Our Adventures into Obedience Training Part 2
Well, it's been a couple days since our first obedience class that Gryffyn was present for. I thought I'd give an update. We arrived a little early so Gryffyn could do his business and get some energy out. No sooner was he out of the car, then I heard him do his "freaked out" bark! I turned and there was another dog standing just on the other side of a nearby car that was just staring at Gryffyn. I guess it freaked Gryffyn out pretty good! LOL! He just wouldn't stop with that bark :) I'm thinking to myself, oh, this is going to be a lot of work tonight! I wasn't sure if we were actually going to be able to accomplish anything or not.
Then we headed toward the area where the class was being held and he basically tried to drag me from person to person and dog to dog all the way there. That said, he would make an awesome sled dog! His breeder actually has had a corgi sled team (that pulls a wagon on wheels) in parades and Gryffyn is perfectly suited to that :)
He's the typical corgi, happy to meet and greet all people and creatures with great enthusiasm. He's also oblivious to me during all these meet and greets and that is something I am hoping to resolve.
As we approached the class area, we could see the prior class finishing up. They were all in a big circle, dogs sitting quietly next to them on the left. I just looked at them all and thought there is no WAY my dog is going to be doing that at the end of the first class! I was getting kinda nervous at this point. Gryffyn continued pulling and tugging to get to other dogs and people while we waited for the first class to be over.
When class started the instructor had us all stand in a circle with our dogs on the left. I couldn't get Gryffyn to sit. I had to push his bottom down to get him in the position. I wasn't pleased as he has known and performed "sit" since he was 12 weeks old. Figures. I was somewhat embarrassed until I realized that everyone else was paying so much attention to their own dog that they didn't notice :)
As we went around in the circle several times with the dogs in "heel" position and then stopping and having them "sit" to the left facing forward, Gryffyn seemed a little less interested in the dogs. He was taking the corrections and refocusing on the "heel" command but not one time, not ONCE, did he sit on command! I had to push his bottom down each and every time! Booger! I'm not sure if it was because there were no treats or because he had to be on my left side facing forward, as opposed to right in front of me facing me (the standard that he's always done at home)? Not sure, but whatever the reason he would not sit on command.
We had a few touch and go moments, literally. More than once, a larger dog approached while we were heeling and sniffed at him from behind and startled Gryffyn so bad that he jumped and spun mid-air and came down facing the opposite direction! Unfortunately, each time that happened, he'd be nervous and keep watching over his shoulder to make sure nobody was getting too close. We finally found a nice place on the outside of the circle to walk so that we could avoid that. He was much more content with that position. I would like to show him in conformation some day and I don't need him nervous that a dog might sneak up on him while walking in the ring.
At the end of class, I was pleased to see that our class looked just like the prior class, all the dogs sitting patiently on the left side of their humans. AND Gryffyn was too! I had been so sure that wouldn't happen. Yes, I did have to manually put him in the "sit", but he stayed in it, even when they led a dog in and out around each of us! I was very impressed!
I left with a little more confidence that maybe we can do this...more next week...
Then we headed toward the area where the class was being held and he basically tried to drag me from person to person and dog to dog all the way there. That said, he would make an awesome sled dog! His breeder actually has had a corgi sled team (that pulls a wagon on wheels) in parades and Gryffyn is perfectly suited to that :)
He's the typical corgi, happy to meet and greet all people and creatures with great enthusiasm. He's also oblivious to me during all these meet and greets and that is something I am hoping to resolve.
As we approached the class area, we could see the prior class finishing up. They were all in a big circle, dogs sitting quietly next to them on the left. I just looked at them all and thought there is no WAY my dog is going to be doing that at the end of the first class! I was getting kinda nervous at this point. Gryffyn continued pulling and tugging to get to other dogs and people while we waited for the first class to be over.
When class started the instructor had us all stand in a circle with our dogs on the left. I couldn't get Gryffyn to sit. I had to push his bottom down to get him in the position. I wasn't pleased as he has known and performed "sit" since he was 12 weeks old. Figures. I was somewhat embarrassed until I realized that everyone else was paying so much attention to their own dog that they didn't notice :)
As we went around in the circle several times with the dogs in "heel" position and then stopping and having them "sit" to the left facing forward, Gryffyn seemed a little less interested in the dogs. He was taking the corrections and refocusing on the "heel" command but not one time, not ONCE, did he sit on command! I had to push his bottom down each and every time! Booger! I'm not sure if it was because there were no treats or because he had to be on my left side facing forward, as opposed to right in front of me facing me (the standard that he's always done at home)? Not sure, but whatever the reason he would not sit on command.
We had a few touch and go moments, literally. More than once, a larger dog approached while we were heeling and sniffed at him from behind and startled Gryffyn so bad that he jumped and spun mid-air and came down facing the opposite direction! Unfortunately, each time that happened, he'd be nervous and keep watching over his shoulder to make sure nobody was getting too close. We finally found a nice place on the outside of the circle to walk so that we could avoid that. He was much more content with that position. I would like to show him in conformation some day and I don't need him nervous that a dog might sneak up on him while walking in the ring.
At the end of class, I was pleased to see that our class looked just like the prior class, all the dogs sitting patiently on the left side of their humans. AND Gryffyn was too! I had been so sure that wouldn't happen. Yes, I did have to manually put him in the "sit", but he stayed in it, even when they led a dog in and out around each of us! I was very impressed!
I left with a little more confidence that maybe we can do this...more next week...
Comment
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Comment by Kathy Leach on April 13, 2009 at 5:23pm
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LOL! Bev, I know what you are saying about corgis and sitting straight :) I have to say, I'm amazed when I watch an obedience competition. I'm in awe of the dog and the person. It's a thing of beauty to watch those dogs do as their owner asks. I don't know if I will ever get to that point, but I'm going to have a good time trying :)
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Comment by Bev Levy on April 11, 2009 at 2:37pm
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Another thing that is difficult in obedience for a corgi is they are supposed to sit straight and most corgi tend to sit with their short legs on one side or the other. I took my corgi, Sparty, to class at 6 months. He was such a handfull! (my first corgi) He yelped his head off the first time I put a training collar on him and it wasn't even tight! I stopped and the instructor came over to help. She checked my collar and said I had put it on correctly. Her comment was that Sparty had gotten me to do exactly what he wanted so now I needed to work on getting him to do what I wanted! That was an "aha" moment for me. In a later class we struggled with the down command. It was 3 classes before he would lay down without me kneeling and holding him! After a few years of classes he is amazingly well trained. When we took our younger corgi to class, Sparty came as a refresher and was a great example. The funny thing is he loves to do obedience work, gets all excited when I get the training collar out and follows commands very well. When I try to work with the doberman, Sparty always trys to do everything I tell her to do. So don't give up!
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Comment by Sarah C. on April 10, 2009 at 9:56pm
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it would aggravate me to have my dog on my left. My dog is always on the right, because I walk on the right side of the sidewalk, thus putting myself between my dog and oncoming foot-traffick.
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Comment by Lisa on April 10, 2009 at 9:48pm
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Re "to the left" : if you plan to go on with formal obedience, your dog is considered in "heel" position when he is on your left side. Yes it seems arbitrary but so much on formal obedience competition is a little non-sensical; for instance, your dog is meant to be looking up at you while heeling, and for a small breed like a corgi that is especially challenging, plus in the "real world" any dog who heeled around staring up at the handler's face would walk into a wall! Go to an obedience trial sometime to get a feel for what formal heeling looks like; the dog must be neither "lagging" (falling behind the handler) nor "forging" ( walking ahead of the handler) Sheesh! All in all, it can still be a great way to bond with, and get focus from, your corgi!
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To the left? Why the left?
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How exciting! I bet the days will just fly by and she will be home before you know it...Sounds like she is a very fortunate "child" to have THREE adults to dote on her all day! Do keep us posted on how it goes when she arrives, I most definitely understand the whole new puppy phase and it's challenges and joys :)
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Comment by Marion and Vern on April 10, 2009 at 3:56pm
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Thanks. We are into single digit count down days.....8 days to go! Yes to compete you would need more formal training. Don't know much about competing. Plus I have to train my dog to heel and walk on my right side. My left hand and arm are very weak, from a car accident years ago. I tease that my left arm is for keeping my sleeve from flapping in the wind. But it doesn't stop me from training or enjoying my time with my animals. Of course Samantha will be an only "child" which is a nice way of saying she will be spoiled rotten...a pleasure to be around, polite and have manners but spoiled non the less. She will have 3 adults to dote on her day and night. Good luck with the training and competitions. Keep us posted on how well it goes look forward to hearing.
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Thanks :) I adore him and he seems to adore me (though he adores everybody! LOL!). He's going to be two in May, so we've done some training at home, but I want to compete with him, so we need some formal training.
So sorry to hear about Tedi Bear...that's so hard. Our first dog was a corgi mix and we had him for 14 amazing years...I'm excited for you with the new puppy though...she will bring new joy to you, without a doubt!
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Sounds like you enjoyed your class. Sorry but it is funny how he would not sit when you would tell him to, he may be a booger dog but he is your booger dog. And such a cute one at that. In just a little while we will be having the fun of training our pup. Glad you enjoyed the class and remember if you and he already knew everything you wouldn't need the class that is what they are for bonding, enjoying and learning. Also sounds like you two make a great team.
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