Our goals for Bonnie as a pet quality BYB girl were simple:
Well behaved per BO and CGC, reliably good on a heel and not pull Dear Wife into traffic chasing a cat, or offf her feet down concrete stairs. Safe around kids and strange dogs, with appropriate reserved good manners: check.
I looked into Level 1 PPD "turn big scary bark on" and "off" on command, but training not needed...she's a very aware and "scary big black dog privilege" is plenty enough as is...
Had to crate her when new to her family came ver first time for Turkey Day...as she was not happy!
So more work on that, accepting strangers in home once I say OK.
Major "emotional support animal" qualities and couch potato perfected. The crate is her den and she puts herself to bed when ready or asked. Gives kisses and boops on command. Will gladly get on bed for snuggles and off to put herself in crate as needed.
Dogpark trained; Dear Wifes Happy Place and we go to only good ones, with responsible and aware owner's- and we simply leave if red flags fly. So far so good. (Watch her and other dogs like a hawk).
Her major successes are trail walking, bike riding off leash with near bullet proof recall, ecollar only as insurance.
Practice CGC all the time going to new places like HomeDepotDogPark, dog friendly micro brewery, beach cafes and dog friendly stores and we get we many compliments for her well behaved good manners...(i dont brag nor say how much work it takes to get there, just say "yes she's a good girl!")
And a fun companion on other outdoor sports- she swims into surf to retrieve her floaty kong on a rope far and often enough I tell people who ask "she is a lab in a doberskin suit."
Next we will try kayak or canoe...
Made up and did nose games for fun enough that she has developed a very good prey drive enough to cast into the surf for a something that turned out to be an aborted sea lion pup...very disappointed we buried it in the sand instead of bring home...and insists on digging now at beach if I let her for anything that smells like it- one day on command "dig dig dig" for an hour only to stop after digging a 5 foot wide two foot deep hole while barking and snapping at waves filling it in...
She's four legged Death on Gophers if I let her...to dig for but not eat them...
(Rattlesnake Avoidance trained and round two to follow in Jan 2025.)
The other day a big gopher poked its head out and they both had a staring down contest...I half expected a puppybow but called her away!
No need for gopherfarts, thanks...
Getting much better on "leave it" as in dont eat that delicious wood chip, dead snake parts, or yummy coyote poop with fur in it...
Would have liked to do more tricks training but lots more going on in home projects, so perhaps That will be this next year...later.
And
Maybe some agility once we settle in new FL retirement home; with interest and lead on that by Dear Wife who taught her how to do all the obstacles at a local dog park in one go...
Dock Diving looks fun!
She will do Zoomies on command...but Fast Cat will have to wait;
my daughter has two elderly bunnies that Bonnie has learned to "sniff but dont touch"...
So well now she helps round them from being out in the yard enjoying the sun, to be put up in their hutch at night...loads of owls around here...
Service Dog training...maybe. Did a lot of reading, and realize
Thats quite a bit more intensive depending on the disabilty and how honestly you follow the ADA "3 tasks per diagnosis" and Public Access test requirements vs just paperwhip it as it seems a few scammers do. No rush on that, as the need is thankfully low, so far.
For now, she's an A1 quality pet all around dog for her intended purpose, as a family pet we trust to be good wherever we go.
I'm mindful as the pro's do- "always be training" on the basics...and "making it fun, learn from the dog in front of you" has been my learnings.
She gets excited when we put on the training gear and loves new places so she gets me out the door every day exercising too!
Much appreciation for the inspiration and training lessons I learn here from you all!
Merry Christmas!
bad mom 
