Moku The Agility Champion!

Daily CHALLENGE & ACTiViTY Summary

Dog’s name: Moku

Date: Thursday, November 12, 2015

Physical Fitness

We walked the neighborhood today, our usual mile or so. Moku also “competed” in an agility course challenge at The Mission, and straight up WON, SUPERHERO-STYLE! He knocked every single hurdle of its rocker on his way over it, but that’s what made him the biggest (literally) winner of all! The best thing about dogs is that they have no ego, therefore have no shame or embarrassment. They just…are. They simply do what they do without apology or further comment. We had tons of fun, and it was definitely good exercise. Moku’s primary handler, Big John, moves pretty slowly. However his other buddy, who you’ll see in the video racing through the course at top speed, is always energetic to the point of “overly-so”. In other words, he balanced out the pokiness of Big John, and Moku got plenty of exercise!

Cognitive Fitness

Moku participated in his second assembly today, and he did a FATASTIC job! It was another bunch of first-graders, and this time there were three other dogs – Sonar, Vivi, and Ginger. He did a great job of listening to commands, even in front of all of the kids! And also taking commands from one girl in the crowd who volunteered to come up and help Moku showcase his skills. She had a VERY soft little voice, but he STAYed when she asked him to, and laid DOWN with a point and verbal command. He listened to me quite well as I asked him to maintain positions throughout the presentation.

Social Fitness

Moku was a SOCAILLY-FIT SUPERSTAR today! He engaged with all the other dogs – and a hundred grabbing, squealing kiddos – with nothing but sweetness, friendliness, and (for the most part) social decorum. He still barges into other dogs’ personal space, face-first - at times, when he is excited, though I try as hard as possible not to let it happen. And furthermore, to not let it happen by giving him choices as to how to redirect his attention, rather than trying to maintain control over his brute physical strength with my own (non-brute) strength. He is doing much better in that regard, and also in the sense that he “listens” to what other dogs tell him when they don’t like the invasion of personal space. And he adjusts his behavior accordingly. He is getting better at reading other dogs’ body language. Or perhaps it wasn’t that he wasn’t good at it before. He is just better now at being able to process it, as he has a bit more self-control in those exciting moments.

Emotional Fitness

Speaking of those OVERLY-EXCITING moments…we continue to work on Moku’s behavior in those moments. And, as he matures and learns, and is able to remember that he has the tools to focus and make better choices, his behavior improves!

When we first got to the elementary school for the assembly, and he saw the other dogs initially, he went nuts. But once we were out on the blacktop, doing our thing, he was fantastic! We used him in demonstrations about “how to greet other dogs”, and to be honest, I thought he would show the kids an example of how NOT to do it…like I thought he would overbearingly bound up to Sonar and wiggle around all crazily. But he didn’t! He nicely walked up behind Sonar, smelled his butt – as is customary and appropriate – and turned to walk back toward me! No pulling on the leash, no bounding, no “close talking” up in Sonar’s “grill”.

As if that weren’t cool enough…watching him with the kids was pure GOLD. I am seriously considering using the footage of him with all the squealing, laughing 6 year old grabbing him, petting him, hugging his head…as “What we look for in a therapy dog”. Seriously, because if a dog can’t handle that kind of energy coming AT THEM, probably isn’t cut out for this type of work. I was even SO impressed that he wasn’t being mouthy! Once or twice, he would be a little too “grabby” with his mouth, but that was it; otherwise he just rubbed up against the legs of every single kid, making sure each had a chance to pet him. He is really a natural. It takes a special kind of dog, and Moku is just that kind of special!

Primal Fitness

Moku walked with the pack today, did some “scent work” with his treat cube, and his natural Labrador qualities shone through when he was surrounded by kids. It was truly a special sight to see!