My that girl's good!!

We enjoyed the usual beginners class this afternoon. As Tango had been so good last week, the lead came off once we were in the field. She heeled well off the lead all around the other dogs, even walking past Gaynor :). When it came to 'sit and stay' she was much calmer and stayed put really well, no lead, as she was left whilst the handlers walked around the circle. She stayed put even when the newcomer, a gorgeous spaniel pup decided to play and enticed a few of the other dogs along. The system was made much more complicated by moving away from the dogs in a line and past other dogs and their handlers who had also left their dogs!!! Tango handled this well also, although on a couple of occasions she did need to be returned to post!



On the sit and stay along the line exercise, last weeks wait of a count to 5 was improved through 7, 10 and finally 20 before she was called!!! Yeah!!!

Later, getting towards the end of the lesson, still off the lead she saw someone putting a dummy out and decided it was hers. Well, I needed some exercise so running down the field was good for me.

When it got to Tango's turn it was me that got it wrong so we had to do it again, the correct way...and once I had set her up properly, she stood, waited and 'went back' beautifully. What a little star,

My how the little girl is growing up!!

Having had the privilege of handling Tango in the beginners class for one or two weeks, it has been rewarding to see how quickly she is learning. After a week where she wasn't too sure whether she wanted to listen to me, we had a great hour with Gaynor in order to come to an arrangement - that she would do as I say and I would give her a fuss when she does so!!! It was a most enjoyable hour and she and I had an opportunity to get to know each other. I certainly honed my handling skills! That Sunday, Tango definitely remembered and was very good; heeling, sitting, staying. I did keep the lead on since there are a lot of dogs to cope with. So this Sunday I set off to collect Tango for the class. Opening the kennel just enough to let Tango out and calling her name, out she nipped. Closing the kennel I turned to look for Tango, fully expecting to see her having a lovely run around the garden. However,there was no Tango to be seen, but I did feel some pressure on my left calf and looked down to see her standing there, looking up at me, her tail wagging - so very cute and so good!!! This bade well for a great lesson. It was amazingly rewarding to have her work really well, heeling, sitting and staying - all off the lead. The final activity; we set out two at a time, dogs at heel and leaving them about 50 yards away. Tango was first to recall in our pair as she had done so well, I didn't want her to fail and this was the first time she had been asked to do this. However, when it came to the retrieve, we made her wait and she was so good. All in all it was a lovely class and Tango showed what a first class dog she is - and very sweet too. I keep meaning to get some photos. I will try to do that this week, even if it means going and annoying Gaynor during the week.