What do I need to do here?

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Starlit is in the 4th week of intermediate obedience. 
Most is the same as it ever was except expanding our commands out in a large field.  We are working on off leash,  come-sit --finish to a heal.  At home, Starlit does great.  She loves her homework time.  In class--we STINK and are getting worse.  Absolutely look like we have NO idea what we are doing and that we do not practice at home.

We are now out in a huge field and the trainer has added a lot of people to the sidelines.  She also added a few extra dogs who will be going to state trails.  She added a few teenage boys tonight.    Starlit of course is so nervous and distracted.  I was glad she added the buff young man to be on our sidelines-- it is what we are there for in a way.    Of course, Starlit puked. 

Roger is working with Spud in our class too.   For the first two weeks, Roger and Spud were apart from us and Starlit would not stop looking for them.  Last week we were together and the dogs had the commands totally confused by hearing both of our voices.  

I use leave it to get her to stop eating grass, sniffing the other dogs butt, poor greetings etc, and that works.

I would like to teach the Watch Me command or add it to our training so she can keep her focus on me and not The Entire World.    Would that be a good idea?  We are not being taught this but I see other dogs never take their eye off their handler   How do they do this?  Any other ideas.   

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

I think you are doing a great job. Keep it up and keep us posted!

[Kyoko]

Yay!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Glad you all and especially Starlit are having fun.

[Linda and Murphy]

Thanks Karen and Joanne. You made my day.
It was a big adjustment for me to be the mom of the class clown and laugh about it.
I still have visions of him (giant Murphy) getting the zoomies and people snatching up their toy poodles afraid that he would trample them and giving me awful looks while I tried to corral him. And the day the instructor, on her knees with his favorite treat in front of her, called him to her over the jumps and he flattened her because he didn't have brakes.
The day he belched so loud it stopped the entire class...and the instructor even laughed....I knew we were okay.

[BG and Gavin]

Great visual Linda. If I had a dime for every time I have warned people to "bend your knees." The burp makes me laugh every time too. Maybe that is why Gavin always approaches a human when he has to burp - I guess he likes the reaction.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

It must be something about the name Murphy......

[BG and Gavin]

Joanne, tuning in late, however I must say that I applaud your effort and committment to Starlit the beautiful. She is lucky you chose her and just maybe she is making you better too (but really how much better can you get??). With any approach to training (or really anthing in life) balance is key. How would a dog know what they were doing was wrong if there was no correction? It's fine to teach them to do the right things, but some of my greatest lessons have come from making mistakes ;) Keep up the great work.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

:) thank you

[Jacque Reynolds]

There is a good book that addresses this issue. It is called "Control Unleashed". I bought mine at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000UCF53A/ref=wms_ohs_product

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Thank You :) I'll certainly take a look at the book.