Test 1: Accepting a friendly stranger

Test 2: Sitting politely for petting

Test 3: Appearance and grooming

Test 4: Out for a walk (walking on a loose lead)

Test 5: Walking through a crowd

Test 6: Sit and down on command and Staying in place

Test 7: Coming when called

Test 8: Reaction to another dog

Test 9: Reaction to distraction

Test 10: Supervised separation

I will be expanding on these requirements as Bella and I learn them. Plus, I’ll try to add video and hopefully by September 1st, 2011 Bella will have earned her CGC.

Bella has a tendency to be a Jekyll and Hyde type of dog. On the streets with no distractions (other than insects) she is really good at heeling and pays attention (mostly). At class with 7-11 other dogs, that’s a whole ‘nother story.

I was impressed this class, though, because Bella seemed not as bothered by the other dogs as previous classes. However, she was a bit daydreamy and did not do too well with recalls or the sit-stay. But, she was super good at the stand-for-exam, which oddly enough, we hadn’t worked on AT ALL.

My homework is to work on recalls BIG TIME. These are to be done on leash and I need more enthusiasm with calling her name and praising when she reacts well. Her lack of good recalls is mostly my fault because I believe I confused her with having her wait to enter the house (which is tricky because the way the door closes on us).

Thus, I am going to work on these outside and inside, about 10 times each, every day. I need to get more intense with her training which is hard when she puts on the cute eyes and tail-wagging routine.

But Bella is a great dog and loves people so much that she doesn’t ever have to be perfect. Just so she can be well-balanced and kept safe.

After seeing Stacia’s dog Macey perform this trick, I wanted to see if Bella could do it. I hadn’t really tried for many months and then finally decided to give it a go. Here are the steps:

• First, make sure your dog knows how to lie down on command. Bella had already mastered this.
• Second, gently push her over on her side while saying “Bang!” and motioning with a finger gun at the same time.
• Reward and repeat!

After several times of rewarding (I use toys and lots of praise) have her in the down position and bang until she goes over on her own. Once this is mastered start from a sitting or standing position. This may require a few “bangs!” but that is fine. Maybe you missed the first time!

This is just a fun trick to show off to your friends. It isn’t meant to scare with a loud noise or replicate any sort of gun violence towards the dog. This trick shows how dogs can learn many commands and hand motions in a relatively short time so long as positive reinforcement is used and you make a game out of it.

Here’s the finished result! Bella is such a happy dog she’ll end up wagging even while “playing dead” but we are trying ways to get her to freeze completely.

The worst part of the high number of dogs was that a few came in really late while we were already working. What a distraction!!

But we worked through it and Bella was pretty good. We tried the pinch collar on her to help her pay attention to me and my movements. What a difference! I was tentative at first because I personally don’t like the pinch, but whatever works is fine with me at this point.

I am switching gears a bit. Each morning and evening (if time and weather permits) I am going to walk Bella on “fun walks” where we don’t train (or train loosely but without choker). Then, I am going to have 2-3 10-minute sessions daily to focus only on training and not SEEKING. This intense focus should help her and that way the walks become her reward. (She loves walks!!)

Regardless, Bella has improved so much and is just a bit stubborn at times. She needs to work through the distractions and I need to do a better job allowing her to think on her own and then pay attention to me. Thankfully, even with a lot of barking and pulling in class, I kept my composure and the frustrated feeling left quickly.

The first advanced class was a bit overwhelming. I was used to 5 or 6 dogs but we had TEN! One dog, Oakley, was from the beginner class but the rest were all long-timers with already really trained dogs. Bella was frightened and bark-growled numerous times, especially at the start.

As the class progressed and I became less tense, Bella calmed down quite a bit too. We worked on heeling in groups, did off-leash recalls, and had to sit-stay and down-stay as a group. But Bella was excellent at all of her tasks. We need to work hard at heeling better.

The most nerve-wracking thing we had to do was heel-weave around all the other dogs and owners. Pretty tight quarters for a pup who is frightened by other dogs. But Bella did a great job.

My sister Jennie attended and Oakley, on a recall, ran over to her like he knew her. So, the trainers suggested she stand closer in so in case he ran off she could call him. They mistakenly thought Jennie was with Oakley’s owner and not with Bella and me. It was pretty funny!!

I’ll try to attend weekly or bi-weekly depending on how much practice we can get in. I play on walking her every morning and most lunches and nights just to really get good at heeling. I have complete faith in Bella that she will master everything I throw at her, and eventually be comfortable around other dogs.

Bella’s final Beginner Obedience class included a series of “tests” to see if she would pass. Here’s what we had to do:

• Heeling – show that she can heel properly including sitting when we “halt” – Bella was a bit shaky with this one but adequate
• Stand for Exam – she must stand still while being “inspected” by the trainer – Bella moved a bit at first but was then good
• Off Leash Heel – she must heel without her leash on – Bella did surprisingly well at this, best in the class
• Across Room Recall – she must sit and stay until I call her from across the room (off leash) – Bella was *perfect*, the only dog to come immediately AND sit in front of me (called “front”)
• Sit for 1 Minute – she must sit and stay for 1 full minute with me 6 feet away – Bella was the only one to complete without any correction
• Lay for 3 Minutes – she must lay down and stay for 3 minutes with me 6 feet away – Bella aced this one easily as well

Bella was overall awesome and made me proud. I was a bit worried since I was away on vacation for 5 days leading up to her final class so we didn’t practice at all. But both Stacia (who attended) and I feel Bella did the best of all the dogs but more importantly, did what she was supposed to do and what we worked 8 weeks to get to.

I am going to continue with some extended training for 8 more classes because I feel this will only help Bella become an even better dog and eventually get over her fear of other dogs.

I bought Bella Nova Scotia a wicked cool dragon toy with 16 squeakers in it. She loves it.

We learned how to start training for off-leash work. We use a long nylon rope/leash. We heel as normal but every time the dog loses attention (strays from your side) you step on the rope and walk to the dog to correct and continue. DO NOT grab the rope because if the dog pulls it will rip your hands up!!

We were also told what our final class requirements were for graduation:

• Adequate heel and sit
• Sit-Stay for 1 minute
• Lay-Stay for 1 minute
• Stand for Exam

We practiced each of these and Bella was PERFECT. I personally think she was the best of all the dogs, at least with both stays.

Bella’s only problem was she was a bit “talkative” towards the other dogs especially when a “demo” dog was brought in. This was a dog Bella had never seen and she didn’t appreciate its Rottweilery presence.

But I am confident that Bella will pass with high honors.

One new thing was calling from further than 6 feet. We would do a sit-stay and walk about halfway across the room. Then we’d wait until directed and call. Bella is funny about this because when she is attached to the leash she feels like she shouldn’t run to me. In a big way this is a good thing. She would never run from me (off or on leash).

The week of homework was a bit frustrating because of the heat and Bella acting a bit naughty/distracted. I am still working on the timing for heel-halts. Every time I stop while heeling, Bella should sit next to me. A lot of the time she goes in front and then sits. So I have to retract her and try again.

Regardless, she is walking well on the leash and is always on the left side, knowing not to cross my path.

• Sitting-Stay for 1 minute while I return by walking around her and back to the heel position
• Laying-Stay – this is part of our homework, to lay down and stay for 1 minute and then return to heel
• Stand for Exam – this is for showing or visiting vet where she must stand still for as long as I tell her
• Front – she must come when called and then sit directly in front
• Come when Called – we are supposed to work on this more in order to get “Front” down well
• Return to Heel – not sure the proper name for this but basically from a “Close Stay” she must go behind me and return to the heel position

There were probably other things but I am focusing on the main homework and then we will review at the next class. We have learned a ton and Bella is doing an amazing job.

Below are three videos. I will work on getting more videos uploaded after Bella masters certain commands. Then I plan on creating a series to fully explain what these commands are including the proper name and the steps involved to accomplish them. If the videos won’t load please refresh your browser.

SIT STAY at 6 feet

LAY DOWN

An example of HEELING with a couple turns and a SIT when we halt

Bella “lay down”

Our homework assignment was to work on staying up to six feet without moving for 30 seconds. Practicing during the week, we are already there.

Bella staying at 6 feet

My dad attended the class and thought Bella looked the best. Our trainer showed us the proper way to meet an unfamiliar dog by reaching your hand closest to the dog. This prevents exposing your face and neck from reaching across the dog.

From just four classes, Bella has progressed incredibly and everyone I show her to agrees.