http://cubbycaboose.blogspot.com/2014/11/intermediate-school-daze.html
Back to school! Intermediate. The blog entry is Cubby's take on the whole thing. In reality, we looked like total jerks. Helloooo, this is the third time I have been through this class. I started training for this class when Cubby was 7.5 weeks with hand signals (the right ones) and paws up and touch and go to your rug from across the room. Basic was just an obstacle to get through to be in this class. Everyone else was trying to figure out how to stand, click, treat, and give the sit-to-down beside you signal while still luring the dog down. I moved literally my wrist and Cubby downed (sat back up, stood). They were not amused. We were chosen to demo paws up. Once Cubby recovered from the teacher dropping the telephone book on the floor loudly right in front of him (oops), he paws upped three times in a row great. They were not amused. I told him to go to his rug from across the room on the 20 foot lead and had to run behind him to keep up. They were not amused. I finally said that this was my THIRD time through the class even though it is Cubby's first. Blank stares. I hate Fresno! We have 2 shih tzus (one with a cool owner and one in full coat with a totally stuck up owner), a black tri aussie wearing a haltie and having clueless owners, a lab, a giant German shepherd who looks depressed, and a white golden who is totally out of control. Man, the very first thing we did was a sit/stay to greet people/dogs. Chaos. Frightening. Wow. Heel up, sit, shake, walk away. Big deal. Leashes wrapped around legs, random clicking and treating, someone gave a down signal for sit and then got mad when the dog downed, etc. Yikes.
Where were we weak? Heeling. I get it now. When walking away from the rug Cubby is focused and great. We turn towards our rug even across the room and he pulls out ahead to go back to it. I need to choose my seat carefully and heel away from it and I will be fine. I may try putting the rug away during heeling to see if that will stop that. We also could not sit-stay and down-stay with me behind him. In front, no problem, behind and he really wanted to turn to see me. He's young and pretty close with me so that is something that can come with more opportunities.
We will have fun, mostly just laughing at people. IF I know the next level will be offered soon I will do it, otherwise, after this I think we are going to get scent and then agility done. That's a total of 30 weeks just to get those done so we will be busy for awhile having some fun.
Back to school! Intermediate. The blog entry is Cubby's take on the whole thing. In reality, we looked like total jerks. Helloooo, this is the third time I have been through this class. I started training for this class when Cubby was 7.5 weeks with hand signals (the right ones) and paws up and touch and go to your rug from across the room. Basic was just an obstacle to get through to be in this class. Everyone else was trying to figure out how to stand, click, treat, and give the sit-to-down beside you signal while still luring the dog down. I moved literally my wrist and Cubby downed (sat back up, stood). They were not amused. We were chosen to demo paws up. Once Cubby recovered from the teacher dropping the telephone book on the floor loudly right in front of him (oops), he paws upped three times in a row great. They were not amused. I told him to go to his rug from across the room on the 20 foot lead and had to run behind him to keep up. They were not amused. I finally said that this was my THIRD time through the class even though it is Cubby's first. Blank stares. I hate Fresno! We have 2 shih tzus (one with a cool owner and one in full coat with a totally stuck up owner), a black tri aussie wearing a haltie and having clueless owners, a lab, a giant German shepherd who looks depressed, and a white golden who is totally out of control. Man, the very first thing we did was a sit/stay to greet people/dogs. Chaos. Frightening. Wow. Heel up, sit, shake, walk away. Big deal. Leashes wrapped around legs, random clicking and treating, someone gave a down signal for sit and then got mad when the dog downed, etc. Yikes.
Where were we weak? Heeling. I get it now. When walking away from the rug Cubby is focused and great. We turn towards our rug even across the room and he pulls out ahead to go back to it. I need to choose my seat carefully and heel away from it and I will be fine. I may try putting the rug away during heeling to see if that will stop that. We also could not sit-stay and down-stay with me behind him. In front, no problem, behind and he really wanted to turn to see me. He's young and pretty close with me so that is something that can come with more opportunities.
We will have fun, mostly just laughing at people. IF I know the next level will be offered soon I will do it, otherwise, after this I think we are going to get scent and then agility done. That's a total of 30 weeks just to get those done so we will be busy for awhile having some fun.
