This page was last revised on 7st August 2004
Click on a photo to see the bigger picture!
I have attended dog training sessions ever since I took over Ian and Julie's House. I enjoy dog school because it enables me to meet other dogs - of all makes and sizes -to show off my skills as a pet owner, and get some extra doggy treats into the bargain. A trained dog is a happy dog!
The new term started on 21st April. During the day, I received a telephone call from my teacher (Granny Wendy - that's her in the photo watching Julie and me!) reminding me that lessons resumed that evening. I couldn't get to the phone in time because I was having my afternoon nap, but the answering machine took the message for me! And no, it doesn't say "Hello, this is Woody the Westie's phone" - I wonder what people would think if it did!?
Of course, it's called Dog Training but, as every dog knows, it is really we dogs who train our pets to look after us properly! Okay, I sit and stand and go and stop and lie down and everything, but I do this only when I'm told to in a manner which meets my requirements. And when I decide to do as I'm "told", it makes my pets so happy - they think they're in charge! I have taught them other tricks as well: to open the back door when I sit on the mat looking up at them appealingly, to take me walkies when I go to the front door, and to give me a doggy treat when I sit and lift my left paw in the air. I have also trained them to make a fuss of me, and give me a treat, when I fetch something (like a soft toy) that they have just thrown away. Strange that - when most people throw things away, they don't want them back - but Ian and Julie seem so pleased when I drop the old toy back at their feet! So why am I lying down in front of a traffic cone? The trick is called a send away. A treat is put under the cone, and I am then sent away towards it. When I lie down, I get the treat - it's that simple! All I can say is that there must be loads and loads of food left lying about on motorways and other roads, but it's too dangerous to stop and find out for sure!
I have won Awards in puppy socialisation, and hold the bronze, silver and gold Awards presented by the Kennel Club of Great Britain - read more by clicking on Training and then GCDS Awards. The image at the top right hand corner of this page shows my Gold Award (click on it to enlarge the image!).
People (people not in the know) sometimes ask why I'm still not trained after three years of going to training school. Well I assume most of them went to school for many years, then perhaps onto college and university. So it is with dogs: there is always something new to learn, and new dogs to meet. I am now doing abit of agility training as you can see - it's great fun! For general information on this subject, click Here.