Stand for exam progress

    • Gold Top Dog

    Stand for exam progress

    I'd written about Emma having a real problem with stand for exams. Part of it is general terrier nature, and part of it is Emma weirdness. We've been working pretty hard on general confidence building. I've been taking her to work, every day. I've been opening the door, and encouraging her to "Go say hi!". I'm having random strangers feed her treats. It's helped tremendously. We've trained and overtrained (I'm talking about ridiculousness.... touching her ears and eyes and teeth and toesies) the stand for exam with people she's comfortable with. I bought a really nice, leather, basket muzzle, and acclimated her to it, and we started doing stands with dog-people strangers. She never showed a lick of resentment, so I took the muzzle off, and did it with the same people. I'm very pleased to say that she is now accepting exams from random strangers without showing any stress or resentment. She knows she's getting heavy treats and praise, and she knows she's going to be released to be petted. In December, we're going to a four day show in Savannah. We plan to get our CD thereSmile 

    • Gold Top Dog

    Way to go Jennie, & Emma!!!!   That is FANTASTIC!

    • Gold Top Dog

    Great job!  I know that many many dogs have the worst trouble with the stand for exam (and I definitely understand why...I wouldn't want strange people just coming up and touching me all over either...), so congrats!  And good luck with the show!  :)

    • Gold Top Dog

    Thanks! She's really come a long way. It's even more impressive if you've seen what a lousy  trainer her mom is, LOL.