Baxter Passed the CGC Test Tonight!

[Patti Livanos]

I am very happy to say that Baxter passed his CGC tonight, after a 7-week class preparing for it.  Baxter is so great out in public since he has had extensive private training in public places, but was really having a hard time at this class and couldn't pay attention to me at first!  It was so humiliating when one of the instructors came over and actually asked me if he had ever had an obedience class before, and someone else said something like, "You have to be more consistent with him at home."  After a few weeks, Baxter finally became more comfortable in that environment and would be the only pup in the class who could stay on his mat forever while toys were thrown around the room and passed by the pups on ziplines, and one by one the dogs were recalled while all the others stayed.  It was at that time that I think they finally believed me about how great he is...  Even so, nothing was a given and I am so glad that he was successful!  What a relief!  I am so glad he was able to show them he really is a terrific pup!  Yippee!

[Janie, Jackson and Jilly]

Congratulations to you and Baxter!

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

Congrats!  Ollie takes his test next Thursday and I only hope we do as well as you and Baxter.

[Patti Livanos]

Best of luck to you!  Keep us posted! 

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

it is interesting how different classes us different distractions.  I had never heard of using another dog on a zipline, but wish our class used other dogs as distractions.  Our trainers have been using mop buckets, two wheeled carts, and walkers.

[Patti Livanos]

The other dogs and ziplines with toys were used for practice during the prep class.  For walking through a crowd and distraction, they had a group of people doing all kinds of things.  There was one person squeaking a toy and bouncing a ball, another person clanging together food bowls, a person with a dolly zooming all over the place, a person doing crazy things in a wheelchair, a person walking very oddly with a walker, another walking oddly with crutches and dropping them, someone with a broom, etc.  I was so relieved that even though they dropped a crutch right in front of him on purpose, he didn't even startle and just walked right through with his loose leash!  

[Sue & Lily Grace]

Wow, this is a wonderful accomplishment.

[Patti Livanos]

Thanks so much for all the compliments!  You are so sweet!