Well, dog class #2 was definately interesting tonight. Things started off badly before we even left - I decided to shave Rex's face and then clip his nails. I usually dremel them but decided to just do a quick clip. Well, I quicked him and we had blood everywhere. I barely took any off, but boy - he moved at the wrong moment and we had a gusher. Blood stop didn't even work. I had to hold pressure for 10 minutes before a clot formed. Then I bandaged it and off we went.
Rex puts new meaning to the term stubborn. He would not do a 'down' tonight for anything. The instructor finally had to come over and work with us. The big galoop was absolutely, positively not laying down. She pretty much forced him and it took both of us. We got him down, praised him like crazy, gave him his treat (which there was no way he was eating at that point), and then let him up. Only to have to repeat it all over again. I think even the instructor was surprised. He is very strong and very stubborn. Whew - I was beat by the time class was over. I met my husband and youngest daughter at my mother-in-law's house and she had some hamburgers ready for us. I broke off a piece to give to Rex and thought I'd see if he'd do a down for me. He took one sniff of that burger and down he went!! Big brat!! So we will diligently work on our lessons this week - and I may use hamburger as incentive! We were not so faithful last week, due to the nasty weather and my rotten cold.
At one point I found myself getting extremely frustrated with Rex tonight. But then I really looked at him, and I could see his frustration and confusion. I decided right then and there that it was time to get a check on my attitude and to put things in perspective. Because of his background and his fear issues, new situations are hard for Rex to deal with. All in all, he's been doing very well. I'm proud of him. He'll get this 'down' thing, just like he's conquered all the other fears he's had to deal with. Mom just needs to learn to do things a little slower with Rex and give him time to comprehend and deal with all this new stuff. It's a lot for him to absorb - just being with all these people is traumatic enough, and he's handling that very well.
We have been getting a lot of snow and I LOVE it! The poodles responded exactly as I thought they would. Keisha absolutely loves it. The first day she ran around like a crazy dog, jumping leaping and having a ball. The minute I open the door she shoots out there like a bullet and runs around like mad. It's hilarious.
Rex was fearful - he stood there and looked at all that white stuff and then looked at me, like, what the heck is this?? You want me to do it out there? In that cold stuff? Are you NUTS???? He walks out there as close to the house as possible and then goes into the rocks and does his job there where the snow isn't deep. He is so funny. Then he'll suddenly decide that it looks pretty fun out there in the deep stuff, and off he goes at a run, tossing snow in the air with his nose, jumping around.
Lacie took it in stride as she does everything in life. She likes to bury her snout in the snow and comes up looking so cute. She's solid black so she looks funny with her white beard and nose.
Well, I'm heading off to bed. I'm off tomorrow and I think it's going to be a grooming day. They all need a brushing, Lacie needs her face shaved, and Keisha needs a bath.