ParNone
06-28-2004, 04:26 PM
Gully's first puppy class was last Saturday. Huge class. 2 Boxers, 2 Beagles, 2 Papillions, Border Collie, Pit Bull, Weimaraner, German Shepherd and a Pug. So there was major chaos. One of my fears was that Gully would be barking too much. Well the German Shepherd next to him, started growling and barking at Gully. I was busy trying to keep Gully from barking back, when the instructor came flying across the room and sprayed bitter apple right in the GSD's mouth. I was preparing to tackle her, if she came near Gully and I with the bottle, but she left us alone. Paranoid, I kept him busy the whole class, to make sure his barking stayed under control. I may have to say something to her next week about how I want to handle the barking though, because I want Gully to think of strange people as friendly, not unpredictable, nasty-tasting-bottle-wielding, psychotics. That's just way too severe a correction for a Collie, IMO.
It was such a chaotic class, most of the dogs were either scared to death or aggressive or hyper to the hilt. Poor Logan the Boxer, who was sitting on the other side of Gully, got so scared he peed all over himself. The only 2 dogs that seemed to be happy and stable in the situation were Gully and Atlas, the Pit Bull. I think Atlas recognized that fact, because he really wanted to come over and play with Gully. But the instructor didn't allow any of the dogs to play together, because of the chaotic situation. I hope things are better next week. I've a feeling not everybody will show back up.
We spent a lil' while walking around the store doing "Sits". So Gully got to meet quite a few people. He did awesome. He's not gregarious with people, like Oz, so he just sat calmly while they petted him. No jumping up. He actually seems more Collie like in that respect. Sometimes I think of Oz as a big ole 65lb terrier. I think he's gonna be fine. He takes a lil' longer to learn things than Oz, but so far he seems more confident than Oz, so it kind of evens them out in a class situation.
Here's a pic of him zonked after class. He must have been exhausted, because it's usually impossible to get a pic of him sleeping.
http://img27.photobucket.com/albums/v80/ParNone/gully_sleep1.jpg
Par...
It was such a chaotic class, most of the dogs were either scared to death or aggressive or hyper to the hilt. Poor Logan the Boxer, who was sitting on the other side of Gully, got so scared he peed all over himself. The only 2 dogs that seemed to be happy and stable in the situation were Gully and Atlas, the Pit Bull. I think Atlas recognized that fact, because he really wanted to come over and play with Gully. But the instructor didn't allow any of the dogs to play together, because of the chaotic situation. I hope things are better next week. I've a feeling not everybody will show back up.
We spent a lil' while walking around the store doing "Sits". So Gully got to meet quite a few people. He did awesome. He's not gregarious with people, like Oz, so he just sat calmly while they petted him. No jumping up. He actually seems more Collie like in that respect. Sometimes I think of Oz as a big ole 65lb terrier. I think he's gonna be fine. He takes a lil' longer to learn things than Oz, but so far he seems more confident than Oz, so it kind of evens them out in a class situation.
Here's a pic of him zonked after class. He must have been exhausted, because it's usually impossible to get a pic of him sleeping.
http://img27.photobucket.com/albums/v80/ParNone/gully_sleep1.jpg
Par...