steve

Nicknames: Stevie, Stevie Poo

Favorite treats: carrots, peanut butter, ice cubes, elk antlers, bones, couches, and anything remotely edible including deterrent sprays and citric acid, plastic (have bread in hand)

Training: easily trainable, crate and house trained, does not respond well to firm voice, will train for pets, when in doubt or can’t get him to listen say “touch”

Skills: Herding, playing fetch, cuddling, curiosity, jumping, disavowing the laws of physics, playing with other large dogs, empathetic and sensitive to human emotions, like routine

Routine:
Rings bell to go outside
Eats in his crate, sits, “ok go ahead” as release word, sits when he’s finished
Plays fetch, walks on leash
Sleeps on leash next to bed, loves getting ready for bed and sleeps through night
Gets zoomies before and after pooping
Will eat any and all poop if given the opportunity
Poop schedule—if being left in crate for extended time/more than an hour, feed him ⅓ of his daily food at breakfast and ⅔ at dinner

Fears: Brooms and vacuums, loud or firm voices, fireworks and loud noises (fine with trains), going in for a hug too quickly, doors, car rides (but he’s gotten way better), the word “trouble” in any context

Commands / Vocab List:
Sit (fist)
Stay (open hand up like a high five)
Go lay down, down (point to where you want him)
Eyes (point to eyes)
Come (whistle, snap)
Touch (palm at side)
Heel (palm at side)
Leave it (this is the only one said in stern voice)
Go ring the bell
Outside, inside
Go potty
No (will hide if said in a stern or perceptively angry tone)
Off (see “go lay down”)
Dinner
Water; are you thirsty?
Quiet
Gentle; no biting
Go get your bone, ball,
Crate
Couch (point)
Bone, toy, carrot, ball, treat, brush teeth (dental treat)
Don’t eat the grass (use same command for rocks, carpet, anything)
Boop! (Touch his snoot)
“I love you soooooo much” (starts playing)
What do you need? (Follow him to it)