Dog Obedience Training Day 1

July 1, 2013

Okay, I am starting my endeavor into the dog obedience world.  Actually, this is a little late.  I should have begun this when I first began classes, but didn't see the need to journal on this subject.  Now I see there is a tremendous need for this.  Not only for myself, but for all others who wish to begin this treck into obedience but don't know how.

Flutter is a small Papillon that finished her Grand Champion title.  She is a cutie and I love to show her.  However, when my good friend finished her Champion title on her "bitch"  (please don't be offended, this is a dog blog afterall), I took Flutter out of the ring so we didn't have to compete against each other.   So what to do with Flutter.  She can stay home or she can find another job.  I decided to try obedience.  After all, she is more than a pretty face.  Really.

I looked at the requirements for Novice A Obedience and thought, it will take months before I can get a dog to stay while I walk around a ring.  Well, after some research I discovered a new category called sub-novice.  I looked on the internet and found You Tube and said, Eureka, that's where I will begin.  Doesn't look to hard.  So I entered a show for July 13, 2013 and have 4 weeks to get this down.

The most difficult aspect was to find a trainer.  There is nothing here in my area from our Kennel Club.  Nothing, Nada.  Where to go.  There is a training facility 55 miles from me but it was closed during the summer.  My assistant said she knew someone who did training so I called.  Made an appointment for private lessons and here I am.

Day one was teaching her to sit, stay, watch me and leave it.  Go home and try sit.  Really, why won't you do this for me, you did this for the trainer.  Try again, "Sit!" "What, you expect me to sit?  Oh, my poor derriere.  After all, I am a Papillon."  Try again.  Oh yes, a sit.  Yeah.  And another sit and another.  I am on my way.  Down.  Yeah, there is a down.  Let's try that again.  Yes, a down.  Cool.  I am catching on to this.  To heck with the dog, she is training me to train her.  Honest.

Day two of training.  Stay.  Really?? Stay!!!!  "You think I am going to Stay".  "Heck no, I follow my mommy everywhere."  Frustration.  Let's try this again.  Oh, yes, she stayed while I walked away one foot.  Yeah!!!!.  Now let's try two feet.  No, well, let's try again.  It worked!!!  Now, let's see if we can walk around her without her moving.  Nope, Nope, again, Nope again and again and again.  Wait, got it.  Yes. Yes. Yes!!!  But this is with the trainer.  What about me.  HELP!!!!

Now I go home to practice, practice, practice.  Where do I get the time.  Well tomorrow is my third class and, guess what, I walked around her today and she stayed.  I made her sit and she sat.  I said down and she went down.  I asked her to stay and I walked away 6 feet and she stayed.  I call her and she came.  Well, to my right so we'll work on that.  I feel so excited.  Accomplishment.  So excited.

Our first show is July 13, 2013.  Here we go.