So, I'm having some difficulty, lately, with Emma. As a house/shop dog, she's doing great, but as an obedience dog? She's slipping. The problem is that she is a totally different dog than she was a year ago, when I started showing her. I'm going to have to adjust myself to her, in a major way. I've spent the past year and a half or so constantly building her up. She doesn't need that any more, and she demonstrated that last weekend by making a decision on her own in the rally ring. She decided that the honor dog was more fun than me, and she wasn't playing my game any more. Greaaaat. My dog is not uber friendly, and I have NO IDEA how to deal with it! This is a huge thing, for Emma. It's something I'm extremely happy about, despite the lapse in obedience and the non qualifying score (I actually had to ask to be excused, she would NOT stop wandering to the Rottie!).
Also, this weekend. I left her outside of the travel trailer, in an ex pen, for five minutes while I fluffed Ena's furnishings and changed clothes. Five minutes. I had a feeling like I needed to check on her, so I was walking to the door when someone knocked on the side of the trailer. I opened the door, and there was a woman standing there, dressed to show a dog, with EMMA, on her hip. My Emma!!! In her arms!!! Emma has never, ever allowed a stranger to handle her like that! EVER! She said she just tossed Emma a bite of Redbarn, and she came right over. Emma had jumped the ex pen I left her in, and was trying to get back into it, LOL. Go figure. I never thought Em would be this friendly.
She's also started seeking attention from strangers, and she's never done that, before, either. She'll take a stranger at the beach her toy, and invite them to play. It's really, really strange, to me, to see her doing this. So, now my dog is five. I have to watch her for a while, and adjust my training and handling styles to her new personality. I don't know WHAT it is that happened to make her this way, but I think I like it! I've never had to train her to stay away from a dog, before. She never cared about other dogs unless they got in her face. I've never worried about her interacting with strangers, because she never wanted to. Now, we have a ton more work to do before she's ready for her CD. The stand for exam has become a breeze, but the long sits and downs may be harder, now. Go figure.....