first day of school...

tonight's the night... she's all decked out in her new pretty Maryjanes

Phyllis Copp...

quick

Phyllis Copp...

'sometime'

and a blouse and skirt and looks terrific... and she's anxious to meet all
of her classmates tonight. Her mom and dad are so proud of her and we just
know she'll do great... !! after all, she already knows how to poop and
pee and scratch and bark and bite and lick faces... does she have to learn
calculus, too? hey, she may just get into the honor society on the first
night... :) i better go polish my sneakers so I'll look like the proud

Chakolate...

All dogs are born knowing calculus. It's humans who have to learn it.

pappa...

mmj1...

**Dalin**...

**Dalin**...

From your lips to God's ears. :-) I'm going to do my best, the heck
with the housework. :-) I need to get that leash training down
before the snow falls, and then over the winter she might forget, but
I'll have the tools to reteach her. It's already gone down to 38 here
two nights ago. Brrrrrr.... I think it will get cold in the
mountains soon too. Are your leaves changing or is it too early
there?

Your two dogs, Dutchess and ? the little stray, do they run loose?
Do you worry during hunting season?

Dalin

Sue...

No...they don't run loose. Stan walks them both about 5 times in a day.
Even though they can go hours without going out. I think Stan just likes to
walk them.
Blue (our little blue tick hound) would run all night if we let her. And
Duchy has gotten away on occasion when she is on her way to the van for her
daily ride (yes...she goes for a ride with daddy. ) And yes....Duchy and
Blue are not very well trained...except for breakie time.
sue

Uh mj, I've been trying to teach her to shake hands for about four
months now. No luck. We feel she's going to have to get along on her
looks. That part about the handful is sure true. :-) But I
wouldn't have it any other way.

Anne Jackson...

But 'shaking hands' isn't a _natural_ thing for any dog to do, Dalin!

I always think that to teach dogs 'party tricks' is somehow demeaning.

Obedience training, OTOH, will keep her safe in some situations i.e.

Phyllis Copp...

four

Phyllis Copp...

her

Phyllis Copp...

But I

Phyllis Copp...

Dalin!

Phyllis Copp...

demeaning.

Phyllis Copp...

i.e.

should she escape onto a main road, if she stops, or comes when called...

Phyllis Copp...

stay,

Phyllis Copp...

sit,

Phyllis Copp...

she's very good at basic commands, but the fancy stuff........ Not on your
life!! She has trained US very well though! (>:
Phyllis

**Dalin**...

The book said to do that too. I use finger in front of my lips when I
tell her "no bark" but I need both hands to get her in sit position so
I can't figure out how to give her a hand signal at the same time.
:-)

Dalin

Phyllis Copp...

That will come as she gets more used to the idea of sitting. We use the
American sign language, because that's what my grandson uses, he can "tell"
her to sit, or move over etc; and the dog understands.
Phyllis

**Dalin**...

It's a very good idea. Sometimes the dog can't hear you if heavy
traffic is around or the dog is getting older and getting deaf.

Dalin

Phyllis Copp...

I was always afraid that if she were out she might try to follow me across
the road when I got the mail. She'd probably see signs before being able to
hear me.
Phyllis

**Dalin**...

Maybe I'll mention that to my instructor. Why not just use signs
instead of any language at all? Easier for a dog to learn one sign
for a command rather than a voice sign and a silent sign seems to me.

Only thing is when you are first teaching them sometimes you need both
hands to position them but after you do you could immediately use a
hand sign.

mmj1...

Cowboy could shake but only when he figured there was something extra in it
for him. He got such boring treats it amazed me he even wanted one. As for
getting along on her looks she definitely has that in her favor.

Dalin

Phyllis Copp...

When you're training them, and at other times, I think your tone of voice
has a big impact on your dog. I use both at the same time.
Phyllis

You will absolutely love school and so will Shadow. Watching dogs and people
is very entertaining!

david...

kup...

We once had the dog from Hell. A wire-haired fox terrior. He was one
miserable mutt, lemme tell ya.
I took him to school and he graduated 3rd in the class. Even got a
trophy. Of course, it was during the summer and only three dogs showed
up for "finals".
sue

well, the fun for me is that dalin and i agreed that she would be the
handler in the training sessions... the training class focused on the
instructor training dalin and the other handlers... :) the dogs were just
props so mom could learn what she was supposed to do... and our puppy was
about the size of lunch to most of the other dogs and she spent her efforts
trying to stay clear of that rottweiler sitting next to her... was a fun
evening...

mmj1...

Just be consistent (that means both of you) with what you say to Shadow and
what is expected of her. Repetition, repetition, repetition. When you walk
her is a good time for her (& you) to practice.

Joy...

I assume the skirt is plaid? I think that's mandatory for the first day of
school. ;-)

Have fun.