The Cottage Smallholder

We're taking Betty to her first puppy training class tonight.....should be fun!  As she gets really excited whenever she sees another dog, and there'll be a dozen or so there tonight, how she's going to calm down enough to actually learn anything I don't know.  Plus her best mate Poppy the neighbour spaniel will be there - I think we'll have to sit on opposite sides of the hall    I hope the trainers know their stuff! 

Well, that was organised loud chaos!    There were around 12 or 14 puppies of all sorts of breeds, along with their owners of course.....most of the pups were noisy and excitable, just like Betty (I was pleased to see....I'd been a bit worried that she'd be banned for being the naughty one in a roomful of good dogs!).  There were just 2 or 3 that were clearly already well trained, sat quietly and did the exercises with little trouble - the rest, like Betty, were - well - easily distracted, shall we say   

There were 3 trainers, all women - one of them worked with us one to one initially, doing 'sit' training (which actually Betty already does pretty well).  Then it was recall training for the whole class, one pup at a time doing it in front of everyone, the trainer held the pup whilst the owner walked away, then the trainer let go when the owner called the dog with a treat in hand.  I was a bit apprehensive for that one, but Betty did it with not much trouble, thankfully.  Then came loose lead training....the idea being the owner walked with the pup on a loose lead beside them, encouraged by treats.  Well, Betty doesn't do loose lead walking.....it's straining at the lead, one of the things we want to get her out of doing.  Nearly all the pups were the same, thankfully - yanking at the lead - except for the 2 or 3 aforementioned goody goodies!      The trainers said to have treats in your hand and constantly call your dog back to your side whilst offering the treats, they assured us the pups will get the idea eventually!

There was one bit where I cringed with embarrassment....husband had just finished the recall exercise and went to put Betty back on the lead....well he wasn't quick enough and she shot off down the other end of the hall to jump on her mate Poppy, diverting to greet several other pups on the way, diving between people's legs and under chairs.....somebody eventually managed to grab her collar so husband could get her on the lead    The lady beside me said, laughing "don't worry, we've all been there!".

The 3 of us are all shattered now!  Well, it can only get better......I hope!!