We went and survived our first class in beginner obedience school this week! Della is actually pretty good with regard to "sit" but that's about it. And walking/heeling--you've GOT to be kidding me?! So off to school we go!
One of the main reasons I am taking her through all this is because she struggles with the social-thing. Frankly she is petrified when strangers or strange dogs are near. Socialization will be the biggest benefit of this undertaking.
Della actually handled the first class very well. The main thrust of the first lesson was getting the dogs to heel--not completely mind you, just to sit when you stop as a first step. The first 4 times--she did GREAT! We walked (she pulled...next lesson...) and we stopped. I said "sit" and pushed a bit on her butt and she sat. I was thrilled!! And then she had had enough. The next few times her attitude was "no way, nope, not gonna sit."
Della has this thing, this quirk. She will only go potty in her own backyard. We will go on a 2 mile walk and she doesn't stop once to pee. But as soon as we get home, she flies into the backyard and does everything she needs to do.
Before we went to class I was ecstatic because she peed AND pooped! But, the last 20 minutes of class she was agitated and anxious. I took her outside the building, but nothing doing. She WANTED to go, but it wasn't her yard so she wouldn't go. So, we struggled to the end of class not sitting at all because, well, she had to "go!" When we were done, she ran to the car, hopped inside, and whinned the whole way home. Once home--backyard time! She hit that yard like it was the Garden of Eden and she found sacred relief!
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