We had our orientation on Saturday for Odie's next class at Pet Centrics, Basic Obedience - Intermediate. Basic Obedience graduates usually continue formal training through private lessons. This time around, however, Doc Marose asked us if we wanted to continue as a group so we could all still train together, which of course, I couldn't say no to. Like I mentioned in a previous entry, part of the reason I look forward to going to class is the chance for Odie to have real play time with other puppies (and dog, in Bernard's case), off leash, in a big space, and with supervision. It's the perfect set up for a paranoid human!
Over the break, Doc gave us a list of things to work on, and told us to take videos so she can more or less track our progress. As a human who loves rewards as much as the next dog, I made a video to show off how Odie has NOT mastered the sit-down-sit-stand-down-stand sequence, to get a discount on the class rate, and most of all, for some treats. Treats for Odie is always a welcome thing.
Orientation was so much fun! Odie was excited to see his classmates after a two-week break. We also missed seeing Boo! He's going to be the one attending class this time around. Odie stared at him for a while before playing with him as if trying to remember who it was!
As with all orientations we've been to, I had to find a way to keep Odie as calm as he could get while his teacher was talking. I got a bunch of treats from his stash and made sure to have a treat in my hand for when he would try to make his usual riot. It was also an opportunity to practice cradling him because when we went to puppy class, I discovered he wasn't used to cradling anymore. He hesitated when I picked him up, but I managed to cradle him anyway. I win! I win! He wasn't moving at all and was just waiting for my hand to feed him chicken. I liked how he stayed still though so I let him wait for a bit. WRONG MOVE. He started doing these half barks and a bit of whining which was loud enough for teacher to hear and laugh at, so I gave him a bit of chicken and put him down on the floor to freely do whatever he wanted. Oh, this boy. There was even a time when Doc Marose was showing us a bunch of things we could use for the "place" exercises. First she showed was a bed, and the moment she dropped it to the floor, Odie ran straight towards it! Guess he was too excited to be batang bibo and wanted to do a demo!
After the orientation, the puppies and dog were evaluated one by one. Boo was the only "new student" in the bunch, and he passed the assessment! Even during puppy class, I've always felt that he's the smart, serious dog. I don't know why. Odie, however, proves to be the class clown. Oh, to be the smallest student. They had play time after that, and they met another golden retriever who needed to be evaluated. I was so happy that it's the first time none of the dogs were given a time out, not even Odie and Bernard! They just kept playing like the boys that they are, on the rough side, but Odie didn't make anyone bark at him in spite of his innate craziness! I didn't even see any humping! It was the cleanest, most wholesome play session so far. There were no clean dogs though. Odie left school with saliva-filled fur from all the rough play! Yuck!
Doc asked me if I was still having trouble getting Odie to go inside his crate. I haven't tried since we worked on it two weeks ago, so I also wanted to find out. Lo and behold, the moment I opened the car door, he jumped right in and settled on the passenger seat! It's not his place though and I wouldn't dare drive with him moving freely in the car, so I opened his crate and he went right in, not wanting to go out anymore! He must have been really tired! When we got home, he went straight to his wire crate and fell asleep. I took a bath, went to bed and fell asleep right away. Like human, like puppy!
After the orientation, the puppies and dog were evaluated one by one. Boo was the only "new student" in the bunch, and he passed the assessment! Even during puppy class, I've always felt that he's the smart, serious dog. I don't know why. Odie, however, proves to be the class clown. Oh, to be the smallest student. They had play time after that, and they met another golden retriever who needed to be evaluated. I was so happy that it's the first time none of the dogs were given a time out, not even Odie and Bernard! They just kept playing like the boys that they are, on the rough side, but Odie didn't make anyone bark at him in spite of his innate craziness! I didn't even see any humping! It was the cleanest, most wholesome play session so far. There were no clean dogs though. Odie left school with saliva-filled fur from all the rough play! Yuck!
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| Dirty Dog! |
It was good and bad to be shown a bunch of things for the place exercise. Good because it's a chance to go shopping, bad because I really have to manage my funds! Who knew even dogs need to go school supplies shopping?! I really like the Kuranda dog bed that was shown to us. I did a little research and found out that it's an orthopedic, chew-proof bed which would cost us a little over US$60 and cannot be delivered by the time we need it. I found a DIY Kuranda knock-off tutorial though, take a look :)
But I've yet to find out if it would cost more than getting the usual stuffed dog bed. Can't wait to take a trip to the hardware stores and pet supplies stores though! Hmm... maybe I could order a Kuranda for Christmas? I don't know. Maybe I could make one just like in the video, perhaps a summer project. Wait. What about the Lupine lead and collar? Agh. I hate the internet! Look at all the things we can't have... yet!
Oh no! We already have a bed, but a DIY Kuranda??? It's a good thing I don't know anything about carpentry (or any home economics activity) so I'm not attempting to make one...for now (because it will end up unfinished in our backyard)!
ReplyDeleteWow, I didn't know anyone else thought Boo was smart. He is, and it's such a different kind of smart, sometimes I think he's human. :|
You're right about Odie being the class clown! There is not a single session wherein he doesn't do something remarkably funny. :) But I think he's everyone's favorite classmate (or, at least, every human's favorite classmate/student). :))
I want to buy a Lupine collar now, for use only during training. :| I know belt-type collars are better, but there are in-between phases when either the first hole makes it too tight and the next one, too loose. :|
I also don't know anything about carpentry, but I've had a bit of experience making light bulbs and painting sets and watching people build sets for shows, so I might give it a try. If things fail, I hope our driver/resident handyman would know what to do. I'm iffy about screwing the cloth on PVC though. I hope there's a way to slit the PVC to make it safer. And yknow, I can't hold a drill to save my life. It's scary!
DeleteBoo really looks smart, ever since. Maybe it's his stance? Or the color of his fur, or a combination of both. I don't know. He looks really sure of himself. Si Odie kasi follows verbal cues naman, pero may kasamang likot. I swear nagulat ako when he ran to the bed! I hope it's a good sign of how he's going to do the place exercises!
Try the Lupine na! I've also looked at the belt-type collars before, but because I'm paranoid, I would always think, what if the part that goes in the holes pierces his throat? So I stuck to using the adjustable one. And yes, it's more precise :) Sayang nga, I didn't know my ninong would be coming from the US. Sana naka-pabili na ko ng Kong and/or Lupine :(( Sana may pauwi pa!