Peter's School Days....he's back!

Returning this Sunday, after a week off, he struts in and turns his attention to me, obeying commands….is this the same dog his classmates wonder! “Oh yes it is“, as Tia comes over to see him, recognising him as her “best friend” when she stayed with us, only to be greeted in his anti-social way…growls and snarls! However, this didn’t last long, once I said “hi” to Tia and petted her, he was back to being friendly and “checking her out”!! So he did remember who she was after all, just didn’t recognise her at first seeing her at the training field rather than on home turf!

The class went well, really well! Peter did his heel work and was as good as it gets for a Terrier (close to perfect responses to my commands)! He walked past his classmates without an aggressive tantrum and even did a “down stay”…only a few minutes but he did it! He’s mastered the “recall” and adds on a “finish” - the bit where the dog comes to you, sits then goes around to the heal position and sits again! That’s my boy! We managed to get a bit closer to his classmate on the socialisation exercise, inch by inch we moved closer when he didn’t react aggressively. May take his muzzle with him next week so he can safely experience being around the other dogs.

We did some more agility with him, he really loves this sport and focuses on me and my commands, I even got my left and right turns correct so he jumped over following the route I had in mind…as opposed to his own choice of where to go! We didn’t do it off lead today, not sure I can trust him to not chase after the others working on their obedience on the field! His weaves were just great, especially as we haven’t done this since the first time, he remembered how to weave in and out of the poles. What a bright boy he really is, as I forgot that he was a beginner, and that I was using the “in and out” commands to teach weave, I reverted to “weave weave weave” and he just knew what to do!

So seems that he takes to agility, he has to constantly move forward, changing pace and turning, so this challenges his mental ability as well. Will we go onto agility next then, the early class? Will think it over and discuss it with teacher! I hope so as he clearly enjoys it, reckon may need some more work on that recall, with distractions, first.

Peter’s been doing a lot of homework, massive improvement noticeable this week, very proud of him. By the way Peter, how about doing some of that lovely heelwork on your daily excisions to the beach?!