Intermediate obedience: Week 2 (aka Dahlia the brilliant)

[crysania4]

Yesterday we had our second class of intermediate obedience class. Dahlia did amazingly well last class. After starting with "doggie aerobics" to get her in the working frame of mind, we went onto practicing "come."

Now, she's not great at this and I partially think it's the floors at Petsmart. Our instructor always wants her to run to us as fast as she can but I think she's freaked out by the floors because they're REALLY slippery and she can't get any good purchase on it. So she kind of trots down even if we hype her up. I think she'd do a lot better if there was a runner down that she could actually get her paws into! She sort of failed the "distraction" part of the challenge. Colleen put down chicken chips and the first time through she tried to make a grab for them. Silly food hound Dahlia! The second time through and on the way back was much better.

Then we moved onto loose leash walking and heeling. When we did our loose leash walking in the aisle Colleen said we were already very close to heeling and that all we had to do was bring her a little closer. I did that, got her to move with me, got her to sit down right at my side, and Colleen told us it was a perfect heel. Yes! Dahlia is awesome.

After class, I took her for a walk around the neighbourhood and we practiced some "waits." She is doing awesome with those. I was able to walk a good 10 feet away from her while she waited and then when I said "ok" she came barreling toward me. She was AWESOME. We did it several times and then we did it in the apartment where there were all sorts of distractions ("Daddy", toys, etc.) and she still did great. I think her waits are the best thing she's done so far. She just seems to get them.

Dahlia is an incredibly smart dog. Stubborn as all get out, but really smart and just really wants to please us. She's a joy!

Comments

[jeannekins.livejournal.com]

she's a hairy kinda dog - do you ever trim the hair between her toes/pads? that could be the problem with slipping on the floor. i use clippers to clean up the bottom of chase's feet so that he doesn't slide all over the place - and i do the same for my mom's husky.

[crysania4.livejournal.com]

I've been thinking about doing that -- she has a LOT of hair between her toes. I didn't consider that that might be the problem -- I figured it was just that the floors at Petsmart are super slippery. I'm nervous about accidentally hurting her with scissors near her feet. We need to take her in for a bath and grooming sometime soon, so I'll ask them if they can trim up that area.

[jeannekins.livejournal.com]

scissors can be tricky, but clippers work great. i just use my husband's beard trimmer without the guides. their not keen on the vibration, but if they food, one person clipping trimming and one person clipping works great.

[crysania4.livejournal.com]

I never thought of that either! My partner uses those sorts of clippers for his hair and beard. I'll try those. I'll try to get her use to the sound first (she's a bit startled by sounds sometimes).

[jeannekins.livejournal.com]

most of my grooming stuff is not doggie stuff. i use a regular sears/craftsman dremmel tool on his nails rather than one of the 'real' dog nail grinders, i use regular hair cutting scissors for trimming rather than the 'official' stuff. it's cheaper and easier to find around here.

[jeannekins.livejournal.com]

oh, forgot to mention...sotc is holding an agility trial next weekend in syracuse at the CNY Family Sports Center, 7201 Jones Rd., Syracuse. it's thurs through sunday, probably starting around 8:00 each day and going until late afternoon - whenever it's done. sotc people will be there and they'll probably have info on the their programs/classes and such. we'll be there saturday and sunday. it's our first indoor trial, so it may be interesting...