Elegy said in part...
I think the more advanced exercises are dead interesting to
learn.......but the rigidity of it all turns me off.
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Elegy,
I am with you 100%. It is so inane to require that your dog sits
straight, etc. I got into AKC obedience training because the first
obedience classes I took were taught by 2 women that loved dog training
almost as much as they loved each other. They had Belgian Terv's that
they showed in the obedience ring. I had such respect for them and
their training abilities that I just followed along with them. Btw the
way I can still hear my trainer saying "make it fun for your dog" so it
surely wasn't my teacher's fault, it was mine.
My first Cdx dog was a Dobe named Fancy and my 2nd was a St Bernard
named Spencer. Fancy was the high scorer and Spencer......well Spencer,
we were lucky to have finished. His big self could hide a multitude of
sins.
When I read about the accomplishments of people and dogs @ rpdb I
think of formal obedience training as silly but at the time I was so
excited and really gave it my best and so did one of my dogs
Fancy was bored because of my failing as a trainer but she was still
so eager to please that we did well anyway. Spencer...he was just happy
to be going somewhere even if it was another dog show and by the time I
was training him I had learned to make it FUN. He started without me
(making it fun).
Keep on having fun whatever you do with Luce and Mushroom. I know you
will.
My first classes were sponsored by a Parks and Recreation department
program. I really got lucky on the teachers. I have attended several
other series of classes offered by professional trainers and they were
good too, but my first trainers were so inspiring. They sure weren't in
it for the cash. We sure had some fun times.


Be Free.....Judy