How to get your pet parent to unplug

Life as Toby the Dog's eyes....

Photo Source: TheOriginalTeamToby.com  Photographer: Ealanta Photography

I don’t know about you but I don’t like it when my pet mom goes on to the computer to do her work. I never know if she is writing more books about me, Tweeting, Facebooking or checking her email. 

All I know is that her attention is not on me, I can’t easily get eye contact, and sometimes I notice she needs a break, especially when her computer freezes…. The big sigh is the clue.  

Here’s what I’ve been doing when she goes on to the computer.

• Nudge her arm gently under the elbow. Then smile that “puppy love” smile. It is a showstopper.

•  Your pet parent will probably scratch your ears, smile, say “who’s a good boy. Are you a good boy?” (in that “weird voice”) and turn back to the computer.

This is where you need to ramp it up!   

Show your pet parent you are really wanting their attention…. Here’s what works for me. Knock garbage can around, put chin on desk (adorable and gets attention), put a paw on his/her lap. Last resort? Booming bark.

At this point you probably get put on a time out. Or, you pet parent will do what our trainer Gila from Dog is Good is teaching mom and dad. Mom brings up my blanket and some treats (YUM!). 

Then she tells me “On Your Mat Toby.” Of course I go, there’s a treat involved, and I love making my human parents happy.  Then “Toby Settle, Stay.”  Tongue out, big smile, wait… and … I get the treat.  Then she makes it a longer time between treats. Eventually after a few little treats (by the way, she cuts one small treat into little pieces, I am so onto her strategy), I go to sleep. It’s all about getting caught up on sleep so I can play fetch longer when she is done on the computer. Hint…sleep with one eye open just in case your pet parent finishes off on the computer early. You never want to miss fetch time.

Until next time,

Have a PAWsome day!  Help your humans be the person you know they are!

Toby! 

Team Toby is on a mission to Improve Lives by Teaching Kindness, Acceptance and Respect.  To find out about Toby's books, 

      

Toby’s children’s book series (Toby And His Hospital Friends, and, Toby Says Be a Buddy Not a Bully) has been named among the best in family-friendly media, products and services by the Mom’s Choice Awards, a Mom’s Choice Awards® Gold Recipient.

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Sit Happens!

Here I am Toby Jr... the first Ambassadog for Team Toby

Time for me to write some of these blogs!  Right from the dog's mouth.... the world as I see it!

Sit happens!  

You can see on my face the surprise when my pet parent said "Toby. Sit." and I did! I even shocked myself. This was in my first week of being adopted by my FURever family.  You can probably tell I'm a fast learner.

My pet parents have been working pretty hard on my training.  My motivator is the Kong not dog treats.

Part of training us furry family members is being consistent, finding what makes us tick, and, using the same key words.  

"Sit" is pretty easy as most folks say "sit" or "sit down". But geesh ... once you get into trying to make us focus... that's where it all goes downhill!  "Toby Look", "Toby, here. Watch!", "Focus", "Toby, what's this?"  Pick a word... we're okay with one word sentences.

Our trainer (who is really for my pet parents, not me) is Gila from Dog Is Good
and she is teaching my pet parents to use the same word.  They've narrowed it down to "look" and "focus" so I am pretty much acing that command now. 

Consistency is important when we are learning but Gila reminded my pet parents to shake it up every now and then, so now when we are playing with the Kong, they use different commands. Sometimes they get me to "sit" and then "go play" or "take it".  Other times they say "heel" then I get to fetch.  This is keeping me on my toes ... gotta listen as don't know which command they'll use.  My pet mom said "Wow. You can really see him thinking and listening."  

"Duh!  I want the Kong, but most of all I love to make my pet parents happy!"

Playing fetch is as much fun for me as it is for them.... it really is quality time.

What are you doing this week to spend quality time with your pet?  Please share your comments on the activities you love to do with your pet, what motivates your pet, and how much your pet rocks!

Hope you'll follow me and Team Toby on Twitter  and on Facebook

PAWsitively improving lives by teaching kindness, acceptance and respect!