Toby, the jerk

[Sandy]

So we had Obedience class on Friday night. Class has been going very, very well.. In fact, the last two weeks, I would say Toby has been almost the star of the class. And then came Friday night. Our class was fuller than usual. We had three dogs doing a make up class, and were with us. It is a very big area, but still, that made 14 dogs and handlers, four floor instructions, a lead instructor, and a few spectators sitting across the end. With tasty treats in hand, I was prepared to excel once again. The first exercise we were asked to do.....a dog doing make up class three chairs down from us stood up with its owner and had diarhhea all over the floor. Not good. It got cleaned up, but Toby was sniffing the air all night. A lot of the dogs were restless. We had a two minute sit-stay, which Toby did well, except for the fact that I had to get him back into a sit after he laid down two times. "sigh" We had a 2 minute down-stay, which went well. Phew. Then we were practising leash respect and loose leash walking. Loose leash - HA. Toby pulled more than he's ever pulled before. It was a disaster. Same for 'heel'. What a joke. He did well at play and settle. stay, down, and with me. He completely sucked at any and all forms of leash walking.

We have our test class two weeks from now. There is nothing I can do to train that I am not already doing. I guess it's the stubborn Golden coming out in him. He'd better smarten up. I am NOT paying to repeat that class.

[Sandy]

I, too, was pleased with his stay. I was disappointed mostly in his walking. He had been doing quite a bit better, and then BOOM - dreadful walking. One can only hope it was not something he'll repeat.

[Kyoko]

Wow! 2 minutes sit-stay and down -stay?! That is sooo great!!!
He might have been destructed by other dogs that came in to do the make-up class....

[Adina P]

Keep working at it...give it some more time and if still no consistent results, then time for a new method of training!

[Stella]

Oh Sandy!! He has been doing so well lately. Perhaps it was just an off day. They do have them. Hartley had been doing great at his latest classes (made it up to 7 minute out of sight down stay!). I have been the one taking him and was telling Dave how well he's been doing. Well. last week I was away on a course and Dave took him - disaster!! Hartley wouldn't do a thing for him. He wouldn't even stay long enough for Dave to move away from his side. Dave was pretty embarrassed, mad, anygry, humilitated.... you name it because Hartley was so bad. Today, I took him and although he wasn't great, he was better. It just goes to show, they do have bad days when they just don't want to do it!

You guys are doing great, keep up the good work. The fact that you had different dogs in the class probably upset him a bit, and then to have the room stinking like diarrhoea - yuk!! He has been good over the last few classes right? So, next week he'll be better, you'll see. So, are you going to go for the next level of classes??