It's a proud moment when your pup graduates from his intermediate obedience class. I was so glad to be able to share the good progress with his foster friends and rescue group. I have to send a big shout out to PetSmart and our trainer Juliet for inviting us to join this program.
I've never gone through formal classes with my dogs and I've always regretted this (especially when Lyger's pulling me down the sidewalk). After adopting a strong, young and shy dog I knew Kayden needed to get his education off on the right foot. I had hopes that the course would help him understand what is expected of a pet dog (instead of a stray desert dog) and hopefully bring him out of his shell a bit. Mission accomplished! And then some!
Kayden's new skills include:
Sit Stay and Down Stay: Pretty self explanatory, but super helpful on a daily basis. I use it when it's time to hook him to his leash, time to get out of the car, wait while I walk him down stairs...I don't need him to look pretty doing it. I just need him to stay safe when I'm trying to get something accomplished. We're working on having him stay for longer breaks and with greater distances. Distractions can always be an issue too.
Wait: Waiting before a dog enters a door or heads down the stairs. Being that I'm 6 months pregnant, my balance on stairs is iffy to begin with. Having a polite pitty wait at the top of the stairs instead of rushing through your legs is a huge safety bonus! When I'm carrying his new baby buddy in August, I won't have to watch my footing quite so much.
Park it (aka Go to Bed): This is just telling your dog to go to his safe spot when asked. In our house, that's go to the closest dog bed, so that you're not jumping on company or getting under foot while I'm working in the kitchen. Practical uses abound!
Heel: Again,
pretty self explanatory, and a skill we're still working on, but I cannot recommend it enough. It's transforming our walks from a time of aggrivation into a bonding experience. When your pup looks up to you, waiting for his next queue, it's a great feeling.
Tricks: We're working on "bang, you're dead." Somedays, Kayden is feeling more "alive" than "dead" but this trick is surprisingly easy to learn, if you've got the right trainer.
More importantly: Anyone at Embrace will tell you that Kayden is "like a different dog". The dog that used to run from umbrellas and people with purses now greets the FedEx guy and his cart! Instead of hiding under my desk he's visiting everyone in the office, getting his picture taken, getting pets, taking treats, and enjoying life. Socialization is one thing, but I'm a firm believer that helping Kayden feel more prepared for what humans expect and need from him has been critical.
Other tips from our class experience:
- I loved that there were just two dogs in this course. Not sure how many pets are in their other courses, but it was nice to get the personalized attention. Kayden wasn't overwhelmed, and that's a big deal for a dog like him.
- We used a clicker, which is not required, but was super helpful in keeping Kay attentive and alert. Strongly recommend it.
- Have good treats. Kayden was much less interested in the beef treats, but perks right up when he smells his peanut butter and banana bits.
- You have to do your homework. There's no judgement from the trainers at PetSmart, but I know that we could have been better at practicing. We were consistent about asking Kayden to do his task when an opportunity arose, but his responses would be more consistent had we spent more time explicitly training.
Fortunately, we'll be able to continue to practice on a regular basis. Juliet invited us to come back for the advanced course in a few weeks. We'll be joining a pretty Italian Mastiff named Mouse to perfect our safety skills and hopefully earn our Canine Good Citizen badge. Fingers and paws crossed!