Maturity
- Thread starter corbinam
- Start date
Justicemom
Forums Celebrity
I know that some of these things have been mentioned in other threads (*cough* Ginny and Bailey *cough* to name a few I can think of!) but I thought I would ask more specifically here.
Lexi is now 6 months old, and a pretty good girl. However, she is now in her second obedience class and I was thinking about the CGC test and sort of panicked because right now I can't even picture her passing.
I'm not in any hurry for her to take it, but I feel like she is so immature that some things seem almost impossible. So my question is, will she grow out of these things? Or are they character traits?
Some things that come to mind:
1- Loose leash walking. She is too busy to walk next to me for long. She knows it's right, but often just gets distracted, bored, or tries to eat something.
2- Sitting nicely for petting/settling. Any time someone comes up to her to pet her, she get sooo excited. Luckily, she doesn't jump, but she can't help it that she stands up and her whole body wiggles. The same is true when I lay her on her side to teach her to settle. She wags and wiggles all over the place! (It's cute, of course hahah)
3- Not part of the CGC, but oh my gosh she puts everything in her mouth when we are outside. This includes grass, weeds, dirt, rocks, etc. I tell her unh-unh and she drops it, but this happens ALL the time.
I guess it's hard for me because of a few things. We got Bentley when he was 7 months old, so didn't start any of this stuff until later, and he's also a lot more laid back. His favorite thing is to stay--Lexi's favorite thing is to be busy!
Puppy behavior. You described Diva at 6 months. I started a super puppy(competative puppy class) class with her at 5.5 months. The first 3 weeks she was so distacted. I exercised her for 2 hours before class just to get minimum focus, she surfed the floor for dropped cookie or fuzz, the instructor couldn't get within 5 ft of her without mad wiggling occuring. Leash manners/heeling whatever. People in the class still know me as the lady with the naughty Tri.(A lady last week, I hadn't seen in 4 months joking called Diva that "Oh there's that naughty Tri."). I called her immature and slow to mature a lot. Her brother and sister who were also in the class were so ahead of her progressing by leaps and bounds and we just struggled along.
She was the slowest maturing of my dogs and didn't really start to settle down and focus til around 14 months. It was hard for me as both Justice and Ember had their Novice obedience titles by that age. Justice was close to competing in Open. I hope Diva(18 months) will be ready by fall. The puppy behaviors are fading more and more. She hardly does any of the above things any more. Funny thing is she further along in her training than her brother and sister now.
Just keep working. Lexie will get it. I believe each for our dogs are meant to teach us something. Justice taught me to enjoy the world of showing dogs. Ember taught me a sense of humor and the importance of not being too serious or competative. Diva is teaching me patience and work with what the dog gives me..
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Justicemom
Forums Celebrity
That worked great for Diva. I had problems fading the spoon though. It took a long time. Pike used it too for a different reason. He barked constantly this little yip,yip yip when heeling.(the result of being told correct him for real barking-thankful he found a kinder school). PB on the spoon as he walked, no barking praise quiet. Bye bye behavior.
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holly cow i guess i am pretty smart "smrt" I bought a bubble wand at walmart( toy dept $ 2.00) its a long tube with a handle sort of like a sword and inside is the wand anywho i just dumped the bubbles so it was light and i smeared peanut butter on it and that is how i taught bella to heel..I use it for some target training also. i will try the jump start now..
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