Nico and I did an hour and fifteen-minute walk/training session around town this morning. We walked through the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Ice Palace with crowds of people, he held a 'sit stay' in a half dozen locations with people and dogs around, and he had nearly perfect loose leash walking.

This morning I took Nico for a walk through downtown Saranac Lake before the Winter Carnival parade started. We visited a Paul Smith’s College Woodsman Team demonstration and walked up and down Main St. Nico saw tons of people, including little kids and people dressed up in costumes. We also walked within feet of other dogs.

Nico loves his built-in thigh pillows.

Nico really enjoys his Kongs stuffed with goodies. It’s fun watching him twist and contort to get just the right angle to lick out all the stuff inside.

Nico knows he'll eventually get paid when asked to hold a position and a camera is put in his face. I’m beginning to teach myself off-camera lighting and have much to learn.

Nico got a new dog crate today, and as soon as we put his mat inside, he went right in. When he was younger, we crate-trained him, and he would often spend the night in his crate all on his own accord.

I’ve been doing more fieldwork than normal this month, which means Nico has been as well. He isn’t built for the cold, so I have to be selective on which days he comes out with me.

We had some fun this afternoon throwing treats at Nico’s face. He missed over 90% of them, but he caught this one.

It's hard to believe that we are 1,000 days into our journey with Nico and this project to document every day of his life.

Did you know that playing can be a form of reward when working with your dog?

Nico is getting just the right angle to extract peanut butter from a Kong. We purchased several Kongs to ensure we always have one on hand that is ready in the freezer stuffed with all the good things.

Nico spent the day at home with Shelly while I was out doing fieldwork. I really enjoy having my little buddy greet me when I come home and then snuggle up behind my legs on the couch when I settle in for the evening.

Nico spent the day with me at the office. He's continuing to do well at being much calmer and more polite around people.

Nico spent the entire day out in the field with me and one of my co-workers. Our day started at the office where we worked on reinforcing his obedience. He did really well heeling through the building and holding a sit stay with co-workers moving our our lab space.

For a short while, when Nico was a puppy, we had fed him to help build engagement with us. We’ve decided to return to that, coupled with a short training session at each meal.

He's back! We picked up Nico from the Upstate Canine Academy today. Their training staff spent two hours teaching us all that Nico has learned and how to keep moving forward with his training.

We dropped Nico off at Upstate Canine Academy today, wish him luck!

Getting settled in to spend some family time sitting on the couch.

This is the look Nico gave me when I told him his new Benebone was a present for when he goes off to “college” this weekend. We recently decided to send Nico off to Upstate Canine Academy for a three-week board and train program; we’re referring to it as Nico going to college.

Did I hear someone mention dinner?