Citizen Jake...

I am now officially a Canine Good Citizen.

There was 11 of us attempting the test, and 7 of us passed. Most of it was pretty straight forward. It was COLD and RAINING though, which was a pity, but the organisers were really good (especially as it was their first time too) and we got through it in pretty quick time.

What we had to do:

• Be wearing an up to date registration tag.
• Be well groomed.
• Be carrying a poo bag.

• Allow the evaluator to groom my coat, look at my ears, and pick up my front paws to be examined. (I still don't like being brushed, especially when I'm cold...but the Boss said I had to put up with it just for the exercise)
• Allow the Boss to look at my teeth and down my throat (which I still don't like!) and run his hands all over me.

• The Boss had to answer 8 questions on responsible ownership of a me...(6/8 was the pass rate but he got 8/8...smarty!)

• Show good food manners...ie SIT/STAY until allowed to eat, and not beg when the evaluator had a biscuit in front of me. (Boring old dry wine biscuit...like I'm gonna beg for that!)

• Accept a friendly stranger walking up and giving me a pat.

• Sit quietly while the Boss had a chat with another stranger with a dog. (That was tough because the friendly strangers dog really liked ME!)

• Walk through a gate to fetch a bag without getting in the Bosses way or pulling the leash.

• SIT/STAY while the boss went about 5 mts away, then COME back to the Boss.

• HEEL on leash.

• HEEL on leash past a trio of noisy people with their dogs, and a jogger.

• Be tied to a stake without complaining while the Boss was out of sight for 5 minutes.

• Allow a stranger to take me for a walk without the Boss present. (I'd have to point out here that the stranger was NOT handling me well. I was on the wrong side, and allowed to be at the end of the leash rather than told to HEEL...the Boss was a bit disappointed with that!)

• Play with my tug-toy, then release it on command. (I didn't see this myself, but apparently someone failed this test because their dog was GROWLING while playing TUG. ..SO WAS I! That's what you do when you play tug...it's not vicious or anything, just part of the GAME!! If that's all they failed on, ie they let go when told, I'd be asking for another opinion!)

And that was it. Sounds like a lot, but it really only took about 15 minutes per dog, and there were a few good chuckles to be had while waiting my turn for each exercise.

The Boss was really stoked that we got a special mention at the presentation afterwards, it turns out that we were the only ones that didn't belong to an official training club, and hadn't been through a specific training program leading up to the test. We've been invited to represent the Selwyn Dog Training Club here in Wanaka until the Boss gets a local Club incorporated.

The Boss is also hoping to attend an assessors course to enable him to conduct tests here for other people.

That was all on Saturday. On Sunday, we went and watched some Dog Agility trials. Boy, I thought I was pretty fast and good at jumping, but some of these dogs were AWESOME. The Boss reckons we're going to give it a go, but I've got some training to do first I can tell you!

We were also told that my level of training should be enough to begin obedience trialing, so we'll be looking into that as well.

All in all, a good result!!

One more sleep...

We're off in the morning to do my Canine Good Citizen assessment.

I hope the Boss has been reading up on his bits, I know I'll do my part.

I also hope it's warmer in Chch. than it is here! It's alright for those shaggy dog types...

The Real Criminals Don't Have Four Legs...

Nicely written I thought.

Boy it's cold. Minus 4c at the moment.

Brrr.

Piggy in the middle...

We did two training sessions today, first in Wanaka, and then in Arrowtown.

The first one was ok...usual easy stuff. The Arrowtown one had a couple of surprises. As soon as I walked into the field, I was met by a PIG! Followed in quick succession by a GOAT!

Just when I'd come to terms with that, and took my place in the line with all the other dogs, when 2 giant HORSES came strolling over and stood in the line when we were doing WEAVE.

Honestly, where's a dog supposed to look with all that going on?

Mind-you, I was there to be a show off, and show off I did.

Those newbies are pretty easy to impress!

Less than a week now until we go to Chch.

Continuing the theme...

You know I might have to re-visit my opinion about Shutzhund being boring after all...here's my predecessor Zac at training, doing what I would never dare...though boy some people really could use it!!..like people who don't register /train/devote themselves to their dogs. Or people who have no knowledge of dogs but regularly shout out their ignorance in the media...

Anyhow, this was Zac learning the personal protection aspects of Shutzhund, at which he excelled. Not only because he could bite/hold better than all the Dobermans, Rottweilers and German Shepherds that he trained with, but because his willingness to please the Boss was heaps better.

He would let go with a word from any distance and just guard the guy in funny pyjamas...unless he tried to run away again...then WHAMMO!!

And boy, you did NOT mess with the Boss or his family when Zac was on duty...

My mate tells me that he was also an awesome frisbee catcher!

I reckon I would've liked playing with Zac.