Well, the Rolo pup arrived safely and was a bit excited. However, he did realise eventually that he wouldn't be getting out of the car until he sat and waited to be invited. We then struggled a bit with the idea that he wasn't going anywhere else until he walked reasonably at my heel. This also involved explaining that he wasnt allowed to maul the cat either. Said cat later explained that fully to him himself!!! Rolo learned that lesson quickly and they now sit together to watch the fish in the pond.
After a good run around with the two beldames and Bramble, Rolo realsied that it would be best to roll over and wait for his turn - and to be a little less boisterous.
About an hour after arriving he was nack in the car and on the way to training class. Teasle also came, but it was a bit much for her to be in with him so she was very confused to find herself in the car on a seat - that has never happened before! She found it quite comfortable eventually!!
Rolo's class was first. We had to work on the idea of waiting to be invited out of the cage and walking on the lead down to class. The door just closed on him if he tried to come out before being invited. This is how we control the way Rolo sees his home - he is expected to wait each time he comes out, until he is invited by name. Therefore he only comes out in a calm manner which begins his time out of the cage on the right footing.
As we walked to class, he was naturally excited, but, starting with a loose lead, he was pulled sharply back into my leg with a sharp 'No!' or 'Ah - ah!' and immediately he was in position a change in tone to be soft and encouraging with a 'Well done! what a good boy!'. Neither did we walk striaght down - Gaynor knew we might take a little while as I wove left and right and backwards and forwards so that Rolo had to concentrate to know what was going to happen and not to be tripped up or stood on! Of course, I wouldn't actually stand on him, but small colllisions do occur until the pup realises that paying attention is best. I also pulled up his head and told him 'head up'...'good boy!' so that he wasn't just hoovering the ground. He was last of everyone to go through the gates. It didn't take too long, and the class wasn't started before we got there.
This heeling exercise takes about 5 to 10 minutes and is the foundation for all the basic manners. Two or three times a day - better than a long walk. You can't tire a labrador with exercise - only with 'brain work' - i.e. training.
In class, Rolo was at first interested in the other dogs, but, having arrived calmly, he didn't get excited. One exercise, where we weave in and out of people and their dogs, went well. On the first occasion, he was interested in sniffing the others, but on another attempt, about half an hour later, he walked very well. This was with his brother, Toby in the same class!
The class is about an hour and a half long, but there is a lot of waiting about to improve steadiness, especially when it is warm, so they sit in the shade and then do the exercieses. About half way through he was a little fed up. That was the only time that he took my hand into his mouth. It was done quite gently but I did feel his teeth, so I grabbed his mouth and squeezed, hard enough that he couldn't open it, and told him 'No!' sharply. He then lay quietly so was immediately told 'What a good boy!!' As the time went on, he just lay down and relaxed.
We did a 'heel and sit' exercise, where we walked and then stopped, said 'sit' and blew one blast on the whistle, at first pushing his bottom down. However, he soon caught on and did well.
At the end of the session he went back into the (well ventilated - 5 windows wide open) car and got his lunch while Teasle was trained. He was very good and, amazingly didn't go to the loo all this time. We drove home - he is at present not too keen on the car, but by the time he has been in and out to exciting places and being told to 'shush', I think he won't mind so much!
When we got home, he was happy to see everyone and to have a run around while we wathced in the garden. He had another lesson from Baggins the cat and we explained quite gently - by pulling him out, pointing at the pond and saying 'No!'- that if he must drink the lumpy pond water, not to wade through at the same time. - He seems to have understood since he has not been in since.
At dinner time, Rolo went quite contentedly into the crate where he could see and hear us, while we ate and then stayed while we watched television for an hour or so. After half an hour we opened the door and he just stayed in there sleeping. Another run around outside when he finally went to the loo, and then it was bed time. Rolo went to bed well, covered over for the night and we heard not a peep until 0645 hrs this morning.
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