We did it. On Monday night, Maverick completed the last two of ten tricks needed to earn his AKC Intermediate Trick Dog title. It was touch and go for the last couple of weeks. On Saturday he had six out of ten accepted. I had taught him to ring bells and turn on a tap light, and just needed to get them on video. He wouldn’t co-operate. He actually walked away when I asked him to do it. (Little rat) I told him I knew it was stupid and he didn’t care about it, but it was important to me, and could he please just do it once? Within a few minutes, he walked to the bells hanging on the pantry door and hit them with his nose.
LET ME GET THE CAMERA!
I got it on video, and then he decided he could tap a light and turn it on, and he did it while I still h ad the camera ready. Thank you, sweet Baby Jesus!
Sent off, approved, eight down, two to go. I thought there might be a glimmer of hope that we could actually pull this off. On Monday evening, my friend came up and helped me with the last two tricks. One involved her hiding and him finding her – something I couldn’t manage to video and get done alone. The other involved putting down three cups, one hiding a treat, and asking him to find the hot cup – the one with the treat. Again, I couldn’t do it alone because by the time I got the second cup down, he had knocked over the first.
We got them done. Sent the videos off and waited. And waited. At 9:15, I decided we weren’t going to make it after all. Oh, well, we had fun trying. And then my phone dinged. Both videos approved, meaning we had ten and that’s all we needed.
I know it may seem silly to be so freakin excited and happy about a Trick Dog title, but when you have a dog who challenges you in so many ways, to be able to work together with him and accomplish something like this is pretty fucking major.
I’m currently waiting, impatiently, for the paperwork so I can send it in and get our official certificate. Then there will be pictures and perhaps a party.
Maverick, being Maverick, has been an absolute jerk the last couple of nights But he’s a champion jerk with two titles. 🙂
Suziecreamcheese Sings the Blues 
Congratulations!🤩🥳Gracie and I are very impressed. Has he done agility? Because of her energy people try to encourage us to do that. I don’t think either of us is focused enough.
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I can’t trust him off leash and he’s way too unfocused for agility. I was thinking of rally obedience maybe
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nice! 🙂
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Thank you!
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That is actually pretty cool and funny. To bad America’s Funniest Animals isn’t on, anymore.
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You are not alone in being excited about Maverick nailing the training! I truly believe that Maverick is really, really smart but likes to play dumb and uncooperative because he knows it pushes your buttons! In conjunction with the movie “Look Who’s Talking” someone needs to write the manuscript for “Look Who’s Talking: The Animal Version” because Maverick would be the perfect animal to be cast in it!
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Oh he’s incredibly smart- that’s the problem! 😂😂 He’s always thinking- he doesn’t just respond to what I’m asking, he’s figuring out the next thing. It’s exhausting trying to keep up with him! I have learned a lot from this kid!
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Congratulations!! I know how frustrating training can be let alone videoing it (without breaking your arm 😳)!
Knowing your limits as well as his deserves a round of applause, too.
Pepper is ready to party with Maverick whenever!
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Pepper needs to learn tricks too!
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We’re working on it…
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It is exciting to get a title!!! You could try teaching him other tricks 🙂
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We’re still practicing the ones he had to do and adding more slowly. That was a lot in a short time!
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If Maverick is anything like Geordie, you will discover whole new levels of his sense of humor as he does rally. 😆
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I have to check the class schedule- I think we’re taking the Winter off
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That will give you a chance to practice rally moves before the class starts. Woo hoo!
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