This is my foster dog, Brandy. She is a 2 year old Lab/Mastiff mix and she was lacking some impulse-control…in a big way. To help her with that, we play.

Here are the rules of our little game; she must:
- Not eat me (this is very important…).
- Drop the toy on command (still a little slow, here).
- Lay down automatically when I have the toy.
- Stay down until I release her (“okay”).
- Have a good time!

Just by playing this game (easier versions to start with, but always the same idea), she’s learned a lot. I’ve been working with her since early December. At that time, playing with this sort of energy level wouldn’t have been possible; it would have sent her over the edge. She made a lot of good progress – such a good girlie!