Our first advanced training class

Shyla had another big success yesterday. She went to her first advanced training class. It's a class for dogs who can perform all their basic training exercises in controlled settings, like a quiet classroom. The advanced class meets in town at a different location each week. Yesterday, it was at a park, with many screaming kids, bikes, scooters, hikers, and other dogs.

As I Shyla and I arrived at class, I found myself unconsciously thinking that she was K. The reason was that I went to innumerable training classes with K at this exact site. Of course, when K was grown up, she found most parts of the classes to be easy - she could heel, sit, down, wait, etc. with no help from me whatsoever.

Yesterday, as we walked toward the class, I heard myself casually say "heel" to Shyla just like I used to say it to K. Then I was shocked when Shyla started yanking on the leash! Silly me... of course Shyla couldn't behave like a seasoned grown-up yet in such a bustling environment. I'd simply forgotten who was on the other end of the leash.

After I realized who I was training (duh), Shyla actually did astoundingly well during class. She couldn't ace the training exercises due to all the distractions. However, she was relaxed in the midst of the Sunday afternoon bustle of the park. That's a victory.

Then, our trainer asked the handlers to try to calm our dogs enough that they would just lie still and relax despite the bustle, including the screaming kids. Believe it or not, Shyla relaxed so much that she rolled onto her back for a belly rub. Yep, this is the same dog who had a "melt-down" in a very similar city park just two months ago. She has come miles and miles and miles since then!

We're still waiting for Shyla's limp to improve (and we're consulting vets about it). In the meantime, we're doing our training, taking short leash walks, and stopping to watch the sunrises and sunsets.