First day of Puppy Obedience Class!

So usually I always attach photos to my posts, and I brought along the camera to puppy class, but I didn't even get a chance to use it..

.Let me tell you why...

Ace had been a good boy all day romping in the park with other dogs about an hour before we went to class. We came home, He took a nap & we waited to daddy to get home from work.

When Ace's daddy got home, we left and made it to class just a few minutes late!

Ace was SO excited to see all the other dogs, and luckily they were all still socializing, so we didn't interrupt anything. 

There were 5 of us in the class I believe! Ace-Chan was really good at first playing with the other pups =)

Just as class was getting started, Ace's daddy had to step out for a couple of minutes to take care of the class payment. Literally as soon as he left, Ace flipped out! 

No one could hear Dorothy (our wonderful puppy teacher) speaking because he wouldn't stop barking! He wasn't just barking because his daddy left, but he started barking at all the other dogs too!!

When I tried to correct him, he would snap and growl at me! Everyone was looking at me with a bewildered expression because how could a pup so cute turn so mean!!??!!

Needless to say, Dorothy walked right over and solved the problem! Her first lesson was based on Ace's behaviour and it had to do with dominance! She corrected his barking by making a sharp noise *Ah Ah* and doing a light jab in his side! (This is supposed to mimick a mother's correctional bite). She also made him lay down at her feet.

It worked!

I couldn't believe it!!

(Ace wasn't the only one though, during the course of the class, a few of the other dogs had barking/growling fits)

She handed me back the leash and he waited patiently at my feet (VERY quiet) might I add!

Ace's daddy walked back in and of course Ace was extremely pleased.

We have noticed he prefers to have both of us together all the time (but obviously this is impossible due to work)

We also know now that Ace has a lot more *respect* for his daddy than he does for me. Dorothy explained to us that Ace views our pack as 1)Daddy, 2) Ace, 3) Me....

I most certainly agree with this....It is mostly because I coddle him too much. I suppose I didn't realize how strong the pack instinct is with dogs. 

It has come to the point where Ace is pulling me while we take walks, he snaps at me when I try to take his collar/leash off/on, and he will sit and bark in my face.

I have cuts all over my hands from his razor teeth! =(

Ace's daddy doesn't have ANY of these problems!

So this week, we are working on the dominance (pack leader) problem, and *heel*. haha

Once we got Ace's behaviour under control, we worked on heel! 

We went first, and he did really well! There was a chihuahaha in the class that kept snarling at the other dogs and Ace wanted to play with him, so he kept getting distracted!

I cannot remember her name now, but there was another woman helping out with the class, and she told me she has a standard aussie! She said that even though he is well trained, he is constantly *testing* her! She laughed and said that her dog was very similar to Ace when they started out classes! Sure does make me feel a lot better! 

Ace improved so much within 1 hour of puppy class, I can't wait to see what else is to come after 6 classes!

The funniest part is that Ace made himself a girlfriend! A Beautiful Sheltie name Bridgette! She is just 3 months old!! 

*Too bad our blogger buddy Eva doesn't live close!, Ace has a thing for Shelties!* 

=)

Hopefully with time & plenty of practice Ace will catch on!! I know he will, we laugh and say he is too smart for his own good!! He sure does like to test us all the time!