Fudge and Vern and Their New Saturday Morning Dog Training Classes!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

From time to time, I work with a dog trainer that I really like with Fudge and Vern. She rarely has group classes, so I asked her to recommend someone that did and we started the classes on Saturday. My husband’s level of enthusiasm was underwhelming at best when he found out he was going to share in the fun, since I had enrolled both Fudge and Vern.  My trainer told me the guy running the classes was a very big man. Keep in mind that my trainer is a little wisp of a woman and I probably look like Lurch from the Adams Family to her when she is standing right next to me.

 

When we pulled up, we were not sure we had the right place because all I saw were German Shepherds and a man of normal size who seemed to be in the midst of a lot of dogs.  While we waited in the car for the beginner’s class to end, one gentleman with yet another German Shepherd decided the best place to wait for class was within 3 feet of the back of our van, so that Vern and Fudge could repeatedly say hi to his dog.  I used this opportunity to yell “quiet” in my loudest voice and my husband used this opportunity to tell me to relax and maybe I should lead by example, while covering both his ears.  Off to a good start, I say.

 

 

Once we emerged from the car and established we were in the correct place, it became obvious that most of the rest of the class knew each other.  Some of them asked me what kind of dogs Fudge and Vern were and I thought about saying, “They are long haired German Shepherds,” just to fit in, but in the end I said, “Labradoodles.” While we were still in the meet and greet stage, Vern remembered he needed to take his morning constitutional and without any warning, squatted and pooped in front of the crowd.  Fudge takes hours to poop and it usually involves lots of circling, sniffing, more discretion, and extreme thought is given to placement. Vern, on the other hand, always makes you feel like he is saying to himself, “Dude, I knew I forgot something!” because he will just stop mid play or mid walk and with no preparation go potty.  I know those other owners were jealous, at this point.

 

First things first, and the trainer had us get in a circle and wanted us to each walk around, sit your dog in front of each owner, shake hands, and move to the next guy. While I am waiting my turn, I see some people looking at Vern and smiling. I was thinking they were admiring our dogs, until I turned and got a glimpse of Vern and realized I mistook a smile for pity.  There he sat in a perfect sit with what can only be described as a bucket of slobber falling slowly from his mouth. Vern likes to do things in a big way and I am not talking a little bit of spittle peeking out from the corner of his mouth. I am talking a glob of white, gooey spit dripping from his jaws. My husband trying to be helpful told me to wipe it off, but I didn’t have any Kleenex (note to self, bring Paper Towels next class), so he then advised me to use my hand.  I had two choices, walk around the circle with what looked like a rabid dog or shake hands with each and every other owner with a handful of goo.  Instead, my hero, my husband, took matters into his own hands and helped Vern to shake it off before the introductions started and another crisis was averted.

 

Fudge, meanwhile, sized up one dominant German Shepherd early on and let it be known that Labradoodles are not sissies. In no time, that dog was standing behind his owner and did not bother Fudge again. I have to tell you, I was impressed with our dogs. They were asked to do things we had never done before and for the most part, did a good job. I had a moment of panic when he had us put them in a sit/stay and drop the leash and move a distance away from them, but no one ran away or called out any German Shepherds to play chicken.  The best part of the day, however, happened when we got back home. Both dogs slept the rest of the day. I told my husband, “sometimes learnin’ makes you tired and being smart ain’t easy!”

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Lisa, I spoke too soon, because this week Vern acted like a nut, leaping in the air because he did not like the wet grass and acting like he never even heard the words sit and down. Back to the drawing board.....sigh!

Nancy, Thanks, Nancy. He did it all again today, but this time I brought a towel.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Ya know you can never be prepared for everything can you, isn't making sure you have a leash and a poop bag enough?

I am pretty sure Daisy would not have been able to meet and greet unlike your two super stars..I should probably get her in another training class soon.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Loved the slobber part!!!!!!  Thanks so much for the laugh today.  I had trouble reading it to my DH because I was laughing so hard my eyes blurred.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Murphy and Vern are two talented doods, for sure :) I am thinking this will be the last class I will be able to get my husband to do on a Saturday morning. LOL

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Wow Laurie, I'm really impressed.  First you got your DH to be part of the "action"....it took me many months to accomplish that.  It also sounds like Fudge and Vern were REALLY good Doodles....way to make us all proud.  This sounds like a great class.  Oh and Murph does that spontaneous poop thing too....we will be walking along nicely and he'll just stop dead and deliver a giant poop.  I think that must be a rare talent.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Nicky, Good luck with your class!

Lucy and Sophie's mom, A shammy is a great idea. Vern needed a beach towel the other day...LOL!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Deanna, Fudge and Vern do spice things up.

Angie, Vern was probably slobbering because he was scared. He is a big ol' Chicken Doodle. Fudge stood her ground :) Can you imagine if I ended up in a training class with all the protective gear. We would have turned around and gotten in our car...LOL!

Jane, Luckily, these owners spoke English. OMD...that would have been great if they all spoke German to us.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Does the meet and greet excitement ever stop?  Sophie does this anytime we go to a Romp, Dog Park or anything dog related.  I've long since moved past taking paper towels and now take a shammy!  Sounds like you guys survived well.  I'm not sure I would have been able to get out of the car.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

I had a choice when I was choosing the training classes for Riley which we start soon.  The local GS club or another one much further away.  I opted for the one further away (but due to the trainer not the GS'S!)  Thanks for telling us about the class.  I'm gearing up for ours.  We have to go to a seminar for to hours the evening before we start.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

OMG Laurie - are you SURE you aren't here in FL because we have one of these German Shepherd places right here (and all the dog owners - speak German) and it is where Rooney took agility class.  I'm with Vern on this one - I felt like I might drop "my load" the first time I had to get out of my car in the midst of all the G.S. - they are fierce looking!!!!!  Thankfully we only had one in the class but the rest of em where going in and out of other arenas walking right past and I was scared that Rooney was about to become a scoobie snack.  I really feel like for further enjoyment - we'd like to ask for video of the next go round - lol!!!!