Well I'm not much of an updater am I?
Well as Sarah mentioned Buddy (aka "Lefty") graduated from basic obedience class this past week! I must admit even I didn't have the highest of hopes for Buddy in training class, mostly due to how far behind he was training and socialization wise. But I was really surprised once "it" clicked with him, once he knew that I was asking him to do something and if he did it he would get praised, he took right off.
Buddy really isn't one to pull on leash anyway so he took right to healing and understood where he was supposed to be next to me. He also basically knew "sit" before class started too, so doing a place "sit" when we stopped when we were healing wasn't bad for him either. His turning point was when he was expected to automatically sit when we stopped when healing with no command or indicator from me. At first he would continue walking until the leash got tight and then he'd sit. The "test" we would give our dogs to determine whether or not they were ready to be corrected for not automatically sitting, was if they automatically sat 2 out of 3 times it was time to start correcting them for not immediately sitting when we stopped. After a week of place sitting buddy (giving the sit command, pulling up on the leash while pushing their butt down), he still didn't pass that test so us and a few others in class were told to give them a few more days and then try to have them automatically sit by the next class. So about half way through the week he sat 2 of 3 times and then it was really just 1 or 2 corrections passed that when he amazingly started to not only sit automatically when I stopped when healing, but he also would look right up at me for direction.
He finally got it! From this point on he knew the point to it all and I think enjoyed figuring out what I was asking him to do. He quickly became one of the more advanced dogs in the class being able to withstand distractions during a 3 - minute "stay" that would coax all the other dogs to move, but not Buddy. Amazingly we worked up to the point that during a "stay", Maddy the instructor was able to show Buddy a piece of cheese and put it 1 foot in front of him and he would stay until released. They even threw stuffed animals toward him and he wouldn't move. Heck even another dog who kept getting corrected for getting up, flopped over on top of him and he held his own until he was released.
In all he nailed healing, automatically sitting, sit-stay, down, down-stay, stand for exam, recall (coming and sitting straight in front), and finish (from sitting in front, coming behind you around to heal position on left). Most of all he became cool hanging out around those strange people and dogs and gained a lot of confidence. It has really gone a long way toward mellowing him out around the house as well. He will now seek out Alley in order to curl up next to her and he will now approach us giving us kisses without being coaxed, this training has really brought more of his personality out.
I can't say enough about how Maddy has helped us work these dogs. From day one she knew exactly what to do for each issue we brought to her. I mentioned it in post above but here it is again, if anyone has issues with their dog(s) I can confidently suggest Maddy's training classes, as she says the first day, you've bought her phone number for life so use it whenever you need it. The classes are out of Swan Valley High School in Saginaw Michigan:
High School Phone # (989) 921-2401
It may be a far drive but if you think about it, a long drive once a week for 8 weeks isn't that much when you figure what you are gaining which is peace at the homestead! She even made a house call to give us some one on one pointers with Buddy's prey drive. Anyway, I see I've gone on long enough once again. Thanks to everyone on here that has helped us as well and I hope our experience helps someone else that needs it.
Joaquin
, we know a blue dobe named Mason. Ask where he came from next week.
I think we were really lucky when you applied with us to get a dog
