Wish us luck...we're off to obedience...
Well, that was....the worst experience ever. I pulled him out after three minutes (much to my husband's disgust...he'd rather we all suffer for six weeks than actually change to the appropriate level...he freaks out about "making waves." He sure married the wrong person there). The first three minutes of the class we didn't belong in went something like this.... OKEVERYONELINEUPANDCONTROLYOURDOGS HEYISAIDCONTROLYOURDOG CONTROLYOURDOG (And, all Hudson was actually doing at the time was sitting there quietly. I was actually quite proud. Guess I didn't get it. That IS what Hudson looks like when he's under control.) OKNOWRIGHTLEGFORWARDHEADATKNEEANDWALKLEADWITHYOUR LEFTNOYOURLEFTNOYOURLEFTKEEPHIMSTRAIGHTKEEPHIMSTRAIGHTSTOP RIGHTHANDUPLEFTLEGBACKBLAHBLAHBLAHBLAHBLAH. LEASH CONTROLEYECONTROLWALKINLINEHOLDHIMBACKSPEEDUPSPEEDUP LEASHTOOTIGHTLEASHTOOLOOSE.... (At this point all the dogs were walking perfectly beside their owners in the circle, heads six to eight inches from left knees. Hudson was doing something similar to what the Looney Tunes Tasmanian Devil does, but with a smile on his face. Since he hadn't actually broken his leash or anythiing I was thinking, hey, this is going well. He really likes to meet new dogs and new people, and really wants all his new friends to wear him as a hat.) So, I wouldn't torture him like that. What good could possibly come from being in a class that out of our reach? I went to the desk and moved him into the beginner class, which had an orientation last week and starts this week. Guess what we're working on this week? Head control. You give him a treat and while he nibbles you stroke his head from nose to ear over and over so he gets ok with being touched. (Ha ha. He's an affection piggy....we've already nailed that.) So, our "star" of puppy classes was definitely out of his element in level two. Fine. I never thought that was the right place for him anyway....but how do they plan to take us from patting his head this week to being ready for LEVEL TWO (in all its glory) after five more sessions? Buckle up Hudson. This is going to be one interesting ride... |
|
|
Very interesting. 
Does the same instructor teach both level one and level 2? If so, there may be a chance that the classes may match up from the 2 levels... Otherwise it sounds like they may have some serious gaps and continuity issues in their classes! Is the level 2 instructor too strict? Hard to tell from the monotone - definitely not geared to a puppy just out of puppy class! You made the right choice though, going to level one, I just hope they get up to speed so you can move on to the next level. Or are there other class options? |
| We're ba-ack....and this was definitely the correct place to be. Yes, it was the same instructor, so I have no idea how level one and level two will line up, but the expectations were definitely a lot more reasonable.
Hudson picked up everything he needed to do while we were there. At home, of course, things may be different. I'm cautiously optimistic though. As an aside, it's really hard for me to be a student in someone else's classes. Having been a teacher for almost twenty years I find I spend more time critiquing the teaching style (occupational hazard) than I spend listening and learning. It's good that my husband came too, and we switched back and forth with all the activities to make sure we both had it. For the end of week five we need to teach a "trick" of our choice. Hudson already does this weird spinning thing right before his food is placed for him (I've taught him to then sit and stay until I tell him he can eat). I'm thinking of saying "spin Hudson spin" while he does it to see if he can associate that with what he's doing and then do it on command. My husband says I'm nuts, and plans to work on shake a paw. Who knows, maybe he'll end up with two. Or, more likely, when my plan fails we'll have shake a paw to fall back on. The only problem is I HATE that trick. Every dog I have ever known, once they learn it, start using that paw to smack others with when they want something. Why would I encourage that? Anyway, things went well, and we have tons of homework (which is good), so we're definitely in the right class. And just maybe he'll end up being just a little less evil at the end. 
I can dream, can't I? |
Yay!!!!
 |
YEAH!!!! and go with the spin - shaking paws with young dogs can turn into a night mare they tend to want to do it all the time and sheepies already like to paw at us to get our attention. I am thinking of teaching mine to shake now - they are three  |
kerry wrote: YEAH!!!! and go with the spin - shaking paws with young dogs can turn into a night mare they tend to want to do it all the time and sheepies already like to paw at us to get our attention. I am thinking of teaching mine to shake now - they are three
I taught Chewie shake too - and it works great! But.......his shake is a literal shake - I taught it to him as he was shaking off in the tub after a bath! |
Lol. Dawn that's what 'shake' means here too! 
How many classes are in a level? Personally, I only allow Basic Obedience graduates into my advanced class. If I have a dog that wants to do Advanced I ask them to come to the first B.O. class to see how much&what they know and then I decided what would be best for them. I agree with everybody else, you did make the right decision by moving to level 1. Even if sometimes you learn the same thing. I'm sure Hudson will do great!  |
| oh you are so funny.. well duffy is still in beginners even though he past his cgc.. seems like he is 9 months and has become a well lets just say well i can write that we will go for looney bird ..so i feel your pain but they are just so darn cute |
| Oh my gosh I needed to read that tonight. Just got done working and I am laughing at how your described this. We need an obedience class here, i am so far up in the boonies it is not even funny, but we are going to look and see if anyone around here teaches Obedience classes. |
Didn't find exactly what you're looking for? Search again here:
Custom Search
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|