Chouette Goes To School...

River Rat · Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2007 9:17 pm Post subject: 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

blueteal · Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2007 9:41 pm Post subject:

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
_________________
Sue & Denver
http://blueteal.net/denver.htm
A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.
- Josh Billings

seazr · Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2007 10:14 pm Post subject:

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/

River Rat · Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2007 5:29 am Post subject:

Maureen · Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2007 7:58 am Post subject:

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

MaxandMe · Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2007 5:57 pm Post subject:

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

and her attention really is on that trainer!

good girl chouette!! keep up the good work Very Happy

_________________
Annmarie, Max,& Peanut
Forum BLOG ARTICLE LINK http://blog.labradoodle-dogs.net/

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." Anatole France

sessa35 · Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2007 6:04 pm Post subject:

Atta girl, Chou!
Great, I mean, fabulous EYE contact, indeed!! WoW!
Cheese or no cheese, the eye contact is so important and its obvious she's giving it already! Congrats!
Keep up the great work!
And yes, Chou is an exemplary doodle to admire! Very Happy

Thanks for sharing the story and the photo! Wink

_________________
REASON #50, "Why I love my doodle so": My doodle teaches ME new things EVERY day!

annabelles mom · Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2007 3:58 pm Post subject:

What a sweetie - she sure is paying attention
_________________

Mary & Annabelle
Zippity Doodle, Zippyity ay, My O My what a WonderDoodle Day !

http://www.picturetrail.com/luvlabs