Bookending my day with the dogs

My work day is bookended with my dogs.  I wake up at 5:30 and go downstairs where I take them outside, feed them, and take them outside again.  Somewhere in there I try to do some clicker training with Chopper.  He was pretty sleepy when I got up this morning.  Sometimes he gets up when he sees me, today he sat there blinking his sleepy eyes as if to say "not without my coffee, Lady."  I roused him up and stayed outside a little extra with him in the morning.  He was in a pretty good mood so we did a little clicker training, I let him settle in, and then I cleaned his ears. If you've ever owned a dog you know they hate having their ears cleaned. It's probably the only time I've ever had a dog try to hide from me.  As much as I plead, comfort and treat, it's just no fun for them.  Well Chopper didn't hide, but he clearly wasn't enjoying himself, despite my treating.  So when Greg got up Chopper had hunkered down on his blanket and wouldn't move. Sorry Greg! No morning greeting for you.

The second half of my bookending is when I come home from work.  It's much of the same as the morning, only I have more time to spend with the dogs.  I spent extra time outside with Chopper again today, and watched him as he actually frolicked.  I started off with just a few clicker rounds and he just got so excited he started running around the yard, darting a bit.  I wish I could've captured it. I did capture him with his tail up outside at least:

When we went inside again and I did more clicker training, staying pretty close to Chopper to build up confidence and then I went into the next room. I read that the bigger the challenge the more you should treat, so instead of just a little nibble of treat, he got four or so pieces. He did such a great job!

The cutest part of the night was when I brought up his SpongeBob blanket from the laundry. You'd think he was being reunited with a long lost friend!  He immediately started playing with the blanket, and then laid down on it and went to sleep.  I have been careful to watch Chopper for signs that he is nervous, reading him for when he wants attention and doesn't. Well on the security of his favorite blanket he said he wanted his ears scratched.  So I did, gently while he fell back asleep.  Oh the simple joys of a dog!