Learning new things

Reilly now has two new halters of different styles, along with his collar.  They each fit differently, so I'm trying to find what is more comfortable, as well as what is more effective in keeping him from starting to leash pull.  He does need to be able to walk with collar only, but at the same time, he'll be wearing a working harness eventually, so being used to something on his body is also a good idea.  He's starting to get an understanding of what leashes are for.  Much better on pottying outdoors today.  Which means I'm getting better at getting him outside, for the most part.  Except that he really is showing an interest in going out to pee.  Still working on pooping outdoors, but it's coming along.

He got to meet chickens today, and I didn't take my camera.  I need to just start picking that up with his lead.  He was interested in looking, and I picked up a baby chick for him to inspect.  He smelled it over well, but did not try any puppy chewing on it.  The gate into the poultry yard did startle him, and he started to run, but the leash stopped him.  So he sat and looked, then came back to see.  And went in with us on his own.

My sister Monica is visiting from Georgia, to pick up my niece who has been so helpful in making the trip with me to get him, then staying another week while my husband was away, just to help me out a bit.  Since we only have one guest bed, we were setting up an inflatable mattress.  Monica attempted to distract Reilly while I laid all the inflation stuff out, then I sat on the bed and had him in my lap while she turned on the battery-operated pump and inflated the mattress.  He was instant attention, head turning from side to side as he watched and listened to the entire proceeding.  He would have liked to have inspected the mattress, but a puppy nip at that could have proved fatal to the mattress, so he didn't get that exposure.

Monica is so impressed with the calm temperament of a mastiff puppy, plus the older Boys and how mellow they are.  One day, she will be owned by a mastiff.  :P

Since I have guests today, I'm not writing much.  I'll try to post pictures tomorrow, and describe his first visit to the park, scheduled for tomorrow evening, weather permitting.

Meg and Reilly