Z and I have finally been making progress, I think at least partially because I'm discovering how to tune into his Einstein mind, and he's catching on and discovering how to tune into my mind(so that's what she wants me to do...). Nonetheless, he and I could both benefit from a class. A friend of mine is a trainer, and a very good one I might add. We've talked about putting Mud in an advanced level class and she's helped me a lot with tons of tricks.
After talking to her more elaborately about Zekers, and describing what I'm dealing with as far as roadblocks for advanced tricks, I've decided to put him in an intermediate level class. Here we will work on heel, lengthening his attention span(which seems to be only a problem at home...my shy boy sticks to me like glue in Petsmart. He's too timid to be interested in everything else going on), some advanced tricks, and just generally figuring out how to work with him on more advanced things. It will also be good for him to become more comfortable around more dogs and people. He didn't miss out on any socialization by any means as a pup, but he's always been timid. He looooves people but is too shy to approach them. He's happy for them to pet him, but not brave enough yet to come to them(unless they have a tennis ball). With dogs he's bipolar. Formerly fear aggressive, now he sometimes acts dominant(posturing, but not invading their space), and sometimes he is very timid and will still lower his head and glance towards them, but no attacks. And sometimes he doesn't care about them at all and wants nothing to do with them. He's just an oddball. o-0 So anyway...this class will be really good for him.
Our first class is April 21st. He knows most of the things we'll be learning in that class, but becoming more comfortable in this kind of environment will be good for him and the trainer can probably help me work with him on other things. If he bypasses the others then we'll just get bumped up to the next level class. If he's too shy and overwhelmed then we'll move down. I'm really looking forward to it. I'm still contemplating rehoming either him or Rusty, and I change my mind every day.....but nonetheless, the class will be good for both of us. Rusty needs more private work, which I can't do right now and neither can the trainer...
Anyway....yay! Can't wait. I'll be posting our progress here, of course. Wish us luck!
After talking to her more elaborately about Zekers, and describing what I'm dealing with as far as roadblocks for advanced tricks, I've decided to put him in an intermediate level class. Here we will work on heel, lengthening his attention span(which seems to be only a problem at home...my shy boy sticks to me like glue in Petsmart. He's too timid to be interested in everything else going on), some advanced tricks, and just generally figuring out how to work with him on more advanced things. It will also be good for him to become more comfortable around more dogs and people. He didn't miss out on any socialization by any means as a pup, but he's always been timid. He looooves people but is too shy to approach them. He's happy for them to pet him, but not brave enough yet to come to them(unless they have a tennis ball). With dogs he's bipolar. Formerly fear aggressive, now he sometimes acts dominant(posturing, but not invading their space), and sometimes he is very timid and will still lower his head and glance towards them, but no attacks. And sometimes he doesn't care about them at all and wants nothing to do with them. He's just an oddball. o-0 So anyway...this class will be really good for him.
Our first class is April 21st. He knows most of the things we'll be learning in that class, but becoming more comfortable in this kind of environment will be good for him and the trainer can probably help me work with him on other things. If he bypasses the others then we'll just get bumped up to the next level class. If he's too shy and overwhelmed then we'll move down. I'm really looking forward to it. I'm still contemplating rehoming either him or Rusty, and I change my mind every day.....but nonetheless, the class will be good for both of us. Rusty needs more private work, which I can't do right now and neither can the trainer...
Anyway....yay! Can't wait. I'll be posting our progress here, of course. Wish us luck!