Troutbirder II

Troutbirder II
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Saturday, April 19, 2014

Basic Obedience Training



Spring has made its first tentative appearance here in Bluff Country, and so yesterday was the first of several clean out and clean up the garage and shed days.  Tacked above the dog pen, in the garage with an exit to the outside kennel, was a graduation certificate for Baron, our late and much beloved GSD.  I decided to leave it there. Our newly adopted Shepherd, Lily, won’t need to get one. At six years of age she has already passed all of the skill, obedience and intelligence tests I can think of…..

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Baron was about 9 months old when he first met his peers. It was puppy class. The rest of the dogs were quite small compared to him. He was already very large for a male GSD. There was one exception though....shy, demure and well behaved Sabrina, the Mastiff. She was already a big girl.
 
 

Here they are listening to their instructor. Troutbirder has to hang on to Baron so he doesn’t cause a disturbance. Sabrina waits quietly in the background, listening carefully.
 

All of the puppies passed the class and got their certificate. Baron just barely made it through. Here is his report card.

Playtime A+

Deportment D

Follows Directions D

Heeling D

Sit C

Stay D-

Snack Break A

Inappropriate Herding A+

Time Out – Yes – several times…..

Needless to say he improved a whole lot from his shaky beginnings.
 

25 comments:

  1. Awesome photos, beautiful dogs.

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  2. Your Baron is a beautiful fur baby.
    I know that you miss him.

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  3. Evening, Baron is so beautiful, Happy Easter, Francine.

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  4. oh, i loved baron's report card. i think lily is a sweet girl and she's giving you a break.

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  5. Aww I think Baron is a typical boy. Beautiful doggie.

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  6. Ha! Ha! The report card is hilarious. Baron was a handsome fellow. I'm sure he left a big hole in your hearts when he passed. Lily is a fine dog, though, and seems to be adapting nicely to her new surroundings.

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  7. Beautiful dogs! I have a 5 month old grandpuppy - golden retriever - who is in need of training. He just spent a week in Pennsylvania meeting other dogs and lots of relatives and had quite an encounter with a nesting pair of geese....on a small island in the middle of a fishing pond...once he got out there, he couldn't figure out how to get back to shore!

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  8. Ha! Love the report card. Baron was such a handsome guy!

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  9. Baron was a beautiful dog and I adore that last picture ... you can see his personality shining through.

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  10. Totally cracked up at Baron's report card. He excelled in what was important to him. Smart dog.

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  11. Wonderful to remember that fine animal on Easter, a day of joy and renewal. I laughed at his report card. Thanks, TB. Happy Easter! :-)

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  12. Baron's report card is hilarious!
    Happy Easter to you, Mrs. TB, and of course, Lily.

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  13. I loved Baron's report card - that is a keeper! He was a very spirited child :-)

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  14. The report card omitted "Love and Loyalty - A+"

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  15. Great photos and info about Baron... I'm sure he was VERY special (like they all are) because you had him as a puppy--and went through the training with him... Sounds like he was a 'character'... ha

    Happy Easter.
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  16. I love it! He definitely had his priorities in order. A+ in play.

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  17. He was a special dog probably because he had special owners! That last photo is a real keep for sure...it is one of my favorites!
    Happy Easter to you and Mrs TB and of course to Lily:)

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  18. Fun report card :-) gave me a chuckle. Thanks

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  19. What Baron lacked in grades he made up for in loyalty and love. LOL! Love it!
    xo Catherine

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  20. The first dog I took to class had to stay after a few times. I have done it with all my pets.

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  21. haha! I adore Baron's report card. "inappropriate herding A+" perfect! And wow, you can really see what a big boy he was in that photo. His forelegs are so powerful!

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  22. Being particularly fond of Shepherds myself, I have to say Baron was a beautiful dog. I have Australian shepherds, and Border Collies now. They are smart but have mercy the energy is insane. :)

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  23. Aren't those dogs that challenge us the most in the training just the ones that give us the best memories? We could have sent our first born (although my husband and I did not have children together) to an Ivy League college for what we have spent on our current dog in training classes. He is finally, thanks to my husband's patience and hard work a very good boy. I think that is because of my husband's back ground in working as a principal in an alternative school with the 'bad' kids for so long. He knows how to work with those incorrigibles.

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