Graduation
That's right. My little puppy graduates from obediance school on Thursday.
The entire experience has really been a learning experience. I mean....for me. Mostly Rufus has just learned to do what I say while we are in class and he knows that the treats are there, and likely to come in rapid succession. At home, he listens a little better ("come" especially, has gotten better, although he still runs off into the woods for an hour and gives me a heart attack). Also, his socialization skills have improved, which is very good.
Rufus is a very tiny, tiny dog, who looks like Toto from the Wizard of Oz and weighs about 13 pounds. Get him in front of a Lab or a likewise larger (male, usually) dog, and he thinks he's a Great Dane.
(Oh dear god.....I hope he never meets a Great Dane....)
It's that short guy syndrome thing. The first night we had to sit between a Chocolate and Yellow Lab and he nearly went nuts trying to get to them to Tear.Them.Apart.Before.They.Hurt.Mommy! (or possibly pee on something in "his territory") Now he can sit beside them and even ignore them totally if there is some food-type inducement. That makes me feel better.
He even has his own little fan club. Which I, of course, think is totally justified. These two nice women (mother and daughter) each have little girl Scottish Terriers and they (and their dogs) are totally in love with Rufus. They think he's so smart and beautiful and his face has so much personality. It is soooooo nice to have my insane dog ravings confirmed by other people. : )
I really should bring a picture to work and scan it in.......he is the most adorable thing......
The entire experience has really been a learning experience. I mean....for me. Mostly Rufus has just learned to do what I say while we are in class and he knows that the treats are there, and likely to come in rapid succession. At home, he listens a little better ("come" especially, has gotten better, although he still runs off into the woods for an hour and gives me a heart attack). Also, his socialization skills have improved, which is very good.
Rufus is a very tiny, tiny dog, who looks like Toto from the Wizard of Oz and weighs about 13 pounds. Get him in front of a Lab or a likewise larger (male, usually) dog, and he thinks he's a Great Dane.
(Oh dear god.....I hope he never meets a Great Dane....)
It's that short guy syndrome thing. The first night we had to sit between a Chocolate and Yellow Lab and he nearly went nuts trying to get to them to Tear.Them.Apart.Before.They.Hurt.Mommy! (or possibly pee on something in "his territory") Now he can sit beside them and even ignore them totally if there is some food-type inducement. That makes me feel better.
He even has his own little fan club. Which I, of course, think is totally justified. These two nice women (mother and daughter) each have little girl Scottish Terriers and they (and their dogs) are totally in love with Rufus. They think he's so smart and beautiful and his face has so much personality. It is soooooo nice to have my insane dog ravings confirmed by other people. : )
I really should bring a picture to work and scan it in.......he is the most adorable thing......