Friday, January 16, 2009

look what they are making me do


Sit. Stay.



Down.



OMD. Behave. Don't embarrass me. Stop pulling. Madison! OMD. I mean it!


The teen-human is being enormously patient. Madison is actually quite well-behaved. Things go a bit too slowly for her at times, though, and she gets feisty. Or starts barking. Last night, the second session of six, she actually laid on her "mat" with her head on her paws and barked under her breath. Like she was pissed off and mumbling at the instructor, who turned around, pointed at Madison and said "SHHHHHHHHHHHH."

Madison stopped barking and looked at her from under perfect schnauzer brows.

When the instructor turned her back to walk away, Madison barked again, looking right at her.

The two of them repeated this three times. Until the instructor said, "Madison, you don't have to be a movie star tonight."

After class, H-Mom talked with the instructor for a moment, to apologize for the sassy barking. "Don't worry," said the instructor. "She is just really smart, and she's letting me know it. She's not being bad at all - we've had really really badly behaved dogs here, believe me!"

"Here's what you have to do with Madison," she continued. "Start talking with her. Have a conversation, help her learn how to communicate to you what it is that she needs. Teach her words and teach her actions. When dogs are really smart and they can't tell you what they want, they get frustrated and that is the kind of barking that Madison is doing."

That made the teen-human feel better. Actually kind of proud. Which is way better than just being embarassed that Madison is now the class barker.

7 comments:

Lindsay said...

Sounds like a good trainer to me! WROOO!
Dannan

Dughallmor Beagles said...

Hi Madison! Woooo, your obedience class looks cool, it's outdoors! We've had a few weeks off ours for Christmas and we really miss it!
Slobbers xx

Molly the Airedale said...

Good for you, Madison! Let that instructor know what you think!
Mom will write to Barbara and ask her about the rock paintings. As far as we know, she hasn't done them in a while now. We'll let you know what she says.

Love ya lots,
Maggie and Mitch

River said...

It will be so much fun to work with a smart dog. I bet she learns a whole lot of works and actions really fast.

love & wags,
River

Princess Patches said...

Good job, Madison! Maybe, someday, you will be able to speak like a hooman! Our mom and dad used to have a Mini Schnauzer and they always thought that someday, she would start talking like a person. She never actually did, but she sure was close!

Aire-hugs,
Poppy, Penny & Patches

The Devil Dog said...

Madison is really smart. It's the smart ones you gotta look out for. Just ask my mom. Cuz I'm real smart too! Hahaha (And modest.)

Roxy

Dexter said...

You go to some weird night school in a parking lot? No wonder its hard to pay attention. There could be monsters lurking just outside the lights.

Slobbers,
Mango


musings on a giant schnauzer in a little MEDIUM LARGE package