So tonight we completed our first class. I got to class early, probably too early, but there was less traffic than I expected. I brought Etta in and there were two classes going on so we found an "alley" behind a ring gate and I put out her mat. She did go right to it, but she was trembling and hypervigilant (this was how she was in this building for the first 20 minutes or so for the obedience class we took there last year). I did try some light massage and it helped a little but Etta had a hard time settling. She did take food earlier than I expected. That is my litmus test for her. She is a foodie so when she is not taking food she needs to settle in.
The class started with about a half an hour of everyone sitting down talking. They seemed to think I was weird because I passed on a chair and sat on the floor with Etta on her mat! There was a Berner barking next to her that worried her some but not too overly bad. At one point they locked eyes and the Berner barked at her (maybe four feet away?). I saw Etta tense and raise her head just a bit (I know her next step would be a lunging snark, she is a little disciplinarian!). I immediately put my hand in front of her nose and asked her to target, then had her target the opposite direction. This facility does not seem to address barking dogs. In my classes I am big on quiet dogs equal relaxed dogs and I work my own dogs that way, so on one hand the change in environment is good for Etta, but on the other it is unsettling.
We got to work on the tire jump and tunnel. Etta has done tunnels that I got for fun and jumping through a hoop is not a big deal for her so I expected things to go smoothly which they did. The instructor wanted us to get the dogs just near the obstacles and c/t for any interaction near or with them. Etta loves to target, she targets everything. So we get over there, I clicked her for turning her nose towards the tire and that was it! Etta was paw targeting, sticking her head through, stepping through, piece of cake! The instructor looked at everyone and said "This is clearly a dog that was taught to be a thinking dog". It was pretty cool.
One thing that amazed me to see, as soon as we "got to work" Etta just lit up and had no need to worry about anything going on around her. She began offering behaviors, bright eyes, animated body language, and she was overall unphased by any sounds around her. I think next week I need to arrive just a few minutes early, otherwise stay outside to work. Her LLW was really quite good and I know the extra attention I've been paying to that is paying off. All on all, I think this will be fun, I just need to find the right combo of time and work for Etta to soar.
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Jessica Janowski
www.puppyplease.com
Jessica Janowski
www.puppyplease.com
"I don't whisper, I translate!"
wonderful
what a wonderful post. Thank you for sharing, and a c/t to you for knowing your dog so well and responding so promptly to her signals. :o)
Christina
BTW I love your siggy....