The Red Brick Times

Niki (my pup) and I went to our first formal dog training class last night. It was kind of a spur of the moment decision to go to that particular facility but I knew I had to try something pretty quick. Niki, a shelter puppy, has been spooky ever since I got her. Small unexpected things have always frightened her instead of inciting her curiosity, and whenever someone new would approach her she'd assume a submissive position or pee or both together. I just figured she'd grow out of it. Well, she has, but not the way I was hoping. Unexpected things still make her jump but now instead of going submissive when people approach she's growling and showing a few teeth. Not good. I called a girl who grooms her once in a while to describe the change and ask if Niki had ever done that to her. She said no but offered to speak with a training/behaviourist pro she knows and ask for advise. I took Niki to her for grooming yesterday and the pro happened to be there with a couple of her own dogs. She fooled with Niki a little, no problems, and mentioned she had a class starting that very evening that would probably help and I could join. I thanked her but was pretty non-committal about the class. I left Niki for her beauty treatment and when I went back to pick her up the plot had thickened. She'd growled at the groomer (twice) and showed some teeth to the groomer's mother when she happened to make eye contact. Oh shit oh dear. Well, we all know that the Books of Bokonon say "strange travel suggestions are dancing lessons from God" so, yesterday evening, I went ahead and traveled on down to the training facility the pro invited me to. Niki was super good the whole class. We'll see how it goes.
Posted 4:35 PM by whatley (3) comments

       Comments:

Work, work, work. No magic bullets.
Good luck.

# posted by  A. O. : August 04, 2006 8:14 AM
 
Busy Busy Busy.

# posted by  Andy : August 06, 2006 1:06 PM
 
How are you progressing with schooling?

# posted by  Andy : August 20, 2006 10:16 AM
 
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