Last Off-Leash Class - Still Leashed

[Krislady]

Well, today was our last off-leash class, and Jar. . . well, he made it. We ALL made it.

While SOME of the dogs were able to run through pretty much everything, in a room full of other dogs, successfully and offleash (not naming any names) (stupid poodle mix showoff), Jar's challenge this time around was more about being IN the room with those dogs and still functioning.

He did that.

He was definitely stressed - he's had a rough week, what with his first doggy daycare AND his first day at work, but he did just fine.

Though he's still playing the "poor, painful puppy" card whenever he can get away with it.

He's still giving me a hard time with heeling. I spoke with one of the assistants about proper clicker use, specifically whether, when we're heeling and he gets distracted and looks away, whether I should click him again when he looks back. NOT to get his attention, but to mark the looking back at me. Cameron said I should, so I will.

I expect there to be a MARKED improvement by the time we repeat this class in two weeks.

After all, Advanced II class includes cool stuff like backwards heeling. And jumping over stuff. Jar wants to get in on that, too.

But WOW is he tired tonight!

[Saralaya]

You and Jar have done SUCH hard work and it is paying off... what a good team you two make! Can't wait to hear tales from the next session. How DID he do at work with you? Sounds like it went OK....

[K9 Owned]

Good job! It is quite an accomplishment for the lad not to lose it with so much stimuli. Heeling isn't easy and he has had a lot to cope with recently from your absence to daycare to your office. I think that you are doing incredibly well in that he hasn't regressed!

I also want to say that it is part of my Saturday now to stop and think 'I wonder how Jar did' and then I come here to check. If you change class dates you are going to totally mess me up.

[K9 Owned]

PS. You have the perky poodle cross and I had Shelties. It took me a long time to like Shelties again.

[Krislady]

Thanks, guys.

And GOSH I can't believe I didn't post an update on Jarly's adventures at work with me! I'm kind of between computers right now and have been working on the fossil laptop, and, honestly, EVERYTHING is SUCH a chore with that!

So I too him into the office Wednesday morning - I get there early, which is good, and he's been there a couple of times before, though only for a couple of minutes.

He wants NO PART of the stairs - it's kind of a curvy staircase with glass and stainless - it freaks him out, so we take the elevator. Which he's also less than thrilled with but he's good about it.

Anyway, I got him in and let him drag his leash for a while while he explored, and I locked the office door just in case - I didn't want anyone sneaking up on him! He was great - stuck close to me for the most part. I did close my boss's door - the last thing I'd need would be, after I'd ASSURED HIM that Jar would be fine, for Jar to lift his leg on the sofa! (Not that he WOULD, mind you, but he COULD.)

At one point, he sort of slithered into the conference room to explore, and I said, "hey, what are you doing in there?" and he sort of scooted out and said "nothin'"

He finally settled next to my desk and it was all good. Until. Until about 8:00 when he looked out the window and noticed people coming into the building. THEN he started barking his fool head off! I saw one lady (the receptionist for the building management company, actually) stop and look around. Almost as if she'd heard a dog barking. . .

I closed the blinds COMPLETELY and he settled right down, though I also closed my office door - didn't want him to THEN see people walking by the office and start up again!

Finally, around 9-ish,our secretary came in (whom he's met before), and, sure enough, as soon as she came into my office, he started with the WOOF WOOF WOOF stuff. I KNOW, idiot, I saw her.

I had him show off and run through all his stuff- sit, down, stay, around - that sort of thing, then I handed her some treats and let her "babysit" while went to the ladies' room! He was EXCELLENT for her.

I did get him settled down and got some work done, but he was pretty nervous, so I ended up leaving around 11 - I figured half a day was plenty for a first time.

[K9 Owned]

Sound like he did very well!
Barking at people invading the building and protecting Mummy is his main job doncha know

[Saralaya]

He's a good boy and a good protector..... even if you wish he were a quieter protector! Sounds like a pretty good deal for a first time there for that much time. Thanks for filling us in!

[Connie Lea]

Awesome job with Jar, both class and at the office. He is such a good boy and you've done a great job with him.

[Krislady]

Thanks, guys.

He's here at the office with me again this morning - and this time the boss is here.

So far so good. . . though he definitely does NOT like Tim walking past my office door back and forth to go get coffee.

Progress, though. At least the boss is pretty much leaving me alone. .

ETA: I just gave him a Kong - BOY was he surprised! That should keep him busy for an hour or so.

[K9 Owned]

Good Jarly! When does the construction start or has it already?

[Krislady]

It's supposed to start Monday - let's hope - and be done in a week.

Again, let's hope.

He was very good today - until the mailman came in and picked up our mail. THEN he got jerky. (What a cliche!) So I decided that he'd had enough fun for one day, and we're home now.