Schools days for Laddie soon

Sir Dash and I just finished an obedience class. All of the dogs were doing well in the class. One evening, one of the ladies had to bring her grandson and the little dog did not do well at all....when she normally did. She felt that her dog identified the little boy as her playmate....and was not paying attention to her or to the commands. The lady said she had learned a hard lesson....not to bring little boy to class for little dog.
 
I think your dog did great for his first obedience class. You shouldn't compare your dog to the other dogs. Every dog is different, has different skills, different issues, different amounts of training, experience etc. Class is very stimulating for dogs and since this is Laddie's first class experience, he was probably super excited and stimulated.

Since you are really working on bonding with Laddie, I agree with everyone that you should ask your husband if he can wait in the car or somewhere else while you're in class. This is a new environment for Laddie and you are trying to train him. It will be much easier for Laddie to work without the distraction of your husband. When Laddie is excelling in the class, is comfortable and more focused you can considering asking your husband to attend class again and work on Laddie's impulse to be near your husband.

I see that issue all the time in agility and obedience. Where the dog wants to be with the person (or another dog) while you're trying to train. It is not uncommon. So many times in agility, dogs run out of the ring to be with their dog friend, another owner or person they really like.

My dog also had issues with performing "down" in public places. It took weeks of training to get her to do a down in class. It helps to set little goals rather than expecting him to do everything perfectly. So maybe next week your goal is to get him to get closer to a down than the week before. If actually does a down then great, but if not be proud of any progress he makes and if he doesn't make progress as quickly as you hoped, that's okay too. He'll come around.
 
Ah sweetie, the first class can be rough. Don't compare to other dogs. Some may have had puppy school or have owners who have done this before.

Definitely do the class on your own. This is the chance for you and the dog. I have seen quite a few dogs in our classes (including my boy Shay) who get distracted by the other parent.

Don't sweat the down. I think that is hard for a lot of dogs. Gosh, in my class with my boy, this owner literally had to lay on ground and hold the dog in a down stay. By a couple weeks later, we were competing against each other in the "who can down the fastest" and the "down/stay" competition.

Like I said, enjoy class. BREATHE! If you are uptight, that sensitive little one will feel it. Just try and have a good time and not feel like you are getting graded. Just practice a lot at home. Keep us posted. You'll get there.
 
LaddiesMom...the first class is not necessarily the most fun evening. I remember feeling..."oh gosh, my puppy didn't do well". I just forgot about that and kept working every day, with short lessons. It all paid off...he learned quickly and earned his CGC at 6 months old. Just be calm and keep up the good work.
 
Tell Steve to get lost (politely), Then have fun and enjoy yourself. Don't sweat the small stuff - it will come.
 
Thanks every one for the encouragement. I am so proud of Laddie, I worked all day yesterday on "down" and he is already doing it. Good boy. I feel more hopeful.
 
Laddie's Mom said:
Thanks every one for the encouragement. I am so proud of Laddie, I worked all day yesterday on "down" and he is already doing it. Good boy. I feel more hopeful.
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That sounds like GREAT news to me. But, don't be too disappointed if he's different in the class environment for a while yet. Several posters have given you good reasons for his in-class behavior thus far, and none of them point to either you (or him) being at fault (just learning).

Let me share this with you. My previous Sheltie was never the same in class as he was at home. We only took a few obedience classes together, but his at home behavior and class behavior never did sync up. Oddly enough, Demetrious was much better in class than at home. I think it was because he was a little ham, and he loved the attention and praise from the other participants. At home, I am convinced that he would just occasionally want to show me that I wasn't totally in charge, so on occasion he would require two or three commands before he would comply.
 
Well, our second "training" day was yesterday. He did well. He even did the "down" for me AND for the instructor, she was really impressed. Her words were. "He did damn well for the first week of training" LOL, I had to agree. We worked on the sit some more, and the heel. Dang, I just can not get him to heel. I have tried EVERYTHING they have recommended, he still pulls and "vacuums" the grass. She said he has a short attention span and to work on that. I have been doing that this morning. I noticed when I say "watch" while walking, he does for a second, then goes back to sniffing. Also, he now is jumping and nipping when I give him the treat, ugh, so now, I have to work on that while heeling.

We were taught two new commands yesterday, the "stay" and "wait" I am not sure what the difference is, can anyone shed some light on this. He is doing well with the short stay, can hold it for about 6 seconds now. Also, she told us to walk backwards with them on the lead and call them, she said that will get then use to coming to us, she said games like "hide and seek" are great for that. She said the dogs need to find us, not us find them, that is their job, LOL. Well, Lad "finds" Steve, but will not look for me if he is around, if we are alone, THEN he looks for me, so, we play that game alone.

All in all, a good session, just disappointed about the "heel" and pulling, I am sure though, in time, it will get better.
 
The way I differentiate Stay and Wait has to do with duration and hand signals.

Wait is brief, like sit while I fill your food bowl or while I open the door so we can go out. I use the palm towards the dog with fingers spread as a signal.

Stay is for longer amounts of time (not there yet with Hanna) it could be go to your cushion while we eat dinner. Palm facing the dog fingers closed. I have to admit that I don't generally use stay a lot. Sit, Down, Now and Leave It are my biggies.
 
We teach 'wait' as don't move as we'll be doing something else soon - so you wait to go through a door, across the road or to get your dinner. Stay is don't move until I give you the release word. In everyday life wait is the term you'll use most
 
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