Dog School Brag

M

Mom2Melli

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I have to brag . . . Melody and I had a GREAT class last night. We are in intermediate 1. We got to skip basic because I told the trainer what she knew and I had recently been through basic with my other dog. She really was in between needing basic or intermediate. The first class she was lost, the second better, the third she tried really hard and did good, this one she did well and I am so proud. Mind you -- she skipped basic, I have had her only nine weeks, she came to me speaking only Spanish, she is kind of distrusting of strangers likely from her recent animal control experience, AND she has terrible carsickness which I am convinced is pyschological.

Anyway. I am just really proud of how hard she tries. We were doing long down-stays and sit-stays away from the dogs. We were finishing right & left (as in rally). We were touching our target. We were downing on the move. AND we were going over jumps (like 15) when we are a bit older and overweight.

SO. I can't just "brag". If you are considering "to train or not to train". Do it!! Find a good school that you are comfortable with and go through the classes. The bond you create by training, getting the dog to think and problem solve, having the dog focus on you, and the skills you learn that can save a dog's life such as downing the dog when it may be near something dangerous or having the dog come no matter what is going on around them are all worth the time and effort.
 
It doesn't sound like much to be proud of . . . but if you then add on:

If you grew up with a family in Mexico, then got arrested and went to prison in the US, then got put in a group home in the US, you saw two different doctors and a hair stylist including having sedation dentistry and tons of immunizations all at once, then got sent to live with a family in the US who spoke only English at you andcalled you by a different name, a family that lived in the mountains when you get really carsick, a family who keeps going on day trips in the mountains and to the beach, a family with other family members you had to get along with immediately, you were put on restrictive diet, AND then you had to go to Jr. college when you only had an elementary school education in Mexico -- ALL within 9-1/2 weeks -- well, I couldn't be prouder how well she has done. We humans would be NUTS, not loving and happy and trying as hard as we could like she does.

Adopting is really rewarding and I find it amazing how these souls can accept things SO well.
 
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she came to me speaking only Spanish, she is kind of distrusting of strangers likely from her recent animal control experience, AND she has terrible carsickness which I am convinced is pyschological.
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I'm most impressed that your dog can speak Spanish! And to think, my dog can only bark and whine. :lol: :biggrin2:

Sorry I couldn't resist :wink2:
 
Yep. She's a talented little one. Un perrito bilingue.

I work in Baltimore -- Towson actually -- but I live in CA. I also work in Lancaster PA, New Port Richey FL, Albuquerque NM, and Los Angeles. Go figure.
 
I am from Lancaster Pa born and raised myself. What do you do that allows you to live in Ca if I may ask? MY doggy came from New Port Ritchey from his second home.
I know what you mean about her start. My dog was in the USA but he is 5 years old and were his 4th home. He also had a girly name we changed to a boys. Got the whole grooming, vet business done the first week too.
He is so smart and now I have to admit he is spoiled and lazy. I am very lenient and shouldnt be so much and he likes drives to walking and ice cream cones instead of bones. He likes his walks at the outdoor shopping mall on the pier as opposed to the dog park. I think I created a monster.
He to skipped basic and could do everything on the intermediate class but he hated the class, he hated the people playing basketball making the bouncing noises and vibrations so loud in a gym making him upset. They treated us lie we were dumb and it was simply not stupidity but boredom and dislike for the noise and the sweltering temps. The day of testing he did everything the first time through with flying colors. Several dogs couldnt do the list of commands and most had to be given 2 or 3 chances and my boy did it first time through all correctly which I of course wanted to rub in their noses.
Good for you and your dog, you should be proud, sounds like your new litle love is very happy with the new circumstances and new Momma. CONGRATS!!
 
Good job Melody! I'd be proud, too. Love the pics, what was up with the anger mgmt dog? That made me lol, imagining the dog glaring at Melody all class long. We don't want any classroom rage among the dogs, that's probably an automatic failure :wink2: (but not for Melody, rather for the crabby dog).

She has come a long way in a short time and it shows how resilient the dogs really are, and how they can thrive in the right home. I'll be watching to see her get her advanced degrees now! :biggrin2:
 
Thank you. I am down for winter as I live at the snow line and can't risk getting stuck in town of an evening. In the spring I will likely do this class again and go on with advanced or switch to a different trainer and focus on rally. I know a sheltie person in town who coaches rally and I may go that route.

I am not sure why I am finding anger management issues in the advanced class. I started one with my other dog who is real timid and sensitive and this Aussie came in and barked something that must have said "I am Angus and I am going to kill you all". Scared the dog so bad he wouldn't focus and I pulled out of the class. When Melli came along soon after, I enrolled her in a different session. There are two dogs in this group that are feisty -- the dog that glared at her and also a golden/border cross. Melli just looks at them like "what is your problem?" and does her thing. The one would get so pissed off she was actually biting at her owner's arm. Frightening.

As to working -- I do medical transcription online. The company I contract to is in Florida and then we have accounts all over. You log into a server where the doctors leave the audio files and then you put it back after typed. However, I worked for several years nearly exclusively in Lancaster, PA for a neurologist there and I am really fond of the area.
 
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When I was showing dogs we were over the moon when we got a specialty best in show under a judge that was renowned and respected in our breed. That feeling was not nearly at exciting and rewarding as the one of seeing Tinsel become nose savvy and performing scent work. From terrified to terrific - it's an amazing leap and one we didn't expect him to achieve. So, what I am saying, is I know just how pumped you are and you should be. Congrats to the two of you.

Joanne
 
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