Obedience Two at the Zoom Room: Class Three

Well I wasn't too keen on going to class this week because my buddy Mumble was sick and had to stay home.  But then my mom broke out the turkey hot dogs, which we haven't had in months so I mustered some energy and went to class (after Mumble came over to say hi so I could make sure he was really ok). 

This week we did almost all the tasks on the CGC test.  First, our instructor went around and shook all the dog parents' hands.  I passed that one.

Then there was the vet inspection - as usual I was not to excited about this one.  I let the instructor get one look in my ear but then I was done.  All the other dogs think this is fun but I'm sure because I'm so much older than all of them that I know better.  My mom does not think so and says I need to get over this and she's going to keep trying until I do.  We'll see about that.

Next we practiced some distractions.  Our  instructor threw a tennis ball about a million times down the center of the room.  He would tell the parents when to give us a treat but my mom decided to try without a treat - since that is the way you have to do it during the test - and guess what?  I could have cared less about that ball.  I just watched my mom every time - some times she would tell me good job and rub my head but mostly she ignored me and I ignored that ball.  Next came the noisy baby toy.  My ears went way back when that came out and my mom took out the turkey hot dogs again so I didn't bark.

Then we had to do the down/stay and I passed like an old pro.  Then the separation and this time the instructor didn't have to give me treats (but I was very happy when my mom came back in - I ran to her - it was very cute I'm told).

Then the walking.  My mom is not happy with me about this part.  See she knew the vet inspection was going to be rough since I don't like the vet but she thought this was going to be a breeze because I walk great in my neighborhood on a loose leash or in a heel.  And I do well in crowds. (Have you ever walked through the security line and the entrance plaza at Disneyland?  Well I do all the time and I don't even care about the monorails - anymore.)  But I do not like doing this activity in class.  Sometimes I like to try and go up on the agility equipment (I miss that class), sometimes I like to sniff all the mom's purses (if they aren't using the lockers they must want me to smell them) and sometimes I just don't want some dog I don't know walking behind me. 

The solution?  My mom made me walk in a heel during our whole morning walk today.  I'm thinking I maybe should get my act together on this one.

World Oceans Day

Chopper loves the ocean and the beach and although today is not a particularly nice day here in Southern California (all gloomy and gray) we enjoy a walk at the beach about once a week (next to rather since dogs are not allowed on the beach near our house) and a few times a year make the drive up to the dog beach so that Chopper can explore the shells and the sand and the best part the ocean.

So on World Oceans Day we remind you - "Don't Trash Where You Splash!"

This is Not Underwear

I have mentioned before that I'm a big car barker in the car.  My mom got me some music which helped a lot but I still like to bark at things.  My vet recommended the Thunder Shirt (because we already had one) to see if that would keep me calmer in the car as it has helped with visitors and thunder.  That didnt' help too much in the car though.  She said if that didn't work to try the Calming Cap. So a few weeks ago my mom ordered me this contraption and when it arrived a few days ago she decided to give it a try.

This is what the website says about it:

The directions on how to get the thing on were a little hard to understand but once she figured out how it was supposed to attach to my collar in two places we got it on.  I wasn't so sure about this thing but I kept getting chicken (one of my favorite) treats so I put up with it.



Just chillin at home with my Calming Cap

We tried it at home a bit and my mom made me walk around and I was able to find my food bowl and my treats.  Next came the big test though - wearing it in the car.

My mom got me in the car (with my cap on) to go to class.  We passed bicylists, trucks, people walking - all the stuff I usually love to bark at and nothing.  While at a stop sign my mom got a quick picture of me with the cap on.


Me not barking at anything in the car.

 This picture caused a lot of ruckus with my mom's friends the other day. One asked if there was a calming cap for lawyers, several thought I was wearing underwear on my head and one thought I was so anxious in the car because my mom was taking pictures instead of driving (we were at a stop light). 

So far so good but we'll have to see if I use my spidey sense of hearing (notice those long ears) to determine when there is a bike or big truck nearby and still bark.  My mom is hoping this will retrain me to ride in the car without being agitated at everything and then I won't have to wear the underwear - I mean calming cap - all the time.  We shall see.

Who's the Boss?

There are just some days when you need a good rest . . . on a mom's bed.  This was one of those days.

"Yeah I know this isn't my bed and you are telling me to get off but that's not going to happen."

Obedience Two at the Zoom Room: Class Two

Last night we had our second obedience two class.  Boy we had to work hard!  First we all practiced our stays again with just our moms or dads.  I get bored during this part of class and was trying to drink water (I like being next to the water bowl) and was barking at this puppy next to me (he kept barking at his mom so I would bark back but my mom didn't appreciate the irony of this).

After all that practice then we got to stay for real.  All the dogs lined up on one side of the room and then one dog would wait on one side while his person made him wait.  When it was my turn I stayed almost the whole ten seconds but when the instructor told my mom to call me I got up and went right before she did (I knew she was going to).  So I need to work on that one.

Next we did our loose leash walking.  I am really GOOD at this most of the time but on the first go around I wanted to smell all the treats the other people had left behind and then I kept trying to bark at that  barking puppy who was behind me and my buddy Mumble thought that was a good idea and he started barking so the instructor had to stop everyone and wait for the three of us to stop barking and calm down.  After that I got better (also I showed my mom this morning on our walk that I could do this no problem but she told me to do it in class instead). 

Then the instructor decided he would see how we did with distractions and staying.  So he pulled out some noisy pull toy and rolled it by all the dogs and we weren't supposed to get up or bark.  This didnt' go over well with a lot of dogs - myself included.  Imagine some weird noise making thing the size of your head following some guy making all this noise.  I barked once but my mom got me to settle down.  That toy got put away.  Next they brought out a tennis ball and threw that down the center of the room and we were supposed to ignore that too.  Being MUCH older than all the dogs (Mumble is the next oldest dog and I'm 2 1/2 years older than him) a lot of the dogs wanted to chase that ball but I just watched it roll away. We did this a bunch of times and some of those puppies kept trying to get that ball and I just kept laying there - taking a nap.

Then we had to be separated from our parents in pairs. The instructor and his lovely assistant went down the line and would take a dog and their person would go outside and wait a few minutes.  The dog is supposed to be nice and quiet.  Well Mumble and I were the last ones to go.  The regular instructor took me and my mom slipped out the door (I didn't even know she had left because the instructor had some yummy treats).  Mumble was not so willing to take part in this activity.  You see the lovely assistant is new and Mumble didn't know her and Mumble thinks he is in charge at the Zoom Room since he has gone there since he was a puppy so there was a lot of ruckus before he would let his mom leave.  (They thought I was going to be the problem as I don't always like someone taking me from my mom at the groomers or at the vet.) 

That was about it - we'll have to see what happens next week. 

My Fancy New Going Out Collar

A few weeks ago my mom came across a bow time that she though I had to have.  Well guess what?  She decided to buy it for me (!) so that I could be prepared in case I did have somewhere fancy to go.  So the other day it came in the mail and my mom made me try it on (along with some other goodies we got for some future holidays - she said we were playing dress up - all I know is that she kept giving me chicken so I cooperated).

I think I need an ascot now too.

I can't wait to have somewhere to where it too . . . maybe I will wear it to my Obedience Two class tonight and show those other dogs that I am a serious student.

Where would you wear a doggy bow tie?

Birthday Preparation

My birthday is next month and I will be FIVE! My mom has always made a special day of my birthday.

On my first birthday my Aunt Joey came to visit from San Francisco and Mumble's Mom Carrie made me special doggy cupcakes (this was before Mumble was even born).

On my second birthday my mom got me a cake from Three Dog Bakery and had some of my favorite people and dogs over for a party.

On my third birthday my mom invited some friends - people and doggies - for a hike in Malibu and then we had a picnic.

Last year on my fourth birthday we had a party at the Zoom Room in Culver City - Carrie made me an Agility Cake and there was lots of running around and playing. My grandma and great-grandma were there for that party (and my great-grandma kept sneaking me chicken from the people food table). It was lots of fun (but my mom wished she had had more time to plan it but she had to go talk to some fancy people in black robes the day before). I wore my blue birthday hat and it was lots of fun!

This is my Agility Cake - there was a cake for people and one for dogs!

Me and Mumble waiting for some snacks!

Mumble and Me sneaking a peek at the cake - it looked good!

 Anyway - my mom hasn't decided what to do for my birthday this year but she ordered me a birthday crown (with removable numbers so we can use it year after year).

What did you do for your last doggy birthday?