Peter's School Days!

I have decided to re-start Peter's training, back to school for Peter Pan. The plan is that school, with many doggie classmates, will help him to overcome his anxiety sufferred in the company of dogs he doesn't know. I mean he doesn't know them so his rash decision to dislike them is surely unfounded?! There I go "humanising" his actions..really must stop that! Seriously though, he has aggressive reactions to new dogs causing him and me distress, this needs to be addressed and changed.

Luckily, my friends Chris and Sonia run a training school on a Sunday morning and know Peter and his, shall we say problem! Unluckily, for us humans, Sunday School starts at 10am...."Thanks Peter....I din't like my lie-in, coffee and croissants, lazing with the papers morning anyway!" So it's everyone up early, big dogs to the beach, breakfast and then off in the car to Cawston (a Norfolk village where we used to live, I've said before that our place new is named "Escape" was truly just that - an escape from Cawston! Let's just say we had an "escape from the country" experience after having lived there for 4 years, trust me that was long enough! It really wasn't as hoped, far from a "Miss Marple" village more of a "Midsommer Murders" which, incidently, is set around a place called Cawston - should have tipped us off!)

One redeeming feature of Cawston is the heath, a huge piece of common land great for dogs. So joining Peter on the trip are the English Setters, these 2 - Alfie and Lucy, are the nuttiest of dogs I have ever had the pleasure to own! There aren't many places, other than the beach, we can walk them as they charge off indiscriminatley, seemingly with no idea what they're doing or where they're going! Alfie, in particular, is the type of dog who gets an idea into his head and it appears to be the only idea, no room for anything else! Lucy just folllows (not nicknamed "Loopy Loo" for nothing!) The heath provides the perfect opportunity for them to run in strange circles, dashing off here and there, diving into the lake looking for any unsuspecting ducks (who are much smarter than the Setters and have already left the area!) They of course are joined as ever by Bob who did the school thing a few years ago, excelled and graduated with great applause! Jack and Sadie (Peter's week day walking companions) come along too, me thinks they like to sit in the warm car and watch Peter work...gloating I shouldn't wonder, one day I shall get them into school!

So all in the car, safely in the back, we arrive at school. All the others wait with Simon in the warm car (not that I'm jealous or anything but 10am on a Sunday morning in the freezing cold, in the middle of a field are Peter and I).

Once out of the car, Peter's tantruum begins. Lots of shaking and whining, while we watch the previous class come to a close (grateful I am that we're not in that one, I mean a 9am start?!) Correcting Peter's anti-social bahviour is all about spot-on timing so that he understands which of his actions he is being corrected for, a correction being to turn him away at the same time as using a firm vocal sound such as Psssht (like my Dad used to tell me when chattering on and on as a child...worked for me...well most of the time!) Takes a few corrections to stop his snarling at the other dogs and lunging to try an attack them. Last week was his first week and was all about dogs - simply getting him to calm down enough to focus on working. There was much less aggression this week, he got into the "working zone" much quicker and so did I ... well done Peter. He's joined the "puppy class" because that's all about socialisation - which is what he needs, to learn how to be polite in company with other dogs. Having had some training in the past, he know the basics - his "sits, downs, heels, wait and come" commands. It's just getting his attention off the other dogs and focused on me ...that's the all...that's massive! With Chris instructing, Sonia brought out one of her older calm dogs - Fletch acts as a stooge dog who helps unstable dogs by being totally balanced. She worked Fletch very close to Peter, with lots of praise and treats for good wanted behaviuor (and a few "just in time" corrections) we completed the class! It seems that Peter's manners are better with older calmer dogs, he was also well behaved when Bruffy, one of Chris's dogs whom Peter knows and likes. With the puppies who have high excitable energy he begins to stress and revert to his aggressive stance - more effort required from Peter says teacher! So todays class was all about conditioning Peter to work while other dogs are very near by, from there he has to learn to be calm and listen to me at all times, he's beginning to realise that no harm will come to him being in the company of strange dogs.

On the whole today's class was a success and I am very happy with Peter's improvement. As for me ......I had to work on releasing tension which I've developed over time anticipating Peter going into an attack. By relaxing my arm (then the rest of me) Peter responded well. I have found that smiling helps me to stay relaxed, my serious attitude kicks in as needed to give Peter instructions such as "Heel". This is how I manage to stay "calm assertive" and react spontaneously if Peter turns aggressive (he can turn it oon in seconds), ensuring the correction voice is used at the right time. Peter is being rehabilitated and I am being trained to live in the "now" with him, not living out his previous misdememanours!Remaining calm, firm yet fair, I begin to feel more confident and see positive changes in Peter's reactions - Result! Reckon re-training me to work with Peter is the harder of the jobs! I keep in mind my feelings, not letting anger or frustration get a look in by having my a conversation in my head with a friend who's saying "mean what you say but don't be mean when you say it".

Well done Peter, reckon Chris would give you a "C" for effort this week! Let's try for a "B" next week! I enjoyed the class, having fun while teaching Peter is the best way for both of us to learn new behaviours.

Schools out .... and it's off to the Heath! All out the car and they're off ... talk about "wacky races"! Flying setters, Sadie searching for rabbits (the tiniest of my Jack Russells most rabbits are bigger than her..we call this activty "russelling"), little Jack bumbling about and Peter releasing that pentup energy trying to keep up with the Setters, which is virtually impossible as Alfie puts in so many top speed 3 point turns Peter gets dizzy!

Back at the beach, the rest of the pack are now awake...nice lie-in hey pack?! More walks for the others then Sunday lunch ("Yep" they get the leftovers and just love it). Followed by lazing in front of the fire .....It really is a dogs day on Sunday!

Plenty of homework for Peter, more form Peter Pan's shcool days next week!