Hobbes the Exuberant

Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2019 12:22 pm

Hobbes the Exuberant has just returned from training .... He's a good boy - most of the time - when off the lead and obeys the heel, sit, stay and recall. Now and again he gets side tracked by a scent or some thing grabs his "curiosity" and anything can happen. But when there are other people and dogs about - particularly those he hasn't met before - he goes mental, which is not good. And it has been getting worse recently - rather than better. If you met up with us, you'd probably think he had never had any training Sad

I have therefore - as part of my New Year resolutions - re-enrolled us into obedience classes. This time at the Newark Show Ground. The people who run it are marvellous. They are happy that we just walk about amongst the classes with Hobbes, until he reaches a point when he is actually calm enough and ready to join with the other dogs training. I suspect that may take a number of visits but I am determined to help Hobbes overcome this habit of getting so worked up and over excited every time he meets people and dogs. The organisers have insisted that I don't need to join or pay anything until such time as Hobbes is able to be settled enough to actually participate in classes.

So today, we spent an hour just walking around the training areas, both indoors and outdoors and it took almost the whole hour before he settled. Having said that, he was walking to heel, sitting and staying but "it was oh such hard work dad" and as time progressed his concentration began to return.

Bless the little chap

Wink

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Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2019 1:46 pm

Sounds like a good class Very Happy

. I expect Hobbes is experiencing hormones Laughing

Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2019 2:06 pm

Jacquietwig wrote:

Sounds like a good class Very Happy

. I expect Hobbes is experiencing hormones Laughing

Indeed... a massive rush of hormones right now. So I don't ummmmm rather.... try not to... very hard.... get too cross with him and keep my cool because I know he only wants to say hello and socialise (others don't always see it that way). I don't always manage it and then I feel so guilty about reprimanding him to severely.

What I'm endeavouring to do, is to get him to just calm down and not charge in like a bull in a china shop, every time we meet an individual someone, let alone someone with a dog(s) ... he tends to lunge when on a lead or just rush over and leap up when not on the lead. My wife finds the lunge the most difficult thing to deal with when she is out with Hobbes as she is not as strong as she used to be.....

After all is said and done, Hobbes is an adolescent Beardie boy, growing up very fast. I do believe we'll get there with perseverance and affectionate but firm training. Probably about the same time as the hormone rush settles. I'll then be worried that there's something wrong with him because I have no doubt, it will happen like someone flicked a switch Rolling Eyes

Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2019 2:12 pm

This was Hobbes.... eager to get going this morning... it felt like he was saying come on dad get get a wiggle on and lets get going.

Friend for Life Joined: 09 Jan 2009 Posts: 19127

Aw Hobbes, i'm having the same problem with your younger brother Rolling Eyes

He is a force to be reckoned with Wink

You're just normal happy beardie boys who love everyone whether they want you to or not Laughing

Basil will be running riot....i'm mean enrolling in the next class soon Wink

Good luck with your training Very Happy

Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2019 2:55 pm

And I'm having the same problem with 23 month old Zebo! He loves everyone and rushes up to sort their pockets out to see if there are any treats! I do not use treats at all so it is a very tasty novelty for him. It is amazing how quickly he cottoned onto the pocket caches!! Meanwhile, little Daveydog at 13 months is more constrained on this trick but he idolises big brov and follows just about everything he does. Rolling Eyes

You are lucky you have training classes to go to! Round here they are very few and far between and a 60 mile trip each week is out of the question, especially at this time of the year. Crying or Very sad

Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2019 10:33 pm

Sounds like you all have your hands full Laughing

Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2019 2:10 pm

Well, we've now been to three Training Club meetings at the Newark Show Ground. I am delighted to report that Hobbes is improving. However, not yet to the level of calmness where I would happy for him to join in with one of the many training classes going on.

This morning he settled pretty quickly but was easily distracted from our task of heel, sit, down etc.. but there were plenty of approving noises from the people running the Club. Perhaps a couple of more sessions and then we'll see about actually joining one of the obedience groups...

I am very very pleased with his progress... so much so I took him for his first visit to Pets at Home, on our way home, and bought him a little present... he behaved himself in there too. So much so they said he could come back any time....

Very Happy

Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2019 3:27 pm

Yay Hobbes, and you too, Robert...well done.

It reminds me of when I was little ( okay, well, YOUNGer Cool

) and my mother would say to me that if I was good when we were out, we could stop by the supermarket on the way home and she would buy me an ice cream...... Very Happy

Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2019 2:15 pm

Hobbes say's

Ummmm... what's an ice cream ??? I don't think I've tried one of them but I do really like chewing ice cubes Laughing

Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2019 2:18 pm

Hobbes -

- ice cream is like ice cubes but....with flavour! It is Magic.....

Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2019 2:27 pm

Daaaaaaddddd !!!! Can I have one please..... go on

Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2019 2:29 pm

Hobbes! - if your father can resist that nose - and those eyes that I am sure are there under that extravagent hair style - then he is a Hard Hearted father....and shame on him...... Cool

Friend for Life Joined: 09 Jan 2009 Posts: 19127

Oh go on Robert, you know you want to Laughing

Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2019 5:02 pm

Dad Says

Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2019 6:00 pm

And do we listen to Dad??

Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2019 7:48 am

I think you've found the perfect class for your lively boy, Robert!