Report card

Maya (and me) got a report card of sorts at K9-1 dog training. We flunked.

She (we) were judged in six categories: toys, food, furniture, pets, play and walks. There were three possible "grades": provided (which was passing), entitled (which was failing) and question mark (meaning isn't wasn't clear).

The idea is the dog shouldn't feel entitled. In the pack structure the leader provides for the rest of the pack and a family dog has to know the owners are the pack leaders and the dog is low on the pack hierarchy.

Does the dog get to have its toys when it wants?
Does she get her food whenever she wants it, rather than when the leader allows?
Does she get on the couches or beds (a big area of potential problems should she decide later to defend her space from someone trying to move her off the furniture, especially someone she doesn't know very well, or a child).
Does she get attention on demand?
Does she demand play and get it?
Does she scratch at the door or otherwise indicate when she wants to go out or come in?

Maya failed four and got questions in play and walks.

Look, in fairness to me, Molly had to admit she was the culprit when it came to giving Maya attention on demand, and, if truth be told, Meche is the one who leaves food out for Maya in the morning and doesn't pick it up when the dog doesn't eat it. Besides Maya really only eats dinner and that's partially because she prefers her dry food with a little bit of canned food and some water. But, hey, I had to buck up and take the rap.

We're working on the rest, especially the furniture and are doing really well with that, particularly with the living room couch. On the basement couch, she still likes to join us to watch TV but we tolerate it a lot less and she's being really good about getting off when told. Also, she's consequently taking to using her crate more regularly on her own just as a resting and sleeping place with the door open in the middle of the day. That's great progress!

Failing Maya

Some days I feel like I'm failing Maya. I take her regularly for training, but then during the week it's difficult to keep up the practice. I come home and there are so many other distractions, dinner, the kids, errands and just generally being tired. Fortunately, Fionna gave her a good walk yesterday, all the way to the high school and environs and back. That's at least three miles, since it's 1.5 miles to school. And I walked her another day, both those times on a leash—not her preference—and I tried to do heeling with her, but she was pretty rambunctious. Eventually she settled down.

She's pretty good when in class, once she calms down! Last week there was a new dog in training, a sweet Rottweiler—with an intact tail!—and it was killing Maya not to be able to visit her. She's called Bella, a very popular name for pups these days, which I'm sure is after the Twilight twit. Another guy has a nervous German shepherd that's also named Bella. She's also sweet but very leery of other people and dogs. She's okay with Maya to a point.

No choice but to redouble effort to work with Maya more. We need to get to the next level, with its heavier obedience, which she needs. In fairness, I see improvements in her behavior. She's much better about staying off the couch these days, at least in the main living room, and in the basement gets down readily when told. She's also getting better about how she greets people and is getting better at going to her space when told, and has lately taken to voluntarily going into her crate to rest. All in all, I guess it's more positive than I was thinking when I started this entry. As I headed it, Failing Maya, she's not failing, but I'm failing her. She's smart and learns readily. On the other hand, she's just a little more than 14 months old. That's like being 10 years old. She like a fifth grader! She's in her prime learning age—and is staying in school!