Monday, July 4, 2011

Do You Have C.L.A.S.S.?

I was so down when I heard that I was not selected for a dream date with Mango. To take my mind off of my disappointment Barbara has had me training for C.L.A.S.S. That is the new program from the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) and it stands for Canine Life and Social Skills. You can read all the details at www.mydoghasclass.com.




There are three levels, BA, MA and Ph.D. It is always good to have letters after your name. The tests are practical skills that all good dogs should know. The exercises get harder in each level.

A group of us got together at Paw In Hand to practice all the BA exercises. Next week we are going to have a "mock test" in preparation for the real thing in August.

Here I am practicing the Wait for the food bowl.




My BFF Ayla is doing a great job with the Settle on her mat.




Jade is only 7 months old but is doing well in her down stay. In the BA level you have to do a stay for 1 minute. Your person is right next to you but the evaluator talks to them. In the MA level your person is 15 feet away and other people walk around dropping things and acting as distractions while you stay.




You can do a sit stay if you prefer. My Drill Team buddy, Teddy, is demonstrating that.



There are bonus exercises so you an earn your degree "with honors". My boyfriend Trotter is saying his prayers for the bonus trick exercise.



There are several other exercises in the BA including loose leash walking, leave it, come and leash manners, give and take etc. Check out the program. Trainers in your area will be offering it soon. The APDT promotes education for trainers and reward based training which is a good thing for dogs.

I had a fun time at the practice and it took my mind off Mango for a while.

Ambrose will not be posting today because he is a very bad boy and it is doubtful that he will ever have any letters after his name! He stole some Burt's Bees soap from the bathroom counter. He ripped off the paper and ate 1/2 the bar before Barbara caught him. Disgraceful!!

Hope you and your families have a Happy Independence Day!

7 comments:

Amber-Mae said...

It definitely IS very cool to have strange capital letters before and/or after your registered name. I may not know what some of them stand for though.

Looked like you all are very good students. Your friend Trotter is very cute!

Tama-Chan, Benny, Vidock, Violette, Ollie, Heloise, Momo, Ryu said...

You and your friends are all so talented, Niamh!

Ahem... I am not relentlessly huge, or huge at all in fact but I was wondering whether you might interested in a dream date with me? We could start by frolicking in the fields around the house. Then I would take you to the bijou chateau where Vidock lives and you could meet him and we could watch the sunset together. And then, we could go into town to have pizza at my local place. How about it?

Woofs,
Tommy

Molly the Airedale said...

You are so smart, Niamh. You'll ace anything you set out to do! Poor Ambrose. We do feel badly for him.
Happy 4th of July to all of you!

Love ya lots
Maggie and Mitch

Lorenza said...

Sure you have C.L.A.S.S.!
Happy 4th of July!
Kisses and hugs
Lorenza

Deefor said...

Those are some good doggies. We have to sit stay when exciting doggies are walking by in the park. Mostly we do it. But not for long like you guys. Arrow says the Burt's Bee's hand cream and chap stick taste better than the soap. He would know.

Juno said...

Niamh, Wow... We know you're very good at everything but there are so many other doggies who are well trained, even a puppy!! Our mom keeps telling us we should do the same... Well we have to train her first, right?

Hope Ambrose is ok after eating a 1/2 bar.

Happy Wednesday!

Momo & Pinot

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