Is dog training the new dieting? For me?

Seriously, didn't I try a different system for managing weight every time I "got serious" about it?  Am I doing the same sort of thing with dog training?  One YouTube channel, then the local classes, then Susan Garrett's online support.  Recently I'm being bombarded with all kinds of schemes for "miracle" results... but let's be real, results depend on execution and planning.

Things just got worse with the couch as Boxing Day went on.  By the time I got Ember into her crate for her nap before "last call", you could see the springs.  I've been cleaning up the fluff as we go along.  

Friday the destruction expanded to the other side of the couch.  I left the gates down all day Friday.  No point.  She just pushes them down.

We had a long leash walk Friday morning, and Ember continued to refuse to nap in her crate.  I finally got her to agree after feeding her supper and enticing her with a yogurt and blueberry pupsicle.  She also went back in easily after her "last call", with a peanut butter and cheese enhanced dog biscuit.

Trash day is Saturday morning (delayed by a day, due to the Christmas holiday).  My bin is full to the rim for this collection day.

I am thankful that the weather was mild on Friday, considering the attitude/trust issue Ember and I are working our way though.  I took her on two car rides.  One to fill the gas tank.  The other to the place where I buy her bigger chew sticks.  That store allows leashed dogs to be brought into the store, but I had never taken her into a store before.  It was pretty overwhelming to her, so we made it a short visit.  I decided she needed to go back into the car, and a kind clerk helped walk us across the parking lot and held one door open and coaxed Ember in.  She even offered her a doggie treat.

I returned to the store and bought three things:  her highest value crate games treats, the big chew sticks, and a beef center cut bone.  I figured the bone would keep her busy and distracted from the couch deconstruction mission.  It "sort of" worked.  But that couch is done for as a functional piece of furniture.  At this point I can perch on an arm, but she has taken out the seat cushions completely and is working on the footrests at this point.

To be honest, I don't know how to "manage the environment" to prevent her "rehearsing" this undesirable behavior.  I can try my best to manage her exercise, physical and mental.  That is the current plan.  Are we up to "theta" yet?

Ember napped on my lap on the living room couch for what should have been puppy nap #1, although it was a couple of hours late starting.  

She sacked out on the floor of the family room, beside the destroyed couch in the afternoon.  I had turned off the lights, you're seeing a dark room because it was a dark room.  You can tell the puppy has just worn herself out.  The bright spots are pieces of the couch stuffing I had not yet cleared away.

Looking ahead to the next time I need to leave the house in the morning, I called the place where I take Ember to be groomed and boarded.  We will be trying that out on Tuesday morning (New Year's Eve day).  

I will drop her off, then go to my personal trainer, and pick her up after I come home and shower.  Anyway, that's the plan to wear her out in the Winter... see how it works out.

Meanwhile, we have a play date with Carl and his humans on Sunday afternoon at the big dog park.  One day at a time, right?  As for now, Life is Good, but I'm tired and headed for bed!  Spark on!

P.S. Today would have been MobyCarp's 69th birthday.  Hard to believe it's been 10 years since he qualified for The Boston Marathon in his first marathon run.  I miss that man!