Lesson 9

We had another lesson this past weekend, but this time at a different PetsMart; on the north side. Things went well! I really enjoy our lessons with C and am sad that we only have one left. I’m getting ahead of myself; let me start at the beginning. Prior to our lesson we’d been working on the “Gentle Leader Game” meaning if I hold out/open the gentle leader and Georgia willingly puts her nose through it I give her a treat. This was to get Georgia to not mind the gentle leader being put on her and to associate it with good things i.e. treats! She did well at this game because my girl loves her some treats!

On Saturday we met up with C. Georgia and I got there a little early so we went ahead inside since it was so hot. Now normally she would literally be dragging me through the parking lot and doors because of all the scents, people and dogs. She can’t wait to smell and see everything and everyone. I’m pleased to report this was NOT the case. Georgia and I walked in at a normal pace and walked around PetsMart and practiced her stopping and sitting on my command, then we practiced her laying down and staying in that position until I released her. We saw C coming so we went to the front and I had her sit and stay as C walked up. She did stay but she was whining and shaking because she loves C and wanted to jump on her really bad, but she DIDN’T!

Next we got her focused again because C’s arrival got her all excited. We did some heeling and sitting. Then we did more of having her lie down and stay. This sounds easy but it’s much harder to do at a PetsMart on a Saturday when there are dogs walking all around us. She did good and stayed in a lie down position for awhile. Then we worked on “come here”. Georgia had to come to me when I would say, “Georgia, come here!” This was also challenging due to all of the distractions. It took her a second at first because she was looking around, but then she came over to me. Next we made it a little more difficult by C holding treats in her hand (not allowing Georgia to get them, but she could smell/see them). I called her again and she had to make the choice to leave the treats that were very near her face and come to me. Took a few times, but she figured it out. We rewarded her by me giving her a treat when she game to me and then C came up to us after Georgia came to me and gave her another treat. So, it was a double reward for making a good decision. You may be thinking, “Geez, this dog gets a lot of food.” When I say she gets a treat during training it is a very, very tiny piece of jerky or some other soft dog treats that I’ve cut to be very small, so she really isn’t getting that much during training, just enough to keep her interested.

Then we walked into the middle of the store in the main isle (busiest part of the store). With people and dogs walking right past us she had to sit and stay on my command. She wasn’t 100%, but did well and listened most of the time. Since she’s the sweetest dog ever and looks friendly two people came up to us to pet her, which is fine and good practice. We explained to them what we were doing and why we were training her. Basically we just wanted them to pet/talk to her while she stayed in a sitting position. One boy asked if he could give her a treat, I told him yes & gave him one to give her. He then tried to train her himself getting her to lie down using the treat as bait. She did and was good, but I wish he would have just pet her so I could see her in that situation with a total stranger. I can’t complain as I believe this boy had special needs and it did make him smile to be able to pet Georgia and get her to respond to his request for her to lie down. He also asked her for “kisses” and she wouldn’t do that because she’s not a licker (something I love about her!). To my surprise I’ve had several strangers (adults) ask for my dog to lick their face, is that strange to anyone else?! Oh well, no harm done, just odd I guess.

That about wraps it up; I think we had another successful lesson. Our next and final lesson will include another dog. Georgia has to be able to greet a neutral dog without jumping and listening to my commands, so THAT should be interesting! After that we will be done with our formal training and I’ll have to keep it up on my own!