With all the holiday stuff going on right now I thought I should just do a Follow up Friday post this week so I know what has been happening and in case you missed anything you can catch up too. Thanks to Heart Like A Dog for hosting this Blog Hop.
Monday was Bailie’s second week at Obedience training. Sorry to report that both Mom and Bailie are not liking the class and it sounds like the class doesn’t like them either. The first week Bailie was so wild she had to don a Gentle Leader which only made her more nuts! Week two was about 50% better as she didn’t get wild until the second half and but this time Mom said no Gentle Leader. At this point I think a lot of people would just quit, but like a GBGV, Mom is stubborn, so she and Bailie are going to really hunker down and work on things and by graduation Bailie will surprise the others by showing she is the smartest dog in the class. I did really well in school which is unusual for my breed. Bailie has it in her, she just has to use it! Bailie is also one of the youngest in her class, so her attention span isn’t as long as other dogs and even Mom says she gets bored with all the repetition. I have total confidence that Mom and Bailie will get it together and she will graduate with the title of most improved pup.
Tuesday I visited Dr. Jim at the IGH Animal Hospital to have my lips checked again. The photo is me in the exam room waiting. He said my lipfolds are looking great! Mom is really happy with the progress as well and I am even letting her comb my beard (which is getting quite long now) a bit these days. I didn’t let her near there before because there was always in infection and it was sore. We are both so glad we decided to do the surgery.
We dogs have been spending a lot of time in the snow in the yard racing around lately. Bailie and I have so much fun together! She seems to think my ears are really handles for her to bite into and hang on, but that’s okay. I did the same to Katie’s tail when I was a puppy.
Katie has been having some pain in her front leg, so she isn’t running around as much but she does enjoy overseeing us in our games. This photo is our “T” formation. I’m whispering our next moves to Bailie! I think we were planning an attack on Katie.
Wednesday I reviewed #PetBox. Stop by that post to enter and win your own PetBox or get 10% off a subscription with promocode BPGBGV10 It’s not too late to order a subscription for a dog for the holidays! Remember they are also donating all their profits to shelters this month which makes it a double gift!
Yesterday I interviewed my mom and had two photos of her on my post which is against my posting rules but I made an exception! I don’t know if she will ever let me post photos or interview her again, so make sure you see and read about her while you can.
One other piece of news – Mom just signed Bailie and I up for Nosework 1 starting January 9th. We are so excited to start using our noses for what they were made for. Stay tuned to hear how it goes!
It’s time for the Advent Calendar for Dog Lovers hosted by Kol’s Notes, Heart Like a Dog, My Brown Newfies, My GBGV Life & Bringing Up Bella! 24 giveaways in 24 days, plus a grand prize worth more than $800 – who wants to win? Today’s giveaway is sponsored by Hartz. You could win their new Simpsons dog toys! Click here to check out the Advent Calendar and enter today’s giveaway!
I am sure Bailie eventually will be the first in her clas. You guys must be exited about to get started in noseclass. Vuff from Laika
The heck with obedience, let’s get to the fun stuff we were designed for…nosework!
Great follow up Bilie 🙂 , u had so much fun this week
We usually do have a lot of fun, Mom says maybe too much fun 😉
Nosework sounds like fun. Have a fabulous Friday.
Best wishes Molly
I think for us hounds we may rename it to “nosefun” class 🙂
I love that picture of you and Bailie!!! I hope everyone can make it through the class. Torrey and I have never done that. Mom isn’t real good in class, so it seemed best to not go there.
I think they will do fine once they accept being in school.
I have confidence that Bailie will graduate #1 in her class. I love the picture of you and Bailie playing. It is so cute. Great post about your Mom. It’s great to get to know the humans as well. Enjoy the snow.
She is working hard on he homework and Katie and I are being good examples.
Great follow up Emma, thanks for joining the blog hop! I think you and Bailie will have a lot of fun in the nosework class, I know Delilah and I do.
As for the obedience class, well from what I remember it should be very basic things and Bailie is still really just a baby, she already does so many amazing things, I know she’ll get there.
Have a great weekend!!
She is just a baby, but she is super smart. She just has to realize that school is no longer for playing.
Wow, what a busy week! Hang in there Bailie, the mom had an Afghan hound in obedience class who was the class clown but finished with the award for best in class. Bring on the nose work!! XOXO Maggie the PBGV
We have lots of hope that the next class will be better.
That photo of you and Bailie romping is awesome. Glad your lip is in good shape, and I’m sure Bailie will get her obedience in good shape too!
(PS – I found it by going back through your blog, but I think your link to yesterday’s post is broken)
Hmmm…will have to have Mom check that link in a bit when she is back at her computer. Thanks!
Wow, you sure were busy! And I’m sure those romps with Bailie help with her energy level in class–keep up the good work, Emma. We took some nose work classes about a year ago–they were a lot of fun!
We can’t wait for nosework!
Poor Katie. 🙁 I hope her leg gets better.
In regards to dog training, classroom settings can be a huge challenge because of all the stimulation. One thing I learned when I was becoming a certified dog trainer is that the classroom setting is mostly for the benefit of the people, not the dogs. The dog trainer does demonstrations, and then supervises and gives additional pointers as you practice the same techniques on your dog. The real dog training is done at home where you implement what the trainer has taught you in a much quieter and less distracting setting. Home training is easier for both you and the dog because it gives your dog a chance to succeed one small step at a time. Expecting her to succeed with all those other people and dogs around puts on a lot of pressure and can be frustrating for you both, making training a tedious experience instead of a fun one.
She is having a hard time not being allowed to play or sniff other dogs, but that is how they want it, so we will work with it. Mom is going to take her to other places like dog parks, etc. to work with her so she learns to focus. Dog school in Germany was so much more relaxed and we learned the same things, so it is an adjustment but Mom and Bailie will succeed.
I used to get super excited in class too, and bored and distracte. but Bailie will get the hand of it
Practice makes perfect!
Rooooo I think Bailee is just too cool for school and her real talent will shine when she starts that nosework class *waggy tail*.
You are sooo right!
Emma, I’m so glad your appointment went well! It definitely must be great to have that behind you. I love the photos of you all playing in the snow. I hope Katie’s leg gets better, but at least she is still out there supervising you two!
She hated to miss out as she loves winter! Hopefully it will get better soon.
Hooray for Bailie and hooray for happy lips Emma!
Happy lips Emma has a nice ring to it!
You guys are so cute. Nice work on the T formation! I hope Katie’s leg is feeling better! Great follow up. (I meant to do a FUF post, but time just got away from me! Too much Christmas-prep madness going on!)
We keep changing up post plans all the time as things keep changing. Looking forward to getting back to posting 3-4 times a week again, it will be like a vacation!
I think Bailie might be like me. I am SUPER INTELLIGENT but loathed obedience class. I dropped out. Mom works with me at home. I didn’t like the trainer and I didn’t like the annoying dogs that were there. Barks and licks and love, Dakota
Geez, were you in Bailie’s class? Sounds like their scenario but Mom being so stubborn is determined to show everyone what Bailie can do.
I’m sorry that Bailie isn’t enjoying the class! I’m sure she’ll come through though, just needs some time! And then everyone will be so surprised, just like you said! I’ve always wanted to try an obedience class for Duke, maybe one day!
Lots of working on homework with her around here, but she is learning well. Mom has to take her to where there are distractions next to practice and then they should be good to fit better into class. Not everyone is cut out for school, Mom never liked school and evidently it is not Bailie’s choice either.
Love that T formation 🙂 Looking forward to your reports about nosework. I’m betting you two will be the stars of that class!
I think we will find our niche in nosework! Looking forward to it.
You sure have a lot going on. We say that Freighter is a “busy” puppy. Bailie sounds a lot like Freighter. Love the picture of the “T” formation…lol…plotting. Can’t wait to hear about the nose work class.
I think we will both be great at and love nosework, that is much more for hounds than silly obedience!
Glad that your lips seem to be healing well!
I’m really happy too because they don’t hurt anymore.