It was like having a NORMAL dog!

[Krislady]

We were back to class this week, after 2 weeks off for the holidays.

A reminder - this is Jar's second go at the off-leash "Advanced" training class. Since we've completed the class once, and basically it's the same skills we did in "Basic" class, only more so, it's essentially a matter of his doing the stuff better, in a room full of dogs, and,ideally, off-leash.

Yeah. My objective is to have him do the stuff better in the room full of other dogs, and to heck with the leash. We do practice at home and in the yard (when it's not full of snow) with no leash.

SO. We got to the class, just as the earlier class was letting out, and. . . he was FINE. We saw a couple of other dogs coming out, a couple of dogs coming in, and we just sort of hung back, and it was all good.

Class was . . . FINE. I did NOT put him in his head collar (he hasn't been wearing it for walks, either, and honestly, at this point, it annoys him more than it helps. Last class, I ended up taking it off him because he was paying more attention to rubbing his face than to HEELING which is what he was supposed to be doing.

So. Just his regular martingale collar, and we walked right into the class like nobody's business. Well, actually, we usually go through another room (the time-out room, I guess) and come in the other side, which is fine.

Anyway, although he was still a little (annoyingly) distracted by the other dogs, he didn't DO anything.

That golden retriever who stares at him - bah. He looked at her, looked at me, and got a treat.

The little show-offy poodly mixy thing did her bouncy show-offy thing, and Jar did not care.

Like I said, he was a little distracted - but mostly I think it was because he was tired. He gets like that

We did a LOT of heeling - are you sitting down? He even did the figure-8 heeling AROUND THE OTHER DOGS (including the staring golden) - and he did it twice - once with my husband and once with me!



Granted, they had each dog between two people so there wouldn't be any actual dog-on-dog contact, but still - he was THIS close to two other dogs, and he didn't even look at them. And we did most of the class further into the room than we have been, too - usually we're way back in the corner, so we can make a quick getaway if we need to.

And we didn't even need to!

Oh, oh, and then, at the end of the class, when we left, they had another class coming in, and, although there were only two dogs there, when we left, we walked right through the reception area (for lack of another word for it), and we walked right on by those two strange dogs, without a care in the world! And outside, two other dogs from class, and we just followed along behind them, sniffing and playing it cool.

So how awesome is THAT???

[Saralaya]

So TOTALLY COMPLETELY AWESOME... that's how AWESOME! Our Jarly and his Mom and Dad are an awesome team!!!

[K9 Owned]

I'm so proud of you both!!!!

Yes, you now have a 'normal' dog or are so very close. Taking a reactive dog and spending the hundreds of hours necessary to turn him around is a herculean task and most people just don't bother. They managed it by walking their dogs at 4am and the dog never has a normal life.

I have all the respect in the world for what you have done.


Jarly is......

[Krislady]

Thanks, guys.

I think, after this class is through, we're going to talk to the doggy daycare people (the same people we did the Feisty class with) about some special training - letting him meet strange dogs one-on-one.

I am really starting to suspect that mostly he wants to play, but he doesn't have any social skills, and he's big and scary. . .

So talk about normal pets - how's THIS:


That cat was practically sitting in his lap!

PS I don't know why stupid photobucket is suddenly making all my pictures HUGE.

[Saralaya]

Krislady wrote:
Thanks, guys.

I think, after this class is through, we're going to talk to the doggy daycare people (the same people we did the Feisty class with) about some special training - letting him meet strange dogs one-on-one.

I am really starting to suspect that mostly he wants to play, but he doesn't have any social skills, and he's big and scary. . .

So talk about normal pets - how's THIS:


That cat was practically sitting in his lap!

PS I don't know why stupid photobucket is suddenly making all my pictures HUGE.

Wow... That's AMAZING Kris! Cat does look like she is considering what she can do to wake him up though....LOL

[K9 Owned]

They may end up playing with each other yet!

When you get some time it might be interesting for you to scroll back a year to some of your earlier posts and follow them forward. It will give you a VER clear idea of how far you have come.

[Krislady]

I know, right? Though actually, he was awake - when I saw them, I had to walk past them both to grab my camera - and The Jar watched me as I walked by. I swear, he's like one of those portraits in an old Abbott and Costello movie (or more likely, a Scooby Doo cartoon!) - his eyes just sort of follow me around the room. . .

We've come a long way, huh? And as for the two of them, I guess the daily kitty-puppy treat time really is paying off.

[Chattes]

Jar is such a good boy! Kitty might come completely around too but don't count on it. She's a cat after all!

[Krislady]

As long as she's not biting holes in my arm (which she's done) or getting mad and peeing on the floor (also done) I can put up with an awful lot of Kitty's attitude!

[Connie Lea]

Kris you and Jar have done an amazing job. Like K9 said a lot of people wouldn't have bothered to put in all the time you have. You are to be commended. Jar is so lucky to have you for a mom.

[Krislady]

Thanks, Connie- and all you guys. But you know, I wouldn't have gotten ANYWHERE with him without all the support and encouragement here.

Well, that, and Jar's just an excellent dog to start with.

[Krislady]

We had another good class this week.

At one point, Bob (the trainer) said he thought Jar was trying to play - rather than a "lunge" it looked more like he was doing a "play bow."



THIS time, we were short a few dogs - there were just 6. So for the heeling thing - he had all six dogs and people (including Jar!) act as "posts" - and each dog heeled around ALL the other dogs. Jar did just fine, though there were two that were awfully close together, so, rather than go between them, we sort of went around them. Eh, I'm good with that.

PLUS - when we weren't heeling around 5 other dogs?

They were heeling around us! Had the Jar in his down-stay (one of his best things!), and every time a strange dog walked by us - he got a "good boy" and a treat. And those dogs got CLOSER than we've ever had them! And all Jar did was look at me for his next treat!

There was one minor incident - almost too minor to even mention, only I'm hyper-sensitive, I think. Right at the end of class, Jar was by the water dish, and a little Boxer Baby walked up to get a drink (or to check out the dish half-full of Jarly drool, anyway) and Jar and Boxer Baby both did a little scuffly thing - nobody touched anyone, and I hauled Jar's a$$ out of there quickly, but still. . .

I should have realized that, after an hour of holding himself together, Jar would be extra stressed, and letting any other dog get near him was just dumbassery on my part (pardon my potty mouth).

Though the VERY SECOND we got outside, he had to stop and PEE like a racehorse, so maybe he was a little uncomfortable? Huh, maybe the sound of Boxer Baby lapping water water made it worse?

Regardless, I'm going to call this week another success - with a little "lesson learned" thrown in.

[K9 Owned]

Great going! I was looking for your post yesterday and thought that you may not have had a class. I look forward to the updates.

I like the word 'dumbassery' and intend to use it at the first opportunity.

As to lesson learned. The more you train the more you learn and the more you get to kick yourself for errors. Sharing a water bowl is not far in Jars future but evidently not quite yet. A guy has to have some standards ya know.

[Saralaya]

I would say that was a RESOUNDING success!!! WTG Jar and Mom!!

[Krislady]

Thanks, guys.

You know, in my HEAD I know I still have to take it slowly - but he's getting so GOOD about everything, I think I'm trying to rush it a little.

And yes, I KNOW. Rushing him will only set him back. SIGH

He USED to be able to share a water dish with our neighbor, Thunder, with no problem.

In fact (and this is hilarious) I used to take cheese-in-a-can, fill the neighbor boy's palm with it (he was about 3), and the two monster dogs would both wrap their big old slobbery tongues around his hand trying to get every bit of cheesy goodness from it - and the kid still has all his fingers!

Patience, grasshopper.