Dog Training: Week 5

We attended our fifth dog training class last night. We had a fifth dog join our class in week two. Quince is a Welsh corgi mix. Quince and Pablo (chihuahua) weren't in class last night so it was just Pete, Annabelle, and Buckley (Boston terrier).

Buckley and Annabelle do really well in class, especially Buckley. Pete still stayed close to me, but I did get a few sits out of her. She was also taking treats from me, which I was thrilled with. I tried to get her to walk in class and in the store, but she just is not interested. We did an exercise in the store last night where Robert (instructor) and his dog, Skye led the line. Annabelle and Justin were behind them. Pete and I were behind Anne, and Buckley and his owner were behind us. Robert would stop and get Skye to sit or sometimes go down and we were to follow with our dogs. Everyone did really well except Pete. She did walk a little, but I carried her about ninety percent of the time.

When we returned to the room, Robert pulled out some squeaky toys to use as distractions and Pete perked up. She was very interested in the toys. I even pulled out her mini tennis ball, but she simply would not go to the ball or touch it. All the other dogs wanted the ball and toys, but not Miss Pete.

We also practiced walking toward another dog and getting your dog to stop right beside the other dog. The other dog and handler is a distraction and we're teaching our dogs to pay attention to us, not the distraction. Annabelle and Buckley did really well. Pete wasn't the least bit distracted. We joke that she has stay, wait, and leave it down pat since she just sits on the floor and won't move.

We were introduced to something called puppy push-ups. A puppy push-up is when you get your dog to sit, then go down, the back up in a sit, then back down, then back to sit. Annabelle gets the sit and the first down, but we have a hard time getting her back up to sit. I was practicing with her this morning and she would sit, go down, and then roll over. I did get a couple of push-ups out of her. I still can't get Pete down, so I obviously haven't gotten any push-ups from her. She's getting very close to down and I'm sure she'll have it any day now.

I'm going to try to remember to take some cheese to class next week to try to entice Pete to walk. She's never been all that interested in walking on a leash, but she won't even move at Petsmart. I usually drag her behind me, but her paws slide across the floor since it's smooth. It's pretty funny, but sad at the same time. I'll stop after a second and pick her up. While I was trying to coax Pete to come to me, Robert suggested I call Annabelle and then call Pete to see if she would join Anne. Anne came right to me, but Pete just laid down. Annabelle kept trying to get the treat from my hand that I was using to call Pete. I said "sit" to Annabelle and she sat and stopped trying to get the treat. I was very pleased!

I am determined to get Pete to walk in class by week eight. That is my goal. She may not have down, leave it, or anything else, but she will walk.