Katie and I had an opportunity to drop into a competitive obedience class this morning. Most Saturday mornings I have to work, but for whatever reason my random schedule has me working 5-9 tonight. I like that this class has a drop-in policy that just costs me $10 to attend, whenever I can make it.

The problems began almost immediately. Even though Katie and I have on occasion gone to the park and practiced our heel, you wouldn’t know it. She’s better when we do a little bit, but every day. So while we were doing the heeling in a big circle we were pretty much out of control the whole time.

Plus to add to the excitement there was a little papillon that Katie had never met before.  In fact, I don’t think she’s ever seen a dog this small!  You can go here http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/papillon.htm to see a picture of a papillon.  Whenever we got near Coco Katie would jerk at the leash and try to sniff.  She couldn’t take her eyes off of the cute little thing.  Finally, midway through the class I asked Coco’s owner if it was OK for Katie to meet Coco.  We tried to get them to meet, but Coco was barking at Katie, and Katie was bowing down barking, or backing up barking.  I think Katie thought Coco was a SQUIRREL!  Squirrel alert Mom!!  Right here in class too!!!!

Katie did OK with her stand for exam.  She moved a bit, but at least it was toward the male “judge” instead of shyly backing away.  And she stood for me when I asked her, which she doesn’t always do.  We need to work on that more, but it’s hard to find strangers who will go up to her and pet her!

Then we did sits and stays.  What a disaster!  I don’t know what was up, but Katie was done with school.  On her sit (which was only 2 minutes) she got almost to the end, watching the other dogs get up and get set back down.  Then she just stood up and began wandering around!  What’s up with THAT?!  I got her to sit again by just yelling sit from halfway across the room, and she did.  It was like “OOPS!  I forgot MOM!”  Then on to down and stay.  Well.  There isn’t even a word for the disaster this turned out to be.  She almost immediately popped up into a sit.  I went back and couldn’t get her down for the longest time.  She popped up again a bit later.  I went back and eventually got her into a down again.  The third time she popped up into a stand I went and got her and moved her out of the line.  She was too distracting to everyone.  And I know she can do this, she just couldn’t do it today.

Her recalls from across the room were both beautiful.  She loves to run, and she looks beautiful doing it.  She gets a gold star for that.

All in all I can’t blame her.  We just haven’t been working on this stuff enough.  She needs to be outside in the park or the yard doing each of these things every day.  I just need to make myself get her out there.  I know I won’t be able to go to any trials, as I work every weekend, and maybe that’s why I haven’t been motivated.  But it’s like training for a marathon and then not being able to run the race.  You still get the benefit from the training.  So I have to remember that Katie and I will still enjoy our relationship more if we both understand the obedience rules.  Even without being able to show them off (or not!) in a trial.

She’s sleeping now.  Of course.  Crazy dog calmed right down when we got home.