You know, Kozmo just goes with the flow, his sweet little brain doesn't know how to worry. I was worried about a new class with a new facility, new trainer, new dogs, and more difficult subject matter. I was really worried that we had an insurmountable amount of work to do in a five week class to be ready to take the Canine Good Citizen exam. Then I reread the exam and thought about how well Kozmo did over the weekend and started to relax. Then I read that he can't take the test wearing a training collar. Of course I started to worry all over again. I think we know I am a good worrier. I also have this amazing ability to obsess on details which is why a good friend of mine told me to quit reading so much about dogs. Her exact advice was, "put down the books, he is a dog not the space shuttle."
Kozmo is a smart dog. We have been using a training collar for walks since his first basic obedience class. Lately, when I take Kozmo outside to do his business in our yard he wants to jump, tug, and act crazy. Since it's spring time and our yard is really a large mud pit I am not a fan of Kozmo jumping up with his muddy paws. I thought I could outsmart him by using the training collar for bathroom breaks. It didn't take Kozmo long to figure out that if he grabs the leash in his mouth I have no control of the training collar and then he can play ferocious games of tug with his leash.
Due to all the tugging, the adorable leash I got him with little peace signs made into dog faces that says "peace, love, rescue" was looking a bit tattered. I wanted my little angel to look nice for his first day of school at the new facility so I got him a brand new blue collar and matching leash. He looked quite handsome. We headed off to our new school and it is so nice that the new place is only ten minutes from home. I was hoping Kozmo would behave as we entered the new building. I instantly loved his new class. It's so much smaller, only 4 dogs, including Kozmo. We go in and sit down and Kozmo sits like a good boy. Unlike the first day at the other class Kozmo didn't feel the need to bark and act like a maniac. After a brief introduction we learn that one of the biggest goals of this class is to improve our off leash training. To start off each human had to take their dog into the ring, give the leash to the trainer, and practice recall. Instead of ending when the dog came to us we had to keep walking in the opposite direction of the dog and give him a treat when he followed. Kozmo did really well, he came when I called him and he followed me around the room without a leash. I think that in Kozmo's mind class ended at this point. For the remainder of class he thought it would be fun to play tug of war with his leash. His brand new leash, that had no chew marks was quickly covered in doggy slobber.
We worked on sit and stay. We learned the three parts that he needs for sit stay are duration, distance, and distraction. So we had to keep practicing sit stay for each of the three d's. Of course the time that I got Kozmo to sit stay and I walked about ten feet away and circled back around the dog before releasing him was the time that the trainer was working with another dog. Kozmo did this exercise really well about three times and then decided it was time to show off and tug at his leash and demonstrate that he thinks sit really means down. By the time I got him to do another sit say this exercise was over and we only practiced distance and duration. I think Kozmo was trying to help his class mates by being the distraction.
The trainer gave us a great tip. She gave me a second leash and told me to try using two leashes. When Kozmo wants to tug one leash, in theory I still have control of the second leash. In reality, Kozmo just had two leashes for extra tugging power. The thing I liked about this trainer is that when Kozmo acted up she laughed and said she had been there, she didn't look down her nose and my ill mannered young dog who is still learning.
Once again, we learned that I need as much training as Kozmo. It seems that Kozmo can hear me when I stand up straight and I don't need to bend over to tell him to sit. Who knew.
Finally, the best part of class....the trainer brought out a tunnel. The kind they use for agility. I really think I may have been more excited for the tunnel. I am convinced that Kozmo will make a great agility dog and am so excited for him to have the chance to try some of the agility stuff. The other dogs went first. It seemed like forever waiting to be last to play in the tunnel. Poor Max, a sweet young golden was so scared of the tunnel he was shaking. Another dog, Snickers, got excited and peed outside the tunnel. Finally we go to the tunnel and Kozmo isn't sure. Luckily Kozmo has two humans so I held him and the other human went to the end of the tunnel to call him. I'm sure we looked ridiculous, two grown humans on the floor trying to get the dog excited about a tunnel. Kozmo was uncertain at first and then it just clicked. Back and forth, back and forth. He loved it and his humans were smiling. We all had fun.
After class we took advantage of the extended daylight and went to the local soccer field with Kozmo's brand new Chuck-It. The Chuck-It is a million dollar idea, a long plastic handle for throwing a tennis ball. You can get superhuman distance on the tennis ball with a Chuck-It. We stood at one end of the soccer field and threw the ball to the other end. Kozmo ran as fast as he could the length of the field many times. He had fun and got tired without too much strain on the humans.
We really like his new school, especially the fact that its ten minutes from home and not forty. We also love that it's a small class with only 3 other dogs. His new trainer is great. She is a wealth of information and very positive. We never once felt like we were the outcasts because our shelter dog doesn't have fancy papers. Now we have a lot of work. I'm so excited to see what agility exercise we can try next week.
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