My bubble has burst :(

[BabyElephant]

So, tonight my obedience bubble has burst. We got through the puppy training and the trainer moved us to the intermediate class, tonight was our first night, boy was it hard work. Talk about lack of focus (Moo, I definitely know where you're coming from on this one), we got told to do stuff we'd never done before and then they tell us to forget all the softly, softly, nicely, nicely approach, but we have to be firm with our dogs.

I have learnt so much, I have to stand tall (I tend to lean over and get to her level) and I also have to ignore her barking (rather than issuing the "quiet" command), I have to touch her less and I have to realise that she is a puppy (no ****). We did stuff we had done before like heelwork, turn and about turn (but had to give commands this time instead of coochy, coochy, coos) then all of a sudden we were told to do a German about turn - where did that come from

I did enjoy it though I can't wait to practice the new stuff tomorrow - that German about turn is a ******!

[erdog3]

I know where your at Baby, Sophie did obedience, talk about all over the place at times, all she wanted to do was wag the tail, play, or go for a splash in the pool provided.
It is great fun though. It also socializes heaps. Better than any other place to get them used to other people and dogs.
Hang in there and enjoy!!! It will be well worth it in the long run.
Soph can do a sit, drop, stay, stay and walk away, stay with food on the ground and walk away, and the ok command. Labs are pretty smart.
We got to where you can tell her to down, stay, put the food within 12" of her and walk out of sight, come back then tell her ok.

[Moo]

Don't worry BabyE, the transitions and changes are always the hardest part. Give it a week or two and you'll get into the groove. LOL

The commands, lol. I've made up my own commands for most things and people look at me funny, our dogs are doing the same thing, but I said something completely different. Teeter, table, tunnel, tire get me tongue tied. Heh, heh.

[weimlover0816]

Aww, BabyE, it will be better in no time!! Remeber what a QUICK learner Poppy is! I'm sure she was just as nervous as you.... good luck and keep us posted. And, if you'd like to share the German commands, that would be fun, too!! I'd like to have my Weims obey German commands!!!

[dobermom]

I know how you feel! Cliffords advanced class was MUCH different then the puppy class.
The advanced was much more military structure. A little tough love, not all hugs and kisses.
Clifford is a very sensitive dog, so I was very careful with him. If Poppy is sensitive becareful, dont over due it.
He of course did GREAT! I am very glad he went through it.

[GretaJack]

You will be surprised how quickly Poopy will adjust to the intermediate level of training. Much quicker than you, probably. When I start obedience, Moby was about 1 year old so I never did Puppy training (KPT). Then I took Carbon to KPT and I think the other owners thought I was horrible because I would not coo, pamper, or coddle him. But we were business from the day I brought him home. I started with Seargent Mabel, the matriarch of obedience, and then went to sweet, loving Michelle. My advice to you, learn something from every instructor and take what works for you best and use it with Poppy.

[Dax]

Baby, I'm sure Poppy will make you proud in no time. She's a smart one. By the way, what's a German about face? Just in case I need to change direction, I want to do it right? LOL.

[BabyElephant]

Yes, when I told hubby's mum she said "So are you not going to go back then?" What, no way, I enjoy this and so does Poppy, we will get there.

German about turn, well, it's a bit difficult to describe, but I'll try, I have to describe all three so you can see where I'm coming from:

About Turn: keeping the dog on your left, with lead in right hand, turn to your right until you are facing the other way. Command = close

Reverse About Turn: keeping the dog on your left, with lead in right hand, turn to your left until you are facing other way (more difficult, you are walking around the dog). Command = back

German About Turn: starting with dog on your left, your dog turns right, you turn left and you swap leads over from right hand to left hand (behind your back) and then back again (in front of you) when you are both facing the other way. Command = I don't know, I didn't manage to remember that bit - LOL

[Dax]

That sounds like square dancing. (Is there music?). I bet that class is going to be fun for you too. The first class is always the most uncomfortable. GO POPPY...

[Moo]

I was thinking "German waddabuddawhoodda?" But OHhhh---- we do those in agility, so that we can have the dogs on the side most efficient to get to the next obstacles, except they don't have fancy names like that. LOL. We used to practise doing turns like that around poles.... About turn we we just say, TURN IN AND RUN! lol, German about turn sounds like a front cross.

The dogs don't get commands for those, I just have to run like heck and tell him to slow down so we can switch sides/directions, and he just follows my lead.