Photo Essay: Barnum’s Service Skills

In honor of our Gotcha Day a few days ago — two years together — I took a bunch of pictures of Barnum doing stuff. The idea was to show all the things we’ve learned in the past two years. Of course, it didn’t show everything he’s learned, like not eating the furniture or pooping indoors or attacking people’s pants, etc.

We also didn’t take pictures of some of the skills we’ve been working on all along, and that I have blogged about before: sit, down, come, crate, go to mat, zen, etc. This does not mean we’re finished training these behaviors, but I thought it would be more fun (and we only had so much time and energy) to photograph the newer, flashier stuff.

It’s taken me till now to get the pictures uploaded, then downloaded, then captioned, etc., but here ’tis!

I didn’t know how to adjust the camera settings, and since these tended to be action shots, there are very few that are not artistically blurred. That’s right, it’s not a defect, it’s a feature. Thus, I now present . . .

The Post-Realist Photography Exhibit of Barnum at Year Two

Stand tall to turn on and off the lights!

Barnum standing on hind legs, front paws planted on the wall, nudging switch down with his nose. He's over 5 feet tall this way.

Turning off the lights!

Open the bedroom door….

Blurry picture of Barnum from behind, pulling purple tug cord on door handle.

First, grab the cord and pull back.

Step 2:

Another blurry picture of Barnum's furry butt. Wider stance, pulling back hard on the pull cord.

Aaaand pull BACK and DOWN!

Step 3:

Blurry picture from behind, bedroom door swinging open.

Eh viola! The door, she is open!

And then close it!

Barnum running to shove his nose behind the door which is open against the wall.

Get that nose behind it, and in one fluid motion, SLAM it shut!

Done!

Barnum is whirling from the door, which is now shut, toward Sharon sitting on the bed. He's moving so fast that he's a blur, with his left front and right rear legs just shadows of movement.

The second the door latches, whirl around to collect your treat!

Where’s the PCA?

Barnum sits on the floor watching Sharon who is sitting on her bed, signing (with hand and facial expression), "Where?" in ASL.

Sharon asks me "Where?" is the PCA?

I know! I’ll find her!

Barnum sits staring fixedly at a young woman standing in the kitchen.

I have found you. I am staring at you. Do you get the message?

When that doesn’t work. . . .

Barnum stands up and noses the hand of the woman who's standing in the kitchen.

Hello! I'm bopping your hand! Pay attention!

Since we’re in the kitchen, he might as well open the fridge. . . .

Barnum swinging into action, blurred hindquarters show movement as he grabs for the door pull on the refrigerator.

I got it!

Mmmf. Riss iss harder dan id loogs.

Barnum pulling straight back on a navy blue door pull attached to the refrigerator handle.

Puuuuuuull!

Persistence pays off!

Barnum stands back a few inches from the fridge door which is now open a few inches.

Okay, it's open! Can I close it now?

Yes! Shut the fridge!

Barnum stands in front of closed refrigerator door with his nose against it.

Shutting is more funner.

I’m a clumsy human, which means a dog’s job is never done. First, the clicker I dropped accidentally. . .

Barnum crossing living room to pick up red clicker underneath an end table. His head is down and his mouth is open, even though he's at least a foot away still.

She's always dropping these clickers!

Then the pen I dropped on purpose.

Barnum is in a sit. A pen is on the floor about four feet away. Sharon's legs and wheels are visible in the background.

She made me sit so I wouldn't keep picking things up before they could manage to take the picture. Humans can be so slow.

Ah gah da peh im my ma-ow….

Barnum standing, with muzzle on the floor. The pen isn't visible under all his fur.

Mm-kay. I'b gedding ib.

I got it!

Barnum spinning toward Sharon. Pen is in his mouth, though we can't see it because his side is to the camera.

Ah brinnin eh peh...!

And now the retrieval of the “dropped” leash….

Barnum stands in front of Sharon. She's holding his leash and is about to clip it to his collar.

Why are you putting on my leash now?

You’re welcome. (By which I mean, “Where’s my treat?”)

Barnum has the leash clipped to his collar at one end. The other he is putting in Sharon's hand in her lap.

Honestly, you drop this thing so often it's like it's intentional. . . .

Two years ago he looked like this:

Baby Barnum, an adorable puppy that looks like a black teddy bear with a white chin. Sharon's hand is rubbing his chest. Her hand is bigger than his head!

What a face!

And now!…

Closeup of Barnum looking into the camera, smiling, very hairy, lying on Sharon's bed.

Look at me now, world!

Love from Sharon, the muse of Gadget, and Barnum, SD/SDiT

6 Responses to “Photo Essay: Barnum’s Service Skills”

Feed for this Entry

1 Betty Burkett March 4, 2012 at 12:11 am

Sharon, I am so proud of you and Barnum. He is so smart. And what a hard worker you are. Bless you both.
Betty Burkett
2 Mala Bissoon March 4, 2012 at 6:19 am

This is lovely Sharon.
I lost a dog/got a puppy around the same time as you and have been reading your blog with interest. Congratulations on your partnership, I’m so glad he worked out for you.
Mala
3 Sharon Wachsler March 4, 2012 at 9:39 am

Thank you, Betty!
Mala, thank you! I’m glad you commented–I think this is the first time? I hope things are gong well with your pup, too!
(Betty, I think your first comment, too? I love to hear from new [and old] readers/commenters.)
4 Ellie Strand & Tendrel, SD March 4, 2012 at 11:47 am

The “Barnum talk” in today’s photo spread was hilarious. Thanks for starting my day with a few chuckles.
5 Sharon Wachsler March 5, 2012 at 11:23 pm

Hi Mala and Ellie,
Thank you so much! I’m glad you enjoyed.

Ellie, if I have made you laugh, I have accomplished what I set out to do!

Mala, I thought I posted a reply to your comment, but I don’t see it here. Anyway, I’m glad to hear from you, and I hope things are going well with your young dog, too.
6 Robin J. March 8, 2012 at 6:13 pm

So happy for you both!

warmest regards from Robin J. and Dilly