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.