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crysania4I guess I haven't had much chance to post in the past couple days, but more on that reason soon.
Dahlia had her third week at obedience class on Monday. I'm really enjoying the fact that we have only two dogs in this class. It means we have more time with the instructor and things move faster. Both dogs are smart and while Schmootzy is still just a puppy, she responds really well.
We started off class with just discussing some things. I think we mostly did because the other woman in the class had some questions, but also because we wanted to go out and do some work in the aisles and there was a woman there with her four unruly children. Colleen cracked me up by making a few snide comments about the kids needing leashes, training, and then about how their poor dogs would probably end up in a shelter. She's probably right about that, sadly. The dogs AND kids were horribly out of control and the owners seemed to have no clue what to do with them. Maybe she'll suggest training classes to them!
We're moving onto having the dogs do a "wait" with us not turning to look at them. It took a couple times, but Dahlia seemed to understand what we wanted of her pretty quickly. We got through the door with little problem. We found an aisle down the way a bit and practiced some loose leash walking. Colleen came and watched and said she was impressed with Dahlia. She does seem really impressed with her a lot -- she tells everyone she's the perfect rescue dog. It makes me proud! She's such a good girl. We're adding in turns when we're heeling and she did a great right turn around into the next aisle.
Further down there, we met a woman with a small puppy who was really afraid of Dahlia at first. Dahlia approached the dog and it kept running away. So Dahlia's reaction? She laid down and reached out her nose to the dog. After a few minutes, the dog started to bark and want to play. Dahlia really seems to have this innate sense of how to carry herself around small frightened dogs. She's so awesome with them. Colleen thought she was pretty amazing. We really did get a gem of a dog!
We also worked on "go to your bed" and it took Dahlia a little bit, but she was eventually going to her bed. I don't think we'll have much use for this command as she's a calm dog who doesn't get up on the bed with us, doesn't get in your face ever, isn't even obnoxious in begging. But at the same time it's a good command so we're working on it.
She really does amazingly well at class. She's such a great dog!
And on other Dahlia notes -- she's starting to play with other dogs! We met one today and she went over, sniffed, and then jumped into a part play bow! She's getting it! She's playing! I'm so happy to see her initiate play and get more comfortable with it. It's such a joy.
And one more dog note -- the Obamas have said they're going to adopt a shelter dog! Yay!!!
Dahlia had her third week at obedience class on Monday. I'm really enjoying the fact that we have only two dogs in this class. It means we have more time with the instructor and things move faster. Both dogs are smart and while Schmootzy is still just a puppy, she responds really well.
We started off class with just discussing some things. I think we mostly did because the other woman in the class had some questions, but also because we wanted to go out and do some work in the aisles and there was a woman there with her four unruly children. Colleen cracked me up by making a few snide comments about the kids needing leashes, training, and then about how their poor dogs would probably end up in a shelter. She's probably right about that, sadly. The dogs AND kids were horribly out of control and the owners seemed to have no clue what to do with them. Maybe she'll suggest training classes to them!
We're moving onto having the dogs do a "wait" with us not turning to look at them. It took a couple times, but Dahlia seemed to understand what we wanted of her pretty quickly. We got through the door with little problem. We found an aisle down the way a bit and practiced some loose leash walking. Colleen came and watched and said she was impressed with Dahlia. She does seem really impressed with her a lot -- she tells everyone she's the perfect rescue dog. It makes me proud! She's such a good girl. We're adding in turns when we're heeling and she did a great right turn around into the next aisle.
Further down there, we met a woman with a small puppy who was really afraid of Dahlia at first. Dahlia approached the dog and it kept running away. So Dahlia's reaction? She laid down and reached out her nose to the dog. After a few minutes, the dog started to bark and want to play. Dahlia really seems to have this innate sense of how to carry herself around small frightened dogs. She's so awesome with them. Colleen thought she was pretty amazing. We really did get a gem of a dog!
We also worked on "go to your bed" and it took Dahlia a little bit, but she was eventually going to her bed. I don't think we'll have much use for this command as she's a calm dog who doesn't get up on the bed with us, doesn't get in your face ever, isn't even obnoxious in begging. But at the same time it's a good command so we're working on it.
She really does amazingly well at class. She's such a great dog!
And on other Dahlia notes -- she's starting to play with other dogs! We met one today and she went over, sniffed, and then jumped into a part play bow! She's getting it! She's playing! I'm so happy to see her initiate play and get more comfortable with it. It's such a joy.
And one more dog note -- the Obamas have said they're going to adopt a shelter dog! Yay!!!