Lottie's obedience skills have come along really nicely. She is a softer dog who doesn't require much more than a stern "No" when not listening to a command. She will quickly correct herself and learns for the next time when asked. We are tightening up our skills so we can take the Canine Good Citizenship test. She has a large majority of the skills down, but needs to additional practice for the commands of "Down" and "Place." We just don't typically require those two things around the home so it's tougher on her to master them. She heels nicely on and off lead and her recall has been solid. I love watching her when we're out exploring because she often finds herself skidding to a stop to only spin around like a barrel horse and come running back to me. I try not to recall unless needed so they don't become complacent and disregard the command. We're hoping to complete the CGC test here soon and then begin advancing our obedience in preparation for the CGCA and CGCU.
Over the last year of having Lottie I've learned so much as a handler on how to curb the bad behaviors so many dog owners often find themselves experiencing. Attending group trainings when she was a small puppy was just the start to her socialization and really helped us find neutrality while around people, dogs, and a busy environment. The commands we've learned together have helped her learn when a behavior is acceptable and because we're putting her brain to work she finds herself tired after and hasn't developed destructive behaviors.
Looking back on Becks and his lack of training from the beginning I see where we went wrong. We were too cheap to invest in formal classes back then and too prideful to admit that we didn't know what we were doing and that we really needed help. He's never really been one for destruction, but he is a busy-bee and needs an outlet in more than just physical exercise. Dedicating time to training has been one great source in creating a more obedient dog, but has also given him time to work his brain and become mentally tired after a lesson. We have made progress together this year, but we are most definitely not as advanced as a team as Lottie and I are. Our two goals we are working towards are loose leash walking(this boy wants to go go go and is very antsy) and recall training. Leash training has gotten much better over the last few months after a few private sessions with a trainer. Our recall training has gotten better, but we are breaking that selective hearing problem so he knows that the only option when recalled is to come. Coupled with the recall is our "Free" command that cues him to run and have fun without worry of checking in.
How is training with Oakley you may ask? Well, Oakley is...just Oakley. She has been great with leash manners and only has slight reaction to dogs when on lead but it's not aggressive behavior, just excitement when they are barking at her. It's easily corrected and curbed which leaves me happy. She could work on recall, but she stays by my side and doesn't wonder far so it hasn't been a huge priority for me. She's been a great pet, but outside of the basics she doesn't need much more as she is naturally a calm and composed dog at home. She will literally sleep all day with no need to a run. She just needs potty, water, food, and a walk around the block.
Did you know you and your dogs can work towards a CGC title even if they aren't a purebred dog? The AKC offers a Purebred Alternative Listings(PAL) program that allows you to register your dog and begin earning titles for certain events. For details on the PAL program click here: PAL Program
To learn more about the AKC's CGC testing, click here: CGC Testing