Most Improved!

Lee told the class, "that black dog is the most improved this week". Wahoooo! Of course, that could be because last week, she started barking at the beginning of class and the sporadically through out the rest of class.

This week, Cricket only barked a few times and it was mostly when Lee was showing us how to act really pissed off when our dogs don't appropriatly demonstrate "sit to stay".

We are still working on our "sits" and "downs" but last week we learned "The Magic Hand" and "Swing". These are hard to explain but here goes-

The Magic Hand is just you showing your pooch a treat, you turn your hand over so they can't see the treat then move your hand away from their nose. They follow and when they touch your hand you flip it around to give them the treat. To them, it is like magic. Cricket has that no problem but if I try to use the magic hand to get her to walk around my body, I look like I'm demonstrating some sort of weird yoga move. She doesn't get it if the treat goes from one hand to the other then it must just be disappearing which has got to be black magic.

"Swing" she gets. We got to demonstrate our almost perfect example of swing to the class. We were the only dog who could do it! You simply take the treat, stick it in front of their nose and take a step back, leaving the other foot where it is. You look like you are about to throw a ball underhanded. The treat goes back, the dog follows, the treat comes fwd and the dog and treat are suppose to stop by your side. Dog sits...gets treat and you have completed "Swing".

We also showed off our "heel" talents which we practiced all of twice. Cricket gets heel when she only has to do it for 20ft back and forth. That is all that Lee wants us to do, for now.

So, this week, we will be practicing our "sit - stay". Cricket must be in a sit and I keep feeding her food as long as she remains seated. I'm suppposed to do this in 5 sec intervals for one minute then two minute break and back again for 10 sec intervals up to 20 secs. Cricket couldn't even do 5 secs. Her little butt would bounce right off the ground after about 6 treats. This lesson is going to be hard to learn.

Kent came with me, this time and took pics.

Lee works with a student on "down".

Kent works with Cricket on "Swing".

I put on Cricket's work bandana.