Intermediate Obedience, Week 4

We had another class tonight. Otis did awesome! He did all his healing perfectly. We had to do something new -- a figure-8. A handler and their dog sat at one side, a cone was at the other side. Otis had to heal with me, making figure-8's around the handler/dog and the cone. He never sniffed the other dog and stayed right at my side. Go Otis!

We had a substitute teacher tonight, Karen. Karen was the teacher for Otis' last session (beginner 2). She told me that Otis has improved "leaps and bounds." She said that his patience and concentration has gotten better. wooo-yeee!

Otis is his name and obedience is his game!

Only 4 more classes until agility!

Intermediate obedience...class 2

Otis and I had our second obedience class tonight. I pretty much knew what I was doing tonight. We did better on our healing....even learned how to circle left and circle right. (kinda sounds like square dancing moves, huh?) Since we did so good, Otis got a special rawhide treat stuffed with peanut butter. We thought it looked like a cigar.

Intermediate Obedience...Class 1

Today was my first time "handling" Otis for his obedience class. (Dave has always done it, but he has a night class on Tuesday that conflicts with Otis' class.) Otis is now in Intermediate Obedience, which is the last session he needs to take until we can start agility training. I finally get my chance to show what a great obedience team Otis and I make...well, that's my goal. Tonight was a different story.

Tonight was all about Otis teaching his mom how to obey. Otis knows all the obedience tricks...heal, sit, stay, front, etc. Me, on the other hand, I'm a little rusty. It's been a good ten years since I've done the handling. I've watched Dave a few times, but it's really different when the leash is in your hand. I guess it wasn't all that bad. I had Otis' attention the whole time and he did good. But it was me that had to learn what the commands meant, not Otis. And he did decide to test me on a few 'waits,' but I showed him who's boss. This week we'll have to practice those tricks I didn't remember -- finish (getting Otis back in healing position after a front), stand, spin, and I think that's all.

In any event -- 1 class down, 7 more to go.

7 more classes until agility!

Otis is a Canine Good Citizen!

Hurraayyy!!! Otis passed his big test. He's officially a canine good citizen!! What a good boy!

Otis enjoying the busy bone I promised him he'd get for passing.

Otis' big test

Today is a big day for Otis. He takes his Canine Good Citizen test. Passing the test means that he can go onto Intermediate Obedience. Then he can do Agility! I'm hoping he passes. He was all ready for it a month ago, but we were out of town on test day. That means a month has passed without any obedience classes -- so he's going to be excited to be at school...and he's probably a little out of practice on his obedience skills.

I think Dave and Otis have a very chance of passing. We'll have to get Otis his favorite treat if he passes...a busy bone.

Good luck to my boys!!

Dave and Otis in the Total Puppy class practicing agility.