Ok maybe not fully...yet, but I had NO idea how much fun training obedience could be.
This weekend I attended a Bridget Carlsen seminar and it was amazing. I don't know if anyone here has ever been to one, but if you get the chance to attend either as a participant or auditor I highly recommend it. Bridget definitely thinks outside the box. She kept it interesting for her dogs too. She mostly shows high end drive golden retrievers, but she also has a NO DRIVE Norwich Terrier. She had to learn how to make him work too. Her ideas were pretty cool to me the newbie. I hope to apply some of her thoughts and see if I can bring Teddi up to the game. Bridget liked Teddi's heel (which I have never really done only 1 obedience lesson ever) but wants more energy and attitude in her. Me too. Teddi did things I didn't know she knew! I was really impressed.
I took Gabby too. Bridget is Gabby's human paternal grandmother. Bridget said Gabby looks just like Hootie 
and has his smile . My breeder told me she has not said that about any of the other pups. There were a lot of golden people at the seminar, and most made the point of coming up to me and saying how nice Gabby was and ask about her breeding. It made me feel pretty cool too! Gabby on Sunday got to be the 'how to teach your dog to jump the high jump dog". It was at 8" and Bridget was showing how you make the dog learn if they want attention or a treat, you go over the obstacle. Gabby caught on really fast. I thought she was really cute. Then after the seminar, Bridget did some heel work with Gabby, showed me how to work her and teach her not to flare to the outside. She told me Gabby has natural drive, and she heels like Hootie... WOW he has an INCREDIBLE heel. Ok she is not there yet but to acknowledge the potential. I was one proud momma.
My highlight though came at the beginning and didn't involve my dogs at all. Bridget asked if anyone had never shown obedience. Two of us were in that boat. She invited us into the ring, and wanted us to heel her dogs to experience the heel as it should be. She handed my Hootie's leash!!!!! I was over the moon excited. She at that moment did not know I was Gabby's mom. She commented how ironic it was she gave me Hootie to heel later. It was the most awesome thing to heel that dog, and look into his eyes! Incredible. I like him more now that I did, and I realize some of his shortcomings. He seems pretty stressed in the spotlight... unless he is working. To achieve the titles in all the different venues knowing his shortcomings puts more value on the titles and the trainer.
It was so much fun, I laughed a lot. Wonderful ideas and suggestions. Now if winter will ever go away, I would love to get to work. I do think I may take some video lessons with Bridget, and perhaps... road trip for a lesson.
Here are some pictures from the seminar. They are Gabby family photos.
Ann
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