Training Day

So, I have to brag on my boy a bit after this weekend. He had his first training class and HE did great! Everyone else...not so much. I should first say that the Petsmart manager we talked to put Toby in the beginner class, not the puppy class we wanted because the location we went too didn't have any puppies signed up for class times that worked for us. The trainer and manager both expressed that the dogs already signed up for the beginner class (6 months and older usually) were small-ish dogs, all under 8 months old and would be a suitable match for Toby even though he was only 3 1/2 months old. We were hesitant, the only reason we paid for this class was so that Toby could get some experience playing and interacting with other puppies. Again, they assured us that Toby wouldn't be that much smaller or younger than the other dogs.

Now we've been working very hard with Toby since day one in our house. He is really smart so we've had at least two training sessions a day like 10 minutes each. I was pretty confident that he could keep up with older dogs in the training department. Like I said before, I was just really hoping for some socialization for him. A chance to be with other doggies around his age and get more comfortable with them.

Upon arriving to the class, my husband and I were floored. EVERY dog was bigger than Toby... and not by a few pounds... by like 50 each. The "beagle mix" the trainer was saying would be such a great playmate for Toby, was a hand aggressive, tiger colored pit bull, that was not well socialized and had owners that let her growl and snap at the other dogs as they walked in to the training area. To their credit, I'm really glad they were in the class, they knew they needed it.

Toby did timidly venture to a playful yellow lab mix that was sitting next to us. His name was Macaroni. Toby went over to sniff...well where all dog's sniff to say hello and got whacked in the head with the labs tail. Clearly not amused Toby had enough of that and returned to lay at my feet.

He looked up at me like, "Mommy? Why are we here? What are these big things? Can we go home yet?" My heart was breaking. What I've also failed to mention was that the "trainer" had a dog from another "client" in class with her. This dog was not there to help her and not there to be a training aid in any way, it was there to bark. And bark it did, every thirty seconds for the entire hour.

Call, me crazy, but I paid for this training class and I understand that it's going have other dogs that might not be so well behaved (it's TRAINING CLASS LOL) but I didn't pay to listen to a dog that's not in the class, who's owners are not paying to be there, bark in a high pitched, parakeet call through out our entire session. Not to mention the fact that the trainer had zero control of the little yapper and at one point she actually left class, bringing back a crate and blanket off the shelf and shoved the dog in and covered it up. It still barked.

Needless to say I was not impressed with her training skill, or the class that was obviously not what she or her manager had described. We got our money back and left.

And Toby, well he just laied at my feet and chewed at his rope toy the whole hour. Calm, well behaved, listened when called; at 3 1/2 months old he was better behaved than all 7 other dogs there who were twice his age and size. They were all jumping, straining at their leashes, some barking, some snapping and he was just chill. Enjoying his toy and ignoring them as much as possible. I love him so much! He was such a little champ, and I was a very proud mamma. :)

New games

Toby seems to be taking over...er... I mean fitting into our lives wonderfully! He's doing great with crate-training (only 2 accidents so far)and has pretty well learned the basics of sit, stay, down and shake...of course he only does it for food! He's 1/2 corgi so that should pretty well go without saying LOL.

I have noticed that other than the cute corgi quirks (sleeping on his back, laying flat on his tummy, etc.) he's got some pretty odd habits.

This is his new favorite place in the house. LOL. He sleeps under this trunk, hides all his toys (and our shoes) here. :P It's funny though, he's getting bigger, it's harder and harder for him to get under there, pretty soon he'll be marine crawling just to fit!

He also LOVES eating leaves and not the little ones mind you. No, no those are not near interesting enough for his tastes, it's got to be the big, crunchy ones from our oak tree. And try as we might, if we take our eye off him for one second in our backyard he's slurpped another down and has one of those "what?" smiles on his face. Little stinker :P

Frap, frap, frap!!! Okay, so this is a corgi quirk for sure but he has now discovered the joy of frapping all over the living room and dining room. Like a crazy little tazmainian, nascar he tears through the house. And you'd think this would be right when he wakes up or after a nap...but no. It's usually after hours of play...when one would think he'd be ready to crash out.

And Toby loves using the small space under our kitchen cabinets as a pin ball chute. He deposits the ball at one end then rolls it all the way around the room, rolling over and over as he goes...it will keep him entertained for hours LOL. He's very proud of his games.

I can't wait to see what else he comes up with :P

Home for the Holidays

So, my New Year’s resolution is to blog more. LOL. I know it’s been over a month, but so much has happened! Where to even start… December was such a blur of Christmas preparation and skype conversations with my parents who fostered Toby until their drive up here. I can’t believe how much he grew in the 3 weeks he was with them.!

It was great to know that he was being so well taken care of and even better that I could watch him grow up too, even if it was on the computer screen! It was very cute Dad would put his laptop on the ground and I’d talk to Toby through the speakers, and he’d just loop circles around it and paw at the back of the screen. He was thinking, I know she’s in there… but how to get to her? LOL

They finally arrived for their Christmas visit on December 17th. It was so great to see my parents; a year is a long time to go without seeing your family, but I have to admit I enjoyed getting my first Toby kisses more. :P

For the next two weeks all five of us were crammed into out tiny, one bathroom house. It was pure, unbridled chaos and I loved it! We watched movies, chased Toby, made the traditional Christmas Chili dinner, chased Toby, had friends over Christmas Day (7 and counting in the house now) and chased Toby. A theme for our lives is developing here me thinks. :P

Good Friends, Family, Food and Furbaby, what more could a girl ask for at Christmas! But, as always all good things must come to an end. My parents said tearful goodbyes, to me, my hubby and their new grand-dog and headed back to Texas on January 1st.

 

So, here we are, a new year and a new family member. Here we go!