Back to Basics...Again!
 . Even the ones that were yelping the whole time were obeying their master's and the owners were ordinary type people.
We went through two sessions of classes at Petsmart last year. As you saw the pictures, Fozzie graduated from both the Basic and Intermediate level classes. Really, they were both socialization classes and a ton of fun. After our observation, the new trainer asked us if Foz was ready for the Intermediate class...uh, NOPE! We're going back to basics! The training facility is in a big old barn which I'm sure will be really hot and musty..allergy attack waiting to happen. Think of us  |
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| That sounds like a great plan! I've actually just signed Maggie up for our first official obedience class. At 2 1/2, she will probably be the oldest beginner in the group. I hope you and Fozzie have a great time! |
good luck  , Dutch and I are are into our 2nd week of obedience , we're not the best but then again not the worst  |
| Good Luck with the new class. Hope Fozzie enjoys it as much as the other classes. |
| Oooh - have fun! I think he'll stride ahead in no time at this new place. How many weeks does this session last, or is it a graduate when your dog is ready to move on type of thing? |
Have fun, you will all enjoy it.  |
| Have fun! I'm guessing it will be totally different with a different instructor.
Bentley starts the intermediate level classes on Monday. It's interesting that we're all going to class at the same time. I've cleared my plate of all other obligations, LOL, since doing the homework is the key to success. |
| Sounds like fun for the dogs, not so fun for the uprights b/c of the allergies Good luck and hope Fozzie gets lots of treats! |
| That's great that Foz is going back to school! And Maggie and Bentley and Dutch too!....You can add Avalon to that group! I think going back to basics is a great idea as well. You can never train or practice too much.
Avalon and I start together on Wednesday. She was too rambunctious the last time I took her for classes. She is a lot calmer now and hopefully more ready to learn. It was rather embarrassing last time taking the class. 
Stacy, I hope the barn won't be bad for your allergies. Maybe you can take something before each class to prevent them from being bad? |
| The trainer, Alan, is really good with the dogs and the owners! There are only two dogs (Foz & a 4 month old Sheltie) in this class which will give us some much needed one on one attention. Foz received lots of treats, but I can tell that the trainer doesn't allow much time for monkey business in his classes. Allen is SO much different than the 25 year old Petsmart trainer. He gets so involved that he works up a sweat. He's probably in his 50s and has been a trainer for obedience and guard dogs for most of his life.
This is a 6 week session and then hopefully we'll get into the intermediate class (which is what we observed a few weeks ago). About 10 very well behaved dogs showed up after our class. It'sabout 110% humidity outside today, but the barn wasn't so bad. Alan had just cleaned it out in the morning and there were several fans blowing away. Half way through the session, Fozzie laid down in front of one .
I've taken allergy meds for most of my entire life. I'm probably immune to them by now. I actually swtiched recently from Allegra to Allegra D which has a decongestant. I've noticed a little bit of a difference. OMG! Totally hailing outside right now! |
| Thought I'd go back to this thread again...Fozzie and Steve successfully passed two 6 week classes over the summer (Basic and Intermediate). We could continue in the intermediate classes as long as we'd like. The trainer is great.
Problem is...Mommy doesn't walk Fozzie. I have to admit that I have only walked Fozzie a handful of times in his almost 2 years of life. I think that this is absolutely horrible and a good Mommy should be able to walk her boy. There are things I'd like to do with him that shouldn't require Steve to schlepp along and do all the work. The last time I tried to walk Fozzie, my shoulder blade muscle (rhomboid) hurt for about 4 months and is still tender. I'm honestly afraid that he will pull me and I will be in pain. I spoke to the trainer last week and he provided me with some confidence for one on one trainings. He thinks that there are ways we can work around my pain. He will also come out to the car to walk Fozzie into the facility. We have our first session this coming Saturday. I'm nervous...it's a good thing I have a massage scheduled for Tuesday. |
Good Luck Stacy....tell Fozzie that you will tell Annie if he doesn't behave  and that he will have to answer to her if you get hurt |
| Wow, I totally missed this post the 1st time around. I hope all of you that had classes this summer learned a bunch and had a good time.
Good luck with Fozzie, Stacy. You really should be able to walk your own dog - that is a very good goal. |
| Nigel is ready for another class...but I am not sure if I want to do Petsmart again. I will start researching...the obedience group I belong to doesn't have classes again until Spring...can't wait that long. |
| Stacy, I feel your pain. When I walk Pirate, he actually walks me. Its terrible, and I too feel like a bad mommy. Someone at SheepieFest! had a great harness, that I will be trying on Pi. I'll let you know if it helps. |
| Deborah,
It's a good thing we have excellent schlep-along husbands I think we should buy them tshirts next year for Sheepiefest that say "I'm the Schlep-along" |
| I didn't realize how effective the gentle leader was with eliminating the pulling until I walked Morgan the other day without one - that won't happen again soon. Any ne who has trouble with their dog pulling should try one. We don't use it in obedience class but apparently the dogs believe "in the ring behavior" to be different from real life! |
| Stacy I'm sure you are going to be able to walk Fozzie soon and it seems your trainer is pretty helpful too. Massage is always good... can't wait to have one!
Let us know how the training goes! |
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