We’ve now had 3 weeks of our advanced obedience class. It’s been a bit of a shock to the system going from being one of the best dogs in the class (thanks to all the new puppies!) to the ‘new girl’. Week one was a bit like starting a new job – you don’t really know what to expect and just keep your head down and try to take it all in.
And did we have lots of new things to learn!
The ‘sendaway’ was first on the agenda – you have to send your dog away to a designated area where she has to lay down and wait for the next command, which is a recall. Although I had started practicing something similar in the garden, she did not respond in the same way in front of an audience. Typical Welsh Springer Spaniel!
Tess would much rather investigate the room, sniffing all the new scents and ending up on the stage. This caused chuckles from the other owners but much frustration for me. I know she is capable of much more……..
Next came the retrieve – not one of Tess’s strong points. Play comes much higher on her agenda! Thank goodness for the more familiar areas of ‘sit and stay’ and recalls which she does with ease.
Tess is a typical Welsh Springer Spaniel – full of fun and play but still able to learn and willing to please so although we haven’t got off to the best of starts I am confident we will get there. Eventually!!!!!!!!
In the meantime I guess that old saying ‘ no pain no gain’ is appropriate!!!!
Our second class was certainly an improvement on the first thanks to some training during the week using some very tasty treats! She is beginning to grasp the ‘sendaway’ although I can’t get her to ‘lay down’ on command from a distance. More practice needed.
We were given a good tip on retrieve – make her wait while placing her toy between us then call her to fetch and take it from her mouth with encouragement before she can race off with it, drop it or attempt to ‘kill’ it. Something else to work on! We also did some very useful heel work off the lead. This is invaluable as control of your dog, when out, is essential. I was so pleased she stayed with me rather than racing off to play with the other participants! And a little surprised!
Well what was in store for us at week threes class. After a week of practice I was very confident. Ha ha!!!!! Tess had other ideas! After three painful attempts at the ‘sendaway’ – yes, the very thing she can do perfectly at home – there was a definite improvement. Our retrieve, however, was rubbish!!!!! Tess just sat and stared at her toy and then at me and refused to move let alone retrieve. Now how out of character is that? Even our new trainer commented that she didn’t realise Welsh Springer Spaniels could be so contrary!
On the plus side she did do some excellent heel work, sit and down stays and recalls. By the end of the class she was concentrating much more and listening to me so I know we will improve. Just how long will it take is the question but it will be fun finding out. And as one lovely lady in our class said ‘ she is still a baby’……………
Still the only way is up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
