I'm attempting to train Maddie for an obedience show. I'm learning, though so slowly you wouldn't believe.

First of all, I'm not truly very obedient myself, so you might expect my dog to reflect my basic 1960s question-authority attitude.

Each week in this advanced obedience, I trot my puppy out ready to show off what she and I worked on during the week.

This week it was having her stand and have someone touch her. I was so proud. She did it. Even better, she figured out left turns and I can now turn on a pie pan and she stays with me.

Everything else went into the drain. Oops! Maddie chewed her leash and played tug of war with me during most of the class. I thought we had worked through this. (I went home and sprayed it with bitter apple [no more nice guy]).

Mostly I work her off leash during our walks. She heels or stays or whatever interspersed with our walks. So back to working more on leash.

Her stays were still great. She stays in her sit for three minutes and her downs for five. If I leave, she still stays. Great puppy.

Next thing down the drain. She wouldn't sit during the heeling exercises. Just ignored me until I spoke to her. Dang and double dang.

Well, two steps forward and two back.

I'm hoping to show her for novice the end of May.

The biggest problem I will have is training me. No, Gwen, you don't stop immediately when someone says halt. You take two or three steps to stop. No, you can't use both hands for the 'come' command, that is considered a double command. No, you can't hand signal and verbal signal for somethings. ARGH!!!

Well, only three adv. obedience classes so far. It is likely to get better.

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Gwen
belongs to Amber (LiquidAmber II) June 1995-August 2010
Maddie (Essex Mountain Madrone) CGC Born April 17th, 2012

"I'm not truly very obedient myself....."
"The biggest problem I will have is training me."

I TOTALLY get you! I'm brand new to all this dog training/performance stuff I know I am the weakest link on our team! Bella would probably already be titled in so much more if it weren't for me! hahahaha! Hey, we're having fun with our babies though, right?!!

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Kimberley

Yep! Maddie could do this in her sleep if she had an experienced owner. I'm definitely the weak link in this team. I'm grateful that she's so tolerant.

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Gwen
belongs to Amber (LiquidAmber II) June 1995-August 2010
Maddie (Essex Mountain Madrone) CGC Born April 17th, 2012

If it were all easy, we wouldn't appreciate the victories as much when they come.

Keep at it and celebrate the positives. Where I was 2-3 years ago with my Jacks is I would have been OK with "no sits" on the heeling if we still got solid stays.

Little trick with the hands - I got in the habit of moving them to my front to lure Jacks to front. I litterally would grab the sides of my pants or press my hands to my legs to keep my hands locked to my sides. I still do this.

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Always loved, never forgotten, all our previous boys -

Sounds like you and Maddie are on a journey together. Enjoy the ride, potholes and all.

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[SIGPIC]

Welcome to the world of dog training. Some days they are perfect and other they 're dogs and as you agree they can be both within minutes.