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crysania4Last night was our second to last class in Intermediate obedience. We're technically supposed to have 8 classes, but (1) one class got canceled due to our trainer's being out of town, (2) we each got one private lesson because the other person couldn't make it last week, and (3) we've all basically agreed we've gotten our money's worth. With only two people in the class (both smart dogs too), we've moved fairly quickly through things and with having a one-on-one session, we've gotten through everything really well.
Last night Dahlia was MUCH better. She was happy and back to loving working. She still doesn't get the "go to your bed" command, but we honestly haven't been working on that one. We haven't found a real need for it in our household and with this dog. It's helpful to know how to teach it, however, since we may have a dog in the future who needs such a command.
We tried some new things last night. No new tricks or training, but amping up those we already have. The first one was a sit-stay and down-stay with distractions. The rodents and birds in the cages haven't proven too difficult for either Dahlia or Schmootzy. What DID prove difficult, especially for Schmootzy, were the kids that were over there. She wanted to greet and went nuts. Our trainer got her owner to put her in a stay and made her stay that way while the children walked over slowly to pet her. She did great when they moved slowly, but still had some problem if they moved around. She asked if we wanted to do it too, and I thought, sure, why not. Dahlia actually sits nicely for petting from kids in general. If a child wants to pet her she just walks over and sits down next to them. She did nothing different this time, even though the kid picked up her ear to point something out (I guess his neighbours have a border collie mix that looks a lot like Dahlia).
And then the ultimate in challenges for our Dahlia. David and I walking away while someone else holds the leash. I wasn't sure she'd stay in a down-stay while we stepped away from her. But she did it! David inched around an aisle and I inched around the other side of the rodent enclosure and she managed to stay in a down-stay while looking suitably worried. Yes! She did awesome!
We worked on "come" as well. I'm always amazed at how lackadaisical Dahlia is with this command while at the store. On walks (when she's off leash), if we call her to come, she'll come RACING at us, tail up, happy grin on her face. At class, she just sort of strolls. Last night we finally figured out the issue. I called her to come and she turned, looked at David (who was still standing near her) and sat down. Ah ha. She still has one of her people WITH her so why move, or move fast? Makes sense. So we did a "come" command with BOTH David and I stepping far away from our trainer (who was holding her). Sure enough, she raced to us as fast as she can on those slippery store floors!
I'm really pleased with how she's come through these two classes. They were well worth it. She's gotten better with remaining calmer when other dogs are out on the walk near us. She isn't as prone to chasing motorcycles and UPS trucks. I usually can catch her as one is approaching and when she just starts to get excited say "No! Leave it!" and that's enough for her to return to just sniffing the ground. She's brilliant off leash. I think we're ready to leave the training classes behind. I do want to move onto trying out agility with her, so I might get in contact with the place we take her for grooming and find out when their classes are. Maybe next spring I'll see if I can find one to take her to. I think she'd enjoy it!
Last night Dahlia was MUCH better. She was happy and back to loving working. She still doesn't get the "go to your bed" command, but we honestly haven't been working on that one. We haven't found a real need for it in our household and with this dog. It's helpful to know how to teach it, however, since we may have a dog in the future who needs such a command.
We tried some new things last night. No new tricks or training, but amping up those we already have. The first one was a sit-stay and down-stay with distractions. The rodents and birds in the cages haven't proven too difficult for either Dahlia or Schmootzy. What DID prove difficult, especially for Schmootzy, were the kids that were over there. She wanted to greet and went nuts. Our trainer got her owner to put her in a stay and made her stay that way while the children walked over slowly to pet her. She did great when they moved slowly, but still had some problem if they moved around. She asked if we wanted to do it too, and I thought, sure, why not. Dahlia actually sits nicely for petting from kids in general. If a child wants to pet her she just walks over and sits down next to them. She did nothing different this time, even though the kid picked up her ear to point something out (I guess his neighbours have a border collie mix that looks a lot like Dahlia).
And then the ultimate in challenges for our Dahlia. David and I walking away while someone else holds the leash. I wasn't sure she'd stay in a down-stay while we stepped away from her. But she did it! David inched around an aisle and I inched around the other side of the rodent enclosure and she managed to stay in a down-stay while looking suitably worried. Yes! She did awesome!
We worked on "come" as well. I'm always amazed at how lackadaisical Dahlia is with this command while at the store. On walks (when she's off leash), if we call her to come, she'll come RACING at us, tail up, happy grin on her face. At class, she just sort of strolls. Last night we finally figured out the issue. I called her to come and she turned, looked at David (who was still standing near her) and sat down. Ah ha. She still has one of her people WITH her so why move, or move fast? Makes sense. So we did a "come" command with BOTH David and I stepping far away from our trainer (who was holding her). Sure enough, she raced to us as fast as she can on those slippery store floors!
I'm really pleased with how she's come through these two classes. They were well worth it. She's gotten better with remaining calmer when other dogs are out on the walk near us. She isn't as prone to chasing motorcycles and UPS trucks. I usually can catch her as one is approaching and when she just starts to get excited say "No! Leave it!" and that's enough for her to return to just sniffing the ground. She's brilliant off leash. I think we're ready to leave the training classes behind. I do want to move onto trying out agility with her, so I might get in contact with the place we take her for grooming and find out when their classes are. Maybe next spring I'll see if I can find one to take her to. I think she'd enjoy it!