I am soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo relieved that I did. I feel much better now. My sweety is a lot better behaved than most- from what the other owners were saying. However, for a lot of them their dogs are older and its their first time at any kind of training classes. Some of them are rescue dogs.
I met another ridgy owner, hers is a x... by the sounds of it, the type that my partner Gav would have liked.
There were people with terriers and beagles too. I always liked beagles. I asked the questions I needed to ask. I even stayed back for a few minutes as well. My trainer thinks that Xena is sweet. 'She's so laid back' 'A really nice dog'
I asked her if I should get another dog? She said No because Xena was shy from dogs at the beginning and it may make her regress. Also because unless Xena is 100% trained, bringing a new dog in will only add problems. This is like my partner said. So its ok. I did go look at the rescue dogs anyway. *smile* I do love going and looking at them. Seems most are fence/ people jumpers. Some are not socialized. Some have been abanoned. Oh and there was an adorable American pit bull puppy in a champagne and white colour with light eyes... to die for.
Jumping: We need to address the jumping at the glass door and the people who come out immediately and from inside. When she is at the door we can walk to it to go out to her but the moment she's being stupid, we turn around and walk back inside. She will soon learn that jumping around like a clown leads to being completely ignored.
Landing on my knee: She needs to be taught to stop when she gets to me, without the hand signal. That's not a hard one and she should learn that at obedience classes.
Attention seeking to get us to go outside: Hard luck, get over it. (Finally, I thought we were going to have to mollycoddle these dogs endlessly)
Not sleeping in her lovely warm kennel: Reality check, It's not going to happen, hard luck, get over it. hehe. But she thought the dog coat was a good idea. I also found some waterproof dog trampolines at the RSPCA shop which I will get next week. That can go where she has decided to sleep. It wont be warm or dry but at least she wont be on the hard concrete. For now Ive put down some rugs where she is sleeping. I will have to find a way to put up some sort of awning, but it wont be soon unfortunately because I'm not that handy.
Halti collars: DONT BUY FROM THE INTERNET- apparently they have to be fitted. Hmmm I didn't know that. Mine still hasn't arrived in the post but it does have a DVD so maybe it will say how to fit it properly. She will let us use her gentle leader harnesses etc... during obedience classes. She doesn't mind them. But the dog has to be taught to wear them.
1. Put collar on the dog without the lead then give the dog her meal.
2. Leave it on her a few minutes at a time
3. Build her up.
Lead: Don't forget to praise the dog and call her name to get her attention.
Xena out front of house off lead and following me around: Every time she comes over to you say 'heel' also remember at 5 months she will be a teenager and will want to take off and see the world.
Anyhow I'm feeling much more positive about the whole thing now.
Sucking up water from a slow running tap as it filled her water container :o)
This weeks task.
Keep practice walking in the back yard, one step at a time.
Teach her 'yes' every time she is about to get a treat.
Crates: They are good for nervous dogs and for travelling. You can keep the dog in them for 2-3 hours then take them out to stretch their legs.
Finally, Some great ideas to keep dogs amused when your not at home...
1. THE KING ICE CUBE.
Take your kong and fill it with doggy soaked doggy biscuits. Place the kong in an ice cream container and cover with stock. Freeze. Give to dog. It will definitely keep her amused :o)
2. RSPCA TOYS
Ok I'm guilty, I walked out of that shop with almost $200 worth of toys. A feed ball which you hide in the garden with biscuits in it. It has a ball baring in it too so it makes a noise. Fun Fun Fun.
A new rope toy to hang from our kids tennis pole. Xena loves swinging and pulling on these.
A few dried roo 'sticks' to put around the garden for her to find and chew on.
A large rubber tyre food feeder. That will keep her busy.
3. MILK CARTON TOY
Xena loves chewing up plastic milk cartons. Oh sooooo milky :o) But if I cut holes into it and put her biscuits in there.... Oh JOY!
SUPPORT
The trainer at the RSPCA has been a huge support in getting me through having a puppy. Puppies are hard work. As she said, if you can do it for 6 months and really try to make it work, then you're going to have a nice dog for the rest of its life.
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