Chouette Goes To School...

River Rat · 07-24-2007, 11:17 PM

This morning Chou had her first session with a trainer. This fellow charges a lot but offers ten brief but intensive individual sessions, during the first eight of which he works with the dog alone. The last two he spends showing the dog's family how to achieve the same results, although of course you can watch throughout. After that you can bring the pup to all the socialization/play sessions he offers, and also return at no extra charge if any problems crop up. Since he's right down the road from us and a friend is very happy with the results from his training I figured I'd go for it. I had called this fellow about eleven years ago when our Great Dane was too aggressive, but we ended up having to give her to a rescue group after she nipped our little granddaughter.

Chou already understands "Sit," "Down," "Come," "Heel," and we've been working on "Stay," but I think she's also approaching an age (she's fifteen weeks today) where she's testing, so for instance she's not as good on her "Come" as she once was. I think it's my fault for letting her off-lead sometimes when I take her out. She gets distracted by our cat and desperately wants to establish a relationship with her, so when I call she's not been complying at times. Ted, the trainer, says that if you have to pop the lead even once when you give the "Come" command because she isn't responding instantly, it's too soon to take her off the leash. Obviously it was too soon.

Anyway, he went through all the basics, including "Heel," and he ended up doing "Stays" with her. He said he usually doesn't deal with "Stay" in the first session, but she was so attentive and picked up so fast that he decided to spend some time on that, too. I suspect he ran out of things to introduce her to because she was so good with the commands already. He says he's dealt with a few other Labradoodles but they were really hyper; he's never met one so calm and teachable! So Chou's continuing to be a good ambassador for doodles!

Here's Chouette waiting impatiently for that next morsel of cheese:

Leslie

blueteal · 07-24-2007, 11:41 PM

What a clever girl Chouette
How wonderful and smart you are!!!
Keep up the good work and of course you are so smart
you are a Doodle!!!

Love Denver

seazr · 07-25-2007, 12:14 AM

Chou sounds like a real smartie! I love the eye contact between her and the trainer--that's very important and means she is really paying attention. I'm all for spending the $$ on training--it really pays off!

River Rat · 07-25-2007, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seazr

I love the eye contact between her and the trainer--that's very important and means she is really paying attention.

Well, lavish helpings of cheese do that. I bring a stick of string cheese for her. What I'm curious to see is how she functions once she goes into cheese withdrawal.

I noticed today on our morning walk that her heel is much better now; she actually walks slightly behind me, where before she was right by my side but a bit too far forward to anticipate changes in direction easily. Not too sure how he accomplished that!

She really is an ambassador for Doodledom, though. I have gotten nothing but positive responses from everyone who sees her, and everyone is so impressed with her sweetness and intelligence.

She gets another lesson today. Ted only spends about ten or fifteen minutes with them at a time, but he fits a lot in and keeps them enjoying it, as you can see.

Leslie

Maureen · 07-25-2007, 09:58 AM

WOW!!!
I have brochures and testimonies from some (2) trainers in the area, and it stumps me that I don't have more seek me out, since it seems obvious (in my mind) that trainers would want to have breeders sending puppies their way. Anyway, ChouChou looks ADORABLE and attentive! What a great trainer, too! I think his program sounds really good, and there's a certain assurance in the future being alright too.

THANK YOU for sharing about your (Chouette's) first session!

**MaxandMe** · 07-25-2007, 07:57 PM

i love Chouette's tongue hahahhahaa!! and she is really intent on getting that cheese

and her attention really is on that trainer!

good girl chouette!! keep up the good work

annabelles mom · 07-26-2007, 05:58 PM

What a sweetie - she sure is paying attention

07-24-2007, 11:17 PM	#1 (permalink)
River Rat Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 983	Chouette Goes To School... This morning Chou had her first session with a trainer. This fellow charges a lot but offers ten brief but intensive individual sessions, during the first eight of which he works with the dog alone. The last two he spends showing the dog's family how to achieve the same results, although of course you can watch throughout. After that you can bring the pup to all the socialization/play sessions he offers, and also return at no extra charge if any problems crop up. Since he's right down the road from us and a friend is very happy with the results from his training I figured I'd go for it. I had called this fellow about eleven years ago when our Great Dane was too aggressive, but we ended up having to give her to a rescue group after she nipped our little granddaughter. Chou already understands "Sit," "Down," "Come," "Heel," and we've been working on "Stay," but I think she's also approaching an age (she's fifteen weeks today) where she's testing, so for instance she's not as good on her "Come" as she once was. I think it's my fault for letting her off-lead sometimes when I take her out. She gets distracted by our cat and desperately wants to establish a relationship with her, so when I call she's not been complying at times. Ted, the trainer, says that if you have to pop the lead even once when you give the "Come" command because she isn't responding instantly, it's too soon to take her off the leash. Obviously it was too soon. Anyway, he went through all the basics, including "Heel," and he ended up doing "Stays" with her. He said he usually doesn't deal with "Stay" in the first session, but she was so attentive and picked up so fast that he decided to spend some time on that, too. I suspect he ran out of things to introduce her to because she was so good with the commands already. He says he's dealt with a few other Labradoodles but they were really hyper; he's never met one so calm and teachable! So Chou's continuing to be a good ambassador for doodles! Here's Chouette waiting impatiently for that next morsel of cheese: Leslie __________________ \Portraits http://www.leslieficcaglia.org \ \Wild and Scenic http://mauriceriver.igc.org/ \

07-25-2007, 12:14 AM	#3 (permalink)
seazr Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Sacramento Posts: 2,971	Chou sounds like a real smartie! I love the eye contact between her and the trainer--that's very important and means she is really paying attention. I'm all for spending the $$ on training--it really pays off! __________________ Diane (and Dakota) http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e304/seazr/

07-25-2007, 09:58 AM	#5 (permalink)
Maureen Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,810	WOW!!! I have brochures and testimonies from some (2) trainers in the area, and it stumps me that I don't have more seek me out, since it seems obvious (in my mind) that trainers would want to have breeders sending puppies their way. Anyway, ChouChou looks ADORABLE and attentive! What a great trainer, too! I think his program sounds really good, and there's a certain assurance in the future being alright too. THANK YOU for sharing about your (Chouette's) first session! __________________ ~Maureen LabradoodleRanch@aol.com www.LabradoodleRanch.com

07-25-2007, 07:57 PM	#6 (permalink)
MaxandMe Super Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Upstate, NY Posts: 15,103	i love Chouette's tongue hahahhahaa!! and she is really intent on getting that cheese and her attention really is on that trainer! good girl chouette!! keep up the good work __________________ *Annmarie, Max,& Peanut* "Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." Anatole France uncondtional love: what a dog always does for us and humans strive to do but can we?

07-24-2007, 11:41 PM	#2 (permalink)
blueteal Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 8,334	What a clever girl Chouette How wonderful and smart you are!!! Keep up the good work and of course you are so smart you are a Doodle!!! Love Denver

07-26-2007, 05:58 PM	#7 (permalink)
annabelles mom Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: lkkkkkkkkkkkkk Posts: 6,837	What a sweetie - she sure is paying attention

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