Our first real obedience class!

Hi! It's Cinnamon.

Mint and I attended our first real obedience class at Manukau Dog Training Club yesterday. Although I had been in obedience trials, I had never trained in an obedience class apart from domestic obedience classes that I attended as a puppy.

Usually puppies attend the Puppy class or the Domestic class first before advancing to the Competition Obedience class. But, the instructors allowed Mint to start in the Beginner Competition Obedience class, as he could do some things taught in the class already.

A problem was that Mint's class and my class, Beginner class for those with some experience, run in the same time slot, from 6:30 to 7:30. But, after discussing with the instructors, Mum decided to work with Mint for the first half of the class and then with me for the rest.

So, I was watching what Mint was doing when I was waiting for my turn. I think he was doing very well.



To start with, he practised to move from Mum's front to her behind and sit in the heel position nicely with his nose right beside Mum's leg. Then, he practised trotting, following Mum's hand without jumping up to get the treat. After that, he practised sitting between Mum's legs.



Here came my turn. The instructor of the class is actually my dancing instructor. But, she was sick yesterday, so someone else taught us instead.

In addition to heelwork and sit and down stays, I practised how to lie down in the right way. I was told to lie down without moving forward. I didn't move forward when I lied down, but I tended to move sideways when I lowered my body. So, my Mum held food in front of my nose and moved it downward to prevent me from moving sideways. But, I was very confused because that way of guiding was similar to the one Mum uses when teaching the Bow trick!



Also, when Mum told me to stand, I couldn't help raising my right front paw to show her that I was willing to do the Limp trick, i.e. walking on three legs.