Puppy class experience (updated!)

[Eva and Fenway]

So tonight was Fenway's third puppy class and all I can say is that I'm not sure I'll ever want a dog that isn't a doodle!!

 

In class we have two pits, a shepard/lab mix, a rotty, a miniature poodle, and an older cocker. Fenway is the youngest and smallest dog there but she is also the star of the class! She definitely doesn't have the 'duration', but is doing really well with distraction. Today she was the only dog who already knew 'down' (only hand signals and all!) and we demonstrated for the class. She picks up on things quicker than the other dogs and pretty much the only misbehavior is because she's bored of doing 'sit' again and again. I can almost see her saying "MOOOOMMMmmm...."

 

It's also done a lot for my confidence in my parenting. It's so reassuring when you go in there, and you are familiar with a lot of what is going on and your dog performs well. Thanks DK!

 

 

PS - here is the latest picture (10.5 weeks). She's 13.2 lbs. Any idea what she'll look like, coat-wise?

[Carla, Lucca and Izzy]

Fenway is adorable...good mommy:)

[Jess and Pippin]

What a gorgeous girl, and smart too!

[Traci -Bexter & Maggie]

Congrats on having the class star!  It seems to be a common theme with these doodles.  I always come home for Bexter's class & tell my hubby that he is the teacher's pet too!  He is the one he always seems to use for demonstrations & examples.  I can't blame him!  As for Fenway's coat, I'm guessing, but it looks like it may be flatter/straighter??? Although she has cute little curls on his ears.  I don't know, but she's cute!

[Elizabeth & *Kosci*.]

Beautiful !! I have just completed a 4 week puppy preschool course and I feel the same, doodles (Groodles) are the smartest..

[Camus]

Smart girl! Congrats. If I were you, I'd be very proud too.

[Lori]

I know what you mean about not having another dog - Casper is THE GREATEST family dog I can imagine...and when we take him out with us - it's like he is a Rock Star!

[Eva and Fenway]

Well folks, fenway is now 3.5 months old and has just finished up her last puppy class. She was definitely the fastest at picking up on what I wanted her to do and showed everyone else up during our little final exam/graduation thing. I was a proud mommy until she ate the graduation hat. LOL!!!  I love doodles! I'm already plotting how I'll someday get a new home with a big yard and a second doodle. 

 

The trainer suggested that she continue on into the intermediate course, one of which will begin in the next couple of weeks. I have some concerns with that so I thought I'd ask the DK wisdom. She did GREAT in puppy class and is also fantastic at home with obedience/body handling/loose leash and everything I could ask. I also really like the trainer, despite the fact that these are petsmart classes and I hadn't gone in with high expectations. The socialization aspect has been really really helpful for her too.

 

I still think she might be too young for things like beginning 'heel', although the other things trainer mentioned are things she pretty much knows the early stages of and I'd like to advance her in.. "wait" and "sit" at a distance with distraction, go to your place, etc. What do you guys think? It's petsmart, so once she takes the course I can take her back through it over and over for free. It seems that my petsmart has trouble getting enough dogs so she seems to want us to come help the newbies, rather than class being too full and having to cut back on dogs.  My inclination is to take her, but again, thought I'd see what forum's thoughts were :)

 

 

 

PS - to all of you who commented on my other thread on the housebreaking, it went perfectly and I appreciated the advice. She sleeps through the night and has had only two accidents in the 2-3 weeks since I posted that thread. Both times it was entirely my fault. As always. :)

[Traci -Bexter & Maggie]

Eva - We are in EXACTLY the same place as you.  Bexter has his last Petsmart puppy class next Monday.  His trainer also wants him to continue into intermediate.  I definitely want to go all the way through advanced classes with Bexter (it will keep me accountable to continue training him).  I wasn't sure, like you, though if I wanted to continue with Petsmart or not.  I know I just wanted him to have some socialization & maybe learn some things, but like you, didn't have really high expectations.  However, Bexter loves his trainer & will do anything for the guy.  It is so cute.  It is time to sign him up for intermediate soon, and I guess I will go ahead & do it.  I look forward to reading others' responses about your question!  Good luck!

[Eva and Fenway]

Tracy, I'm with you. I was definitely pleasantly surprised by petsmart. I think we get out of it what we put in, though. There was a lady in the class with a poodle puppy who wasn't really listening fully to the trainer, so her poodle was pretty much still out of control by the end.

[Traci -Bexter & Maggie]

Sandy, I did really debate this hard.  My vet did move up his kennel cough vaccine for me, but he wasn't (and still isn't - couple more days though) fully vaccinated.  Petsmart asks for proof of vaccinations up to date according to age, so you at least know that the other pups are getting their shots just as yours is.  I carried him in & out of the store & only put him down in the classroom part of the floor.  Knowing what mistakes I made with my last dog, I was just as concerned about the long term implications of him not being socialized than I was of the health risks.  I was nervous though.  I'll be glad in a couple of days when those last shots are DONE!  YAY! I'm sure Hattie will do fine in her class.  It's funny - kind of like with kids - they will do things for the trainer that you didn't think they'd do for you - I guess they mind the trainer better than their parents.  At least Bexter is good at that.  It's almost like he's showing off in front of the class or something.  Distractions are always hard.  Bexter's an expert inside the house with all his training.  Take him outside - and he's wild and unruly & looks like he's never heard the word SIT before!

[Eva and Fenway]

Sandy, like Traci I also debated long and hard. Part of my choice was because Fenway really isn't around a whole lot of anyone else. I live alone and the cats don't really interact with her at all. To me it was a tradeoff on risk, and the socialization risk seemed greater for her because of my situation. :)  

 

Honestly, I don't think it matters. All the other puppies in the class except one were Hattie's age and they were just fine. Doodles are really smart, so I bet she picks it up right away. Enjoy the class! It really is a lot of fun even for humans.