Picture will come soon
I knew something was going on because all my dog family came to work with Mom today. hmmmm what can it be. We all got baths and the car was full of crates. Usually just mine is in the car. We all went home after the big bath day and did the usuall with me playing in the yard, eating dinner and then sleepy time.
Mom got up earlier than usuall and loaded us all up. We even had a little rescue dog going along. Then all the suit cases and the cooler full of dog food.
We drove about 3 or more hours and then we were there. The place was familiar. I know it from a previous visit. Yep, we were gonna have fun now at a Dog Training Seminar.
Ivan B who is one of the best trainers (my Mom thinks), in the world was holding a 3 day seminar and my Mom got a ticket for me to go. The other dogs were just along for the ride but I think enjoyed hanging out with Mom when on a break.
I waited paitentaly for my turn and then it came. Mom got all my gear on me, collar, pinch collar, harness, treats in her pocket, balls in another and the fun tug. We went to the training field and Ivan asked Mom to show how she was starting my "heeling". We started with food along the fence since I was a youngster. You know the Muscle Memory Stuff.. Well my muscle is memorized to stay up.
BUT, "Mom" told Ivan she did not know how to get off of the fence to do some real "Heeling" with me. Ivan asked what else I knew in words. She said, "Sit" and "Down", which I did but when she said the down word my mind went blank. I think part is because she is now switching all my commands to English instead of French. Makes it easier for Mom to not have to think of another language. I think it is hard enough for her to teach me in English so we changed.
She even said the "Down" word in French, but again my mind went blank. I think Mom was a little nervous being our first day and everything.
Ivan said, just take out the tug and lets learn the game. Wow, I love games.
I am learning at such a fast pace but always like to get in those cheapy shots,
We played the game for a few days and on day 3 Ivan showed us the correct way to do the heel or to start it anyway.
He told mom to put her left hand outside of my left ears and go to under my chin to pull my head up to say watch me. I did and got a toy. But then she took a few steps and said the word heel (which is to walk by her side) and I had no clue so put on the brakes. That is when Ivan stepped in and showed me how. Again I put on the brakes because I had no clue why he was pushing my behind down and pulling my neck up with the collar. But every time I stressed he threw the tug toy and we got to play. I forgave him and back to learning again so we could play.
This was all a little tough on me because it was new so when Ivan was done with me we played and it ended.
Mom and me practiced since we came home only she is going slow so I don't learn the wrong way. That is ok cause we get to play all the more.
We always practice our sits and downs and outs with something added in there.
I really love training because training to me is like playing only I am learning,
We did obedience each morning and bite work in the afternoon. Since I am now doing French Ring we are biting on the legs or puppy leg sleeves.
Mom tied me to a post with my harness hooked up and I jumped and barked until Ivan put one of those legs in my reach to bite. This was all a little different to me so I did not bite so hard and whoops the leg went out of my mouth and I had to lure him back in to get to bite, He teased me alot at first which made me a little more determined that I was gonna bite that leg. I bit and hung on for all it was worth. We played this game until I was way tired and then I got to run to the car with the leg sleeve.
On day 2 Ivan knew how I was so wanted to work on making me miss a leg and go for the one closest not the one moving away. In French Ring they judge the dog on the seconds it takes to get to the bite so biting the closest leg is the better choice.
But me being a puppy likes the movement of things.
By day 3 I was finally getting it and bit the leg closer rather then the one moving.
On day 3 we trained inside a building because it was a little hot outside. That did not phase me in the least. All I could see was getting a bite. This time Ivan made my mom tell me to down stay before he came to give me a bite. This was very hard for me to do but finally with a little persistance I did it.
Still my outs and downs were a little sloppy but mom says that will get better with time. I am just so excited to bite that I hate to let go,,,
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