Long overdue update

I am so sorry to all of Kozmo's friends and fans. Kozmo and his humans have been quite busy and we haven't been able to find the time for blog updates. We last left off with Kozmo getting ready to try Rally Obedience. Kozmo has had two classes and is doing great. If you aren't familiar with Rally go search for some videos from dog shows. In the ring are numbered stations, each human has to approach the sign and do whatever it says. All sorts of things like down, or make your dog down and stay while you walk around the dog, or take one step - dog sits, take two steps - dog sits, and three steps - sit. For beginning Rally all dogs are on leashes so the class is pretty calm. Just a few other dogs and their humans taking turns going through this course. No running or jumps or obstacles. Part of the reason our trainer wanted Kozmo to take this class was to work on his obedience and to learn how to be more calm. He gets so excited in Agility.

Kozmo has had a really busy week, and in typical Koz fashion is taking it all in stride. One of the thing we realized this week is that we think Kozmo finally realizes we are his forever home and his forever humans.

For those of you who aren't familiar with Kozmo's dog school there are two locations. Until we started Rally, Kozmo always had class at the training facility. It's a great place that is only an indoor training facility. The other location has classes, doggy day care and grooming. The only time Kozmo had been to the other location was to have his nails done. Kozmo doesn't enjoy a pedicure quite the way his human does. He really hates having his feet touched and he thinks that he could possibly die from having his nails trimmed.

Our rally classes are held in the same location as the groomer. When we walked in for our first class he saw a human and a dog he knew and was still quite upset. I told him to calm down, he knows to act better for class. Then it hit me, Kozmo thought we were there to get his nails done. If felt bad for not being more sensitive. Once we moved into the training room and class started Kozmo was fine.

This week Kozmo needed his nails done. We walk into the building and Kozmo has that wiggle in his step and even appeared a little cocky for class. Until I tried to hand his leash to the groomer. My big 70 pound baby started shaking like a leaf and would NOT go into the grooming room. I had to walk him into the room. The entire time he was having his nails trimmed he howled and cried like he was being murdered. I was so embarrassed. It was the end of the work day and many people were in the lobby waiting to pick up their dogs. They were all snickering. I know they were thinking "at least MY dog doesn't act like this".  When the groomer brought Kozmo out he almost tackled me. Some guy in the lobby made a comment that he couldn't believe the dog crying and making all that noise was this big dog.

We had a little time between getting his nails done and the start of class so Kozmo go to go to a doggy friendly store to buy dog food. Sadly, my little puppy is growing up and we bought our first bag of adult dog food. Kozmo was on his best behavior in the store and didn't bark once. The other human and I were so proud and remembered the first time we took him into a store and didn't think Kozmo could ever go in public with us without barking and acting like a nut.

Poor Koz, we go back to the groomer for class this time and he didn't see the humor in us asking if he wanted his nails done. Koz had a great class. For the first time I saw proof that he has bonded to me. During class our trainer tried to take Kozmo's leash to demonstrate something. Almost every week for months he has listened to the trainer and done whatever she asked. For some reason Kozmo wouldn't listen and walked over to me. At first I was embarrassed that he wouldn't listen to our trainer, but she said it was a good thing. Kozmo finally sees me as HIS human. It's a pretty cool feeling. Unconditional doggy love makes you smile.

Stay tuned for our next post about doggy day care!!