Metric & Me

Jan 14, 2009

OK, so there is a movie currently playing with a similar title about the world's worst dog, though my story is a bit more realistic and just as heartwarming. 

I have been a volunteer with Austin Pets Alive! for several months now and realized that I needed some training.  I signed up for a Basic Adult Class through the Lee Mannix Center for Canine Behavior.  As I don't have a dog, I borrowed Metric, who has been with us a bit longer and who will be the perfect dog with a little training.  Don't believe the movie...a dog (even one with a lot of energy) can receive training (as can we!) and live more harmoniously with the people he loves.

This is Metric.  Look at that face!  He slept most of the way to the first training class, and was very curious once we got there.  We worked on approaches (he only got affection if he was seated...if he popped up, I turned my back and waited for him to sit again).  We then moved to "sit"  then "lay down" around the field, using treats.  He didn't like the mulch though he was laying down by the end.    The next picture shows him after class...he worked hard and deserved to crash.  We practiced some more that night and in the morning.  He is now a pro and I can't wait to show our trainer, Chris, how well he is doing!



Here we are practicing again in the morning (love that morning hair).  Look how good he is!  He still has lots of energy, though he is so eager to please and is learning to control his energy based on my energy. I'm learning that this training class has more to do with training me than with training him.  When we're not training or exercising, all he needs to be happy is a good rawhide (whimpy rawhides need not apply) or a treat filled Kong, and then he is perfectly entertained next to me as I type away on my computer.



Metric is still going out to adoption sites, though we are asking any potential adopters to either attend the training with me or to wait until he graduates from the program to finalize his adoption.

Check back next week to see what we learn in Class 2!

Cheers,

Jennie and Metric