, arm or whatever is available to lean on. He likes when you hug him or just lay on the floor and pet him. I don't think he has an aggressive bone in his body. I filed his nails yesterday while he was standing up. I usually do my dog's nails once a week and he's on the schedule so when his name came up, (when he walked by me), he just stood very patiently for me to finish. I usually do it when they're laying down but his didn't need much so I got him on the way through the kitchen. He didn't even try to get away and he was very patient.

If I had room in my house for another greyhound, (is there any other breed?) Zip would be snatched already. He's a keeper.

Zip with a squeaky tennis ball

He likes his squeaky tennis ball. As you can see at the end of the video, it was dinner time and Jessie and Roz and were ready to eat.

Two pals?

Zip is laying on the same bed as Roz because he wants to lay on the bed and Roz won't move. It's not because they particularly love each other. She doesn't get up when he's standing there looking at her so he moves in and claims part of the bed. She doesn't seem to care.

Training

When Zip first came to my house, his first fostermom told me that he needed to learn some manners so that is what we've been working on. I think I mentioned in previous posts that he now sits for his food. What he has recently learned on his own is to sit about 10-feet away from where I'm preparing his food until it's ready. Then he follows me into where he eats and sits before I tell him and doesn't move until I tell him it's okay to eat. He has also learned to stay out of the bathroom when I'm getting dressed in the morning and to gently take his bedtime treats from my hand.

Zip is a big boy who rushes to do things because he is so eager to please. He has these beautiful brown eyes that are always trained on you to tell him what to do. He is going to make his future family an excellent companion. Oh, and he walks like a dream.