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Chapter Two Today she (We) got an Email for her confirmation to go to her Beginner obedience class Jan 3, OK now maybe I will gain some more control over her now that she trying to be the dominate one again. If she could find a sheep or cow to herd she would be a happy camper.
It now halfway thought the new classes and Dixie is doing much better. Her aggression to others has improved and she doses her sits, down, stay and stands pretty good. She heel good and come when you call her. The instructor says she showing a lot of improvement, But that she probably won’t pass the classes this time around because she still gorals at the instructor when she come over to touch her. I’m working on that. But on the bright side I thought she had gone back to her old way and was using the house for the bathroom from time to time, but I found out that our other dog a 2 year old weimaraner and well house trained has some times been the guilty party. It maybe payback, Sophie the weimaraner is getting tired of being herded around the back yard like an old sheep. Dixie did a lot better in class this week, she let the instructor tough her twice while setting and standing for exam. I feel bad that I have not had the time to work out with her as much as I should, she could do a lot better if I would. She smart and likes to learn and work out. I’ve have got to try harder for her. The class has gone form about 14 dogs down to 6 as people drop out. They have been having a little test the last two weeks at the end of class with other classes in the building. Dixie has come with in third or forth of winning a little trophy they give, but she gets distracted in the last round by new or other dogs around her. I have made more time to work out with Dixie the last two week and it really show, she been doing her best in practice and in school. Today is the last day of class and we’ll get tested on what we have learn, and they will tell us if we can advance to the next level which would be Advanced Beginner Class. Things have gone very well to day, Dixie has past her Class Test. She came in second in her class and was voted the most improved. She did good enough that they are going to let her skip Advanced Beginner and go on to the next level up Novice I. We already have sign up for the class, they start in two weeks. This is more money, But hay, you can’t put a price on love and she made me proud today.
I have done a lot better with her work outs, I have had a training time every day this week. I make me some poles to practice our figure 8, and they have been helpful. She seams to like both way of finishing after a recall, so I don’t know which way we will use yet. I Know it only her second week in her new class but she still show too much aggression. She barks and snap at the instructor and other dog. I was told to day she just snapping but if she ever bite the instructor will make me leave the class. I don’t need to tell you how disappointing this is, I really would like to take her as far as we can go, from basic Obedience to Agility maybe, but if I can’t get her to calm down we may be done. She great around the house and family (Grown Kids, Grand kids, our other dog. and I’ve been told for a Border Collie She pretty laid back, and She is at home and at school when I’m just sit around off to one side waiting for class to begin, but when we’re out or strangers come in she different. I have got to find a way to let her know the other People and Dogs are OK. It will make me very sad if I can’t and she just become a pet around the house. She has become a good friend and of all the dogs I ever had she seams to understand me and listens to me, She response will when I tell her or ask her things. This week a bought new collar call a Gentle Leader from what I have read this well help to keep her attention on me and better control of her. It seam to work good at home, but I haven’t tried it at school yet. I’ve been reading that just junking on the lead and saying No can just make it worse. This week there was a substitute instructor who I thought was very good. She showed me how to turn her head away to brake eye contact with others and get her attention on me and give her a treat when she start to be aggressive to others. This is what the Gentle Leader dose well. She was very encouraging that I could teach Dixie not to be nearly as aggressions. This week Dixie will be 1 Year old. I had hoped to be further along with her obedience training, but she is pretty good. My, how time has gone by, she gone from fitting in one hand to a 40 pd, and I might say beautiful Border Collie. Of course we had her a little birthday party. My wife, daughter, son, and grandson was there. I gave her a new Frisbee and Tennis ball. I ate the cup cake we used for the cake. Well halleluiah this week we made it all the way through class with out any aggression to any other dogs while coming and going, But she did bark and snap at the instructor again. He let me put on the Gentle Leader for the rest of the class. She did good, but still would not let him touch her. He gave me another warning that if she ever bites him and he see blood we’re OUT. He going to come up with some ideas on how we might work on her problem. He also said if she won’t stand for exam I’m just wasting my time training her. He told to me it inappropriate behavior and it the handlers
Week 5 our class is down from 12 dog to about 6 and things went really good to about the half way point. She show no aggression to other dogs and she even let the instructor give her a treat and touch her under the chin. Them my worst fears happened, she was on what they call a loose lead when she lunged forward and pull loose from my hand. She ran straight ahead and knot down the Miniature Doberman Pinscher, Growling and Snapping. It shook up the whole class, mostly the owner of the other dog. The on duty Vet’s check it out and it was just fine, Dixie didn’t bite her, just scare her good, along with me. The Instructor was Ok about it and the other owner who I apologized to was fine, but it was embarrassing for me. “My My what am I to do”. This is not fun and I do so want her to keep going on with her training. Starting next week we will be doing more and more off lead exercises and I don’t know if I can take the stress. This week end I took Dixie on an outing to a get-together for dogs here in town. It was call DogFest 2005 and people could take their dogs and go watch demonstrations of dogs running Agility courses, Rally-0 courses, doing dog trick, and Fresbee throwing. The also had a lot of venders with things to buy for your dog. I took her to see how she would do walking among all types and size of strange dogs and people. She did really good, she was scared, but caused no problems. She even let a lady touch her on the head with nothing but a low growl. Week 6 we are now down from 12 dog to 3 and sometime 4 and things took a turn for the better, Dixie stood for exam off lead while another instructor walked over and gave her a treat and back away. “Hallelujah”. We also practiced jumping over small jumps on recall, that was fun. I guess I’ll have to make some little practice jump for home, this is more money, But hay, you can’t put a price on love Today we received in the mail Dixie registration with the UKC as a Border Collie, next we are waiting on one from the AKC. Now if thing keep getting better she will be eligible to enter Obedience, Agility, RallyO, and other sanctioned trails. At this time I have little hope she will ever get over her Fear and Aggression to strangers and other dogs. Last week in class she did good with her routines until stand for exam. She let the instructor walk up and give her a treat, them as he turn to leave she jumped forward and grab his pant leg and jerked and growled. I found my self apologizing again for her and getting a reminder from the instructor for not being more under control of my dog. The following week she did much better. The class size today is down to one, I had to ask if Dixie and I had run everyone off. They assured me it was not, just the way thing go sometime. One of the other instructors told my instructor an idea on how to help Dixie when he walks up to give her a treat and it work good. 5 times during class she let him, and the last time he was able to touch her on the ears. Being the only dog there we had time to go through a practice test like the one it will take to pass the class. She did it all well but the stand for exam, but as I said above she did show a good effort and would probable be able to pass even with a low score on this part. With just 3 more classes to go we’re going to have to improve fast.
We received in the mail today her registration from the AKC. So now she registered with both the AKC and the UKC. All we need now is for her to get friendly with all others big and small, young and old. No stranger aggression. I guess we just keep practicing and try to get though this class and on to the next which is Novice II after that we can pick what type of sport if any to train for, Obedience, Agility, RallyO, and other sanctioned trails. With out standing for exam she not going to be able to do Obedience which means Agility or RallyO how ever to get to these classes she need to get though Novice II. If she has to stand for exam (which she still won’t do) to pass and we may be at a stand still. I have been adding thing to the yard where we practice so she can get a feel for the real ring. I put a few other things to practice figure 8 and a little jump or two for fun. She out grew the old trash can I used for a tunnel, need to get a new one. She like doing these thing and not just Heeling, Sits, Downs, and Stays every day.
Today was the last day of Novice I class. Last week they had practice test of the final exam to pass the class and she did good. Today she was very distracted with all they was going on in the building, But she still did good , Not scoring for stand for exam and her off lead hilling left a lot to be desired, scoring low from the distractions. We won’t be going on to Novice II at this time, however there was good news. She score second highest in the class (the rest of the dog failed with only one going on to Novice II ) and she was most improve, I guess there a lot to be said for a bad first day. New classes will start in two weeks and she’ll be in I guess advanced Novice I class. I also became a Member of the Tulsa Dog Training Club today. This will lower the cost of classes in the future. Onward and upward, how ever it did cost more money, But hay, you can’t put a price on love. Although she didn’t do as good as we had hope, we made her a new Dog walk board to make practice more fun for her and me and I order her a new tunnel her old one (an old trash can) has wore out. For the new class we won’t need anything, but to show up and
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Well
the day is here; I went to orientation class last week and brought
her a new training collar and leash, and today she goes to her first
class. We back from school and she remembered what she leaned in the
last round of classes, but she didn’t do real well, too many
distractions. She also show way too much aggression (I’m told it she
just scared ) toward the other dog in her class, this won’t do, she
well have to learn to behave herself or we will get kick out of
class.
Today
was our first day back in school for the start of her Novice I
classes and things went pretty good, Dixie remembers what to do,
although she didn’t do it as good as she can. We are still having a
problem with her (Fear Aggression ?) I hope by the time this round
of classes are over she will improve a lot in this area. In class
today we practice the basic to see where the different dogs are in
their training. Then we were shown Heeling left and right figure
eights along with two ways to finish after a recall to practice at
home this week.
responsibility.
Dixie dose so good at her other exercises I just would hate to give
up now, it would be very disappointing. 
Today I
was told that if I look quick on a new DVD documentary about the
music group the HANSONS that Dixie has a cameo of her at the first
and last of the show running through the snow. I saw a clip, you do
have to look quick. 
show
up we will. At this point I fell inside like stopping and calling
her a good pet, but I going to give her 11 more weeks and them
decide what to do.
