Jackdoodle's CGC Class Week 2

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

So JD and I started classes last week. Very small class, only one other dog who will definitely be taking the test, and two others who are nowhere near ready but are working on sit, stay, etc. I think the instructor didn't have enough people for a beginner's class and a CGC class so she combined us. I don't mind, since the class is so small and we get a lot of practice time and individual attention.

So far, Jack's biggest problem is loose leash walking; he does pull without his harness. But we are making progress. My biggest problem is remembering to do everything: hold one hand out for stay, place other hand by chin for "watch me", wait for a few seconds and keep his focus on me longer before rewarding him, keep this hand down, that hand up, etc. I am not coordinated enough to ever be a really competent trainer, lol. 

But, what if I told you he is the star pupil in his class of two? 

He is. :)

He is doing all the sit stays and down stays without his leash being held, at any distance, even the 360 thing where I have to walk around him in a circle while he stays. And his recall is perfect.

Tonight we practiced "stay with a stranger" for the first time. The other dog mom and I left the room together and she was very nervous that her dog would not do well. She was right, and she did a running commentary of what was going on in the other room: "He's going to whine",  followed by whining, "He's going to shake and move around", followed by collar jingling, "He's going to bark", followed by barking.  Once her dog got going with the barking, I heard Jack bark, one short bark, then another, clearly in response to the other dog barking.

I really believe that he would not have barked or made a sound if the other dog hadn't. Jack is kind of like "Monkey see, monkey do". I think he thought he was supposed to bark because the other dog did.

When I came back into the room, he was sitting nicely at the instructor's side. I walked over to him, and he broke his sit and came toward me as far as his leash would go, at which point she said I should have given him the "stay" signal to keep him in place until I got up close to him. I wish she'd told me ahead of time.

So now my question is, does it count against your dog during the test if other dogs in the room set up a ruckus and your dog barks, too?

And what is the dog mom version of "If Fido jumped off the Empire State building, would you do it, too?"

[BG and Gavin]

JD you browner!  Head of the class already!  I await comments since Gavin and are are heading in this direction this fall as well.  I have left a message for the trainer to call me about her next available class :)

[F, Calla & Luca]

The coordination in the classes I took Luca to was the hardest part. My coordination, that is. I think Jack could pass the test cold turkey.

[Camilla and Darwin]

Good boy JD! I would say it doesn't count, as the dog is reacting to the other dog, not to your absence.

[Julie, Boomer, Milo & Casey]

We started training last weekend too.   We have 4 classes and then the test.   There are only 4 in the class so we are getting alot of attention.   I'm being optimistic but really feel Boomer has what it takes but like you - I'm the clumsy one!   I dropped the leash at one point!   LOL!

[Jennifer and "Cooper"]

Sorry, but I get the clumsy award.  I actually stepped on Cooper's foot DURING the CGC/Therapy Dog test when he was in a down stay.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Okay, you win! ROFL!

[Clifford, Cloud, Jake..and Kim]

When Clifford and Cloud took their tests for CGC and Therapy Dog the instructor tested each dog individually - there were not multiple dogs in the facility and there were definitely not multiple dogs on the leave with a stranger test.  The only dog in the facility at the time of the test was the instructor's dog who is non-reactive.

 

Way to go JD - you are on your way to being valedictorian!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Same here.  We never did the CGC, but for the therapy test we were the only dog in the building except the testers dog that was used during the test and it was crated.  I didn't even know it was there till she went and got it out of the crate.  I'm with you on the remembering everything.  I had problems with this as well, and that's why I think that anything more than an hour at a time is just too much.  I was normally mentally exhausted at the end of class.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Yep, we were individual too, which helped GREATLY :)

The only other dog around was the dog used for the part of the test where Peri has to walk past another dog, then sit when i stop and stay seated while I greet the "owner" of the other dog.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I'm so proud of JD...and you, Karen.  I just know Jack's picture will be "featured" here real soon as our newest CGC Dood.  As I remember when Guinness was tested, the evaluator only did one dog at a time for the exercise where Mom has to leave the room....he'll be fine.  Murph was the only one being tested so that wasn't an issue with him.

[Mimi Linna, Lilly and Lolly]

oh this just made my morning... I do think he was just visiting with the other dog...other dog" I am so outa here, where is my mommy, I miss my mommy, did you see which way she went"  jack" It's fine. she will be right back". you are doing great.

[Leslie and Halas]

You guys are doing great. I think Halas whined once when left with a stranger, but it was at another dog walking by, not because I was gone, so we didn't get any marks against us.