Snowy Oscar
Next week our lovely Oscar is 10 months old, and we thought it time he started to grow up and "put away childish things", so we enrolled him in obedience classes. The first class was last Tuesday and we were all psyched up and nervous about how he would behave - so, I big-heartedly let Ray be his handler! Surprise! He wasn't the worse by a long-shot. One over-weight lab did nothing but whine loudly all through class ... a bouncy golden doodle led his child handler a merry dance ... and a small spaniel was scared to even walk up the steps to get into the hall. Oscar just sat quietly and observed all this mayhem around him. (He probably felt it was simply an extension of our home, since we were looking after our son's two large dogs all last week - Oscar's favourite pals to rough-house with - a huge Newfoundland and a bouncy Golden Doodle!)
His favourite game at present is chasing the squirrels which cautiously venture up onto our deck to nibble the bird's sunflower seeds. He provides us with hours of entertainment (at the poor squirrel's detriment) as he sits staring out the sliding glass door at them, working himself up into a frenzy of excitement. When we open the door he simply explodes out, flies into the air, back legs straight out behind him, completely missing the 6 steps leading down onto the snow-covered garden, and sprints after the poor squirrels as they race to the trees for safety. He never catches them, of course, and we're not sure he'd know what to do if he did. But, it's a game he never tires of ... as we never tire of watching and smiling at him.
Another failed chase ... time to come back in.
3 comments:
Bless him! Magnus is just the same. When I let him out of the car when we are going for a walk, it is like letting a greyhound out of it's starting trap! I have 6 steps here too at my back door and Magnus doesn't bother with them. He just leaps up all 6 in one go! If only he could fly he would be catching birds. He gets very excited about them.
I will try classes after the dog behaviourist has been on 9th February as he would know the most suitable for us to attend. I wish there were some available during the day but they all seem to be in the evenings which is a nuisance as it is approximately a 20 mile drive each way.
Ah, a dog behaviourist. I'll be curious to know all about that after. A friend had a trainer come to her home and spent 2 hours with her and her dog - she said it was marvellous and money very well spent.
It is going to cost about £150 but it will, hopefully, stop the barking and howling in the car. Also, Magnus is a great guard dog, a bit TOO good as he tears to the front door, hackles raised and yelling like a banshee but if I let the visitor in, he gives them the greatest welcome you could imagine! It is driving me nuts.
However, this is day 5 of his new, improved behaviour which I am not complaining about!
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