- 759
- #3
Holding the watering can and a hula hoop Wren came out the garden. Herb was half buried and had been sunning themselves all morning. It was time to get some training in. Starting by sprinkling the soil around Herb to make it wetter she could see Herb’s leaves shiver as they woke up. Bending down she helped Herb dig themselves out. “Alright lets see what those sharp eyes of yours can do.” She held up a ball she fished out of her pocket and a Pokémon treat and tucked it using a thumb into a small hole into the ball. It was a nip treat that she knew herb liked to roll around with. Rolling the ball toward Herb she noticed them sniff and then start obsessing over the ball. Good. Picking the ball up Herb complained a bit. “Don’t worry you can get it back.” Wren gently tossed the ball into an empty bucket she often used to bring water out for Saffron and Emerald. In no time at all Herb was bounding about following the ball and jumped into the bucket. There was some rattling in the bucket as Herb started to roll about again. Reaching into the bucket she grabbed the ball again. Herb instantly hopped out and seemed excited as it was learning the game. Next Wren tossed the balls and it bounced off a flowerbed base and Herb chased it down actually managing to overshoot the ball and ended up rolling on the ground before scrambling back after the ball. “Go get it.” Wren let Herb play with it for a bit then took it again and held it in the air in the middle of the hula hoop at a low level for Herb to try and hop through after the ball. “Come get it.” It took a few tries but soon enough Herb managed to hop through the hoop. Surrendering the ball for Herb to play with for a bit Wren moved to her outside storage allotment. Pulling out some empty crates it took a moment to stack them. During this time Herb was busy playing with the ball and seemed to be having fun. It took a moment to get the ball back from Herb and once she had Wren would hold it on one crate and then to another making Herb jump up and follow the ball. Every time she moved the ball she tapped the crate top a few times and gave verbal commands. “Up.” Then she would try a few times with her empty hand while holding the ball away to get Herb to move where she wanted just based on the command. It took a while but soon she could just move her hand even if she didn’t have the ball as long as she brought the ball to Herb well at least part of the time. Herb was still young and had a lot more training to go if they were going to be competent to actually follow commands because it was a command other then what they wanted because treats where the key to the world. “Right.” Next Wren placed the ball in her pocket out of sight and proceeded to tap around the garden at different places making Herb move about before breaking the ball and head pets out as a reward. It was not always effective and Wren had to go back and reshow the ball and take steps back often. It was a bit disheartening at times but overall there was improvement in a positive training direction.
“Good Job.” Giving a break to Herb Wren dropped the ball and it bounced a few times while Herb chased it down to romp around with it. Cleaning up the equipment for training didn’t take long at all after all she didn’t have any special training gear. She might have to check some out from the facility at some point in the future but for now simple reuses of current things would make due. Herb seemed happy trying to get the nip treat out of the ball. After a bit of bumping the ball into a corner repeatedly Herb managed to pry the treat out. Herb munched on it happily then came over to cuddle in the sunlight. Soon enough Herb was napping. It had been a good training session or so Wren thought. Giving Herb some rest time as a reward was a good thing. Gently stroking Herb softly she watched the leaves shake and then relax as Herb drifted into a deep sleep.
“Good Job.” Giving a break to Herb Wren dropped the ball and it bounced a few times while Herb chased it down to romp around with it. Cleaning up the equipment for training didn’t take long at all after all she didn’t have any special training gear. She might have to check some out from the facility at some point in the future but for now simple reuses of current things would make due. Herb seemed happy trying to get the nip treat out of the ball. After a bit of bumping the ball into a corner repeatedly Herb managed to pry the treat out. Herb munched on it happily then came over to cuddle in the sunlight. Soon enough Herb was napping. It had been a good training session or so Wren thought. Giving Herb some rest time as a reward was a good thing. Gently stroking Herb softly she watched the leaves shake and then relax as Herb drifted into a deep sleep.