Weekly Training Update (Dec 5)

Lilly did GREAT when we first arrived because the only ones already there were dogs and handlers we know well. It’s a little bit of a tradition for many of us to get together for class the day before Thanksgiving. All told, there were 8 teams in attendance.

Unfortunately, Lilly got increasingly stressed out by a couple of younger dogs, who were a bit amped up for the event. It did NOT help that there were many other dogs at the park and a couple of kids riding scooters over and back, over and back, over and across the nearby bridge with wooden slats. Such bridges freak Lilly out to begin with, as do kids AND scooters, so together the tableau provided a trifecta of terror.

So, even though we lagged behind as we started up the dirt road toward the trail, Lilly went completely flat (see yesterday’s video commentary), which is her very clear way of telling me: “I don’t @#$@# want to be here.”

I probably should have pulled her and simply gone home, but I’ll be honest and say that I missed going to class and had driven the hour (one way), so I didn’t want to give up. Human nature. Sorry, Lil.

Because a family with dogs and kids on scooters were quickly approaching from behind and since Lilly chose to lay flat in the middle of street as we crossed over to the trail, I cajoled and tugged her at least to safety. Usually, I let her rest and move on her own, but conditions prevented such patience.

Once we let the other dogs get ahead of us, she mellowed out and walked with me up toward the trail. The group made its way up the single-track , with more mature dogs off leash and younger ones dragging long lines. I chose to keep Lilly on leash, relatively close to me, for a number of reasons … even though I know the downsides of leashed and unleashed dogs interacting.

Her first encounter with one of the off-leash dogs was fine. He’s a big shepherd we know and trust. He got in a quick face sniff and went on his way. After telling his handler how well that went, though, he swung back for another more detailed visit, and Lilly bared her teeth and growled at him.

*sigh*

His handler called him off, and being the reliable boy he is, the encounter ended there.

Lilly did great hiking past the other dogs, who took turns sitting off the side of the trail. She took her turn at the SIT-STAY, as well, and had no issue with dogs passing by.

BUT, the close quarters on such a narrow trail got to her during group STAYs and short-distance recalls. So, she grumbled 4-5 times at various dogs who she felt came too close or who looked at her too much (in her opinion).

I gave her breaks by running up the trail away from the group, by taking her behind some brush while others passed, and by hanging back. She seemed to recover from any growling quickly. She’d go right back to her happy, relaxed face and did not seem to fixate (or worry prolongedly) about the dogs she growled at.

Gigi says that’s good news. She (and others) felt that Lilly looked good and acted appropriately (for her). Some said she looked more relaxed than they’ve ever seen her, and a few have know us for a couple years now, so they’ve seen it all … the early days when Lilly was shy but a star, the middle days when she was pretty snarky, and now …

When it came time for recalls, I ran away from the group and back down the trail, and Lilly did great, coming straight to me so that we could lead the way back down to our cars.

I probably won’t return to our weekly routine with class soon (if ever), but I’ll watch the location schedule and maybe take her once a month to a more wide-open venue … just so she can practice being and working around other dogs.

I was glad we went, even though I felt a little blue about her grumbling, but I guess a rumble in the throat (with no motion or other escalated acts) is an improvement.