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September 12, 2007

A Puppy Degree

Trixie graduated from puppy school at Petsmart last night. She is now a certified ("bone"ified?) puppy.

All the classes went really well. (Except one--it had been raining all day, and Trix hates the rain, so she was really distressed and wouldn't listen to me...) She's a much more well-mannered dog now. I know I've got to keep working on a few things to be more consistent and more polished, but I am really proud of her.

There was a test before the puppies all got their degrees. The trainer set up stations at which we had to perform different tasks: sit, down, a "puppy push-up" (sit, down, sit), a "leave it" with a toy, stay, and "touch" (which is an emergency command for "come"). Trixie finished her test second fastest at a blazing 22 seconds! :)

Among those things, Trixie also learned to look at me when I speak to her (so I have her undivided attention), to respond to both voice and hand commands (as well as tone of voice and the little clicker I have for her); how to walk on a leash without tugging me along (I ask her to "walk pretty"), how to take or leave things when I direct her to (so she won't eat things she isn't supposed to); some basic manners when dealing with other dogs and people; and to come when I call her.

The trainer handed out the degrees in a little ceremony that involved the puppies all choosing a toy they wanted from a basket.

Here she is (in a spiffy new collar) posing with her diploma.

And here's the certificate up close.

Posted by KarissaKilgore at September 12, 2007 9:39 PM

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Comments

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Posted by: Dennis G. Jerz at September 13, 2007 12:39 AM

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Posted by: Lou Gagliardi at September 13, 2007 1:13 AM

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Posted by: Karissa at September 13, 2007 9:38 AM

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