Boot Camp recruit returns home

[a.k.a. Rodney]

DerbyDoodle was brought back home today by the amazing trainer (Liz) who runs Markay Dog training facility. I wasn't sure what to expect...I didn't want to raise my expectations to high and then get disappointed. The trainer had great personal recs but I felt DerbyDoodle was a little over the top dominant...she politely explained some of the issues I was having with DerbyDoodle were related to the prong collar...I had it on her incorrectly!! Also Liz felt she was experiencing a correction from me, but no consequence followed....a confusing issue for the dog. My DH said he remembers me correcting her & then petting her after....who requires the training? Maybe I needed boot camp!
Boot Camp sounds like a military facility...it's actually run on Liz's 8 acres in a rural Western suburb of Chicago. She takes up to 4 dogs to train at one time. She has them living in her home and takes them everywhere she goes...shopping, parks, restaurants...it's more like reality training than what we think about boot camp for police dogs etc.
Well, this is all leading to the final results.....TA DAH....DerbyDoodle is a much more improved version of the little pup who left home 2 weeks ago!! Is she a perfect 10? Of course not! BUT an enormous change has taken place....she's calmer, more focused and happily responsive at least for the first day at home..NO dominance issues. I have learned some new things & for both of us.."practice will make perfect". What we all took note of was that DerbyDoodle was more interested in pleasing, responding & performing for me/DH than she ever was before. WOW, and this was only day one! Btw, Liz does all of her training without treats except for the Come command. She has her in a Sit position before she starts a walk, and for that matter practically everything the dog will be asked to do starts from "SIT"
She can do a Down Stay for apprx 15 min now and by Oct 01...she expects her to be able to do 30"
She is on a prong collar now, but also is aiming for Oct to possibly be on a buckle collar. We are planning to be away in a few weeks and DerbyDoodle will return to Camp for one week...luckily, it works out better for DerbyDoodle to be able to sneak in an extra week of training & boarding vs. just a week of a random place to be boarded. So all in all, a great start at home, which actually began 2 weeks ago.....and will continue throughout her life.

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

Wow, that sounds wonderful and so happy for Derby Doodle and you:)  I have friend in San Diego who sent her dog to Boot Camp and she came back fully trained and a different dog!  They were so happy with her trainer and how much she learned.  Was Derby Doodle just thrilled to see you when she came home this week end?