This week has kicked my ass. Well, more accurately – Maverick has kicked my ass. We’ve been in training classes for months. The last one was called Improving Manners – neither of us has any so I thought it might help. It may have helped him, I still burp randomly in public but I see no reason to stop that, it keeps strangers away. The last class required us to do a modified rally course. (This means we walked from one cone to the next and did whatever the attached sign said) Maverick did much better than anyone expected, but when he was finished, he was entirely finished and hauled me back to our spot – I mean HAULED me. In the process, he pulled my body into a shape it wasn’t meant for. But we finished the course, and the class, and progress was made – small steps that might seem minor to some but with Maverick, I’ve learned to celebrate every small victory.
During the class we did before this one, I went to NY for 10 days. I didn’t want him to miss a week, so I asked my friends to take him. Seems this was a big mistake, he started to develop anxiety about being there and it got progressively worse over the next couple of weeks. Then we were off for a month, and when we started another class, he was unable to focus on anything except getting out of there. Thank goodness, we have a great instructor, who has worked with us for the past 7 weeks to help with him over this hump, and while we’re not there yet, we’ve come a long way from the dog who shook and whined the entire first class and did nothing but lick his paw. For us to be able to do the rally course, even though we wouldn’t get a medal for our performance by any standards, was a major win.
So now we have a month off again. We’re doing Tricks class next. I have all the materials and we’re working on everything before class starts. Our theory is that this will help him grow confidence, he’s going into class knowing how to do everything asked of him.
Meanwhile my body will heal, yet again. And at some point today, Maverick will choose to poop at home because not only is my body messed up, so is his car.
In other news, I’m fighting with a ball of yarn that I felt needed to be used and last night decided I had way too much yarn to spend any more time with this recalcitrant mess so it’s going in the “someday” basket and I believe I’ll start a c2c blanket from some of the baby yarn I discovered when I did a deep dive into the yarn closet
Suziecreamcheese Sings the Blues 
Oh rally…I remember that class! That is where Geordie really shined. And by shined, I mean did everything wrong. Well, not wrong by his standards, but he did have his own unique interpretation to each set of instructions. Our last day of class was at Halloween, and our final rally course was set up with spooky decorations like skeleton hands and black cats. Do you think decorations like those would have distracted Maverick, or are his anxiety levels too high to care?
I feel bad for him for being so stressed and for you for feeling such pressure in trying to help him. When doggies feel overwhelmed, they lick their paws. When humans feel overwhelmed, they knit. I hope that ball of yarn brings you much inner peace.
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If there had been decorations, we wouldn’t even have attempted the course. We have had great instructors who’ve worked with us through this – not only in class but outside, with regular emails and advice. We’ve made progress- two people told us last week they’ve seen huge improvements since the first week. I’ve also started using some calming supplements and that helps. He’s certainly teaching me a lot!
That ball of yarn was adding to my stress! I’m either starting something totally mindless or making crocheted chickens!
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Crocheted chickens? I would probably go with a blanket. Lots of hand work. Very little counting.
Geordie had me in tears after most of our classes because he was so reactive. Once you and Maverick hit your stride, you’ll be amazed at how well you communicate. ❤️
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I’ve taken the attitude that we try to have fun and if we learn something, it’s a bonus. I’m so grateful for our instructors, who allow us to do this – and help us. We’ve also had great classmates who’ve helped a lot too. No judgement- well, not much anyway 😁
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Crochet Chicken sounds really cool.
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It’s a pattern I got on Etsy. If I get one done soon I’ll post a picture
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I wanted to get a German Shepard but I live in an apt and no dogs. My son use to teach dog obedience at our local community college and thought if I ever got one he could help me. :P. He raised and showed Whippets, they are very sweet dogs. Mostly now he raises alpacas and they are a lot of work! So between working full time at an outside job and working full time at his farm, yeah, he wouldn’t have time lol.
I have a sweater and hat I need to be working on, my get up and go got up and went, but I’m trying to coax it back with a candy bar :P.
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I love GSDs but I don’t have the temperament for one. I’m way too much of a pushover! Whippets are nice dogs, one of my friends has one. Goldens will always be my favorite, though.
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My sister raised and showed Goldens for many years ring and field, her husband is a hunter. They are great dogs! I had a couple of GSDs and loved them they were wonderful and awesome with my children, but my favorite pet was always ferrets I had pet ferrets for about 20 years, however they only live about 5 to 6 years and I couldn’t handle the losses anymore :(. I had a mini schnauzer too, she was a wonderful lap dog and doorbell, she was an inside dog but no one got anywhere close to yard, even with her in the house, without her knowing about it and alerting us. LOL
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