Well, the first class went really well. It was this past Monday and it was just me. Katie and I will both go every Monday from now on. So far, I really liked the instructor. She seems to know what she is talking about and has been doing this for quite awhile now. Basically the first class was just to let us know what to expect. We will be using the clicker method. That was our homework for the week. To practice using that and getting the dog use to it. Even just saying her name and if she makes eye contact when I say her name than "click" Anything good that she does gets a click. We can also use treats. Click then treat. We will be using a lot of treats. Mostly what I came away with from the first meeting is that I am the one that needs to learn new behavior...lol. I need to be the leader. I should never let Katie initiate anything. Not even playtime. If I'm sitting and watching tv and Katie comes up with her ball, I shouldn't automatically throw it. I should set it down and wait til I'm ready to play or make her say "please" by sitting or down or something like that. I'm not for sure if I'm making sense. I understand what the instructor is saying but that is a hard habit to break. I love it when Katie comes up to play, even when I am busy. So far I think we have been doing very well. Katie seems to respond well to the click/treat method and I try to make her say "please" (usually sit) for everything. Even when she wants to go outside. I have her sit first. I am so looking forward to our first class together. I know she (we) can do this. Cinder and Smokey were right I have to take a baggie full of tiny treats and if there is any barking we will be asked to leave the room. When she quits barking we can come back, if she barks again we have to leave again. Katie is not a barker so I'm pretty confident we won't have this problem. Keep your fingers crossed for us! I'll keep you posted.

Robin