Intermediate

Tuesday and Thursday nights we work outside in the parking lot at Joyce's in the intermediate class. I love being back in intermediate. Though it's hot, the shadows are long and the breeze feels good.

Intermediate class

There are six to ten dogs on any given evening. Weege is the youngest at six months. Most are between ten and sixteen months. We are the newest addition to the class.

Intermediate class

We start with about ten minutes of heeling. Coming straight from puppy class, Weege hasn't really learned the fast or the slow or the turns yet, but that's okay. I remember. On the weekends, I can break it down and teach her what she needs to know.

Intermediate class

The figure-eights are next. This is a new exercise, too. I'm impressed. Weegie slows on the inside and speeds around the outside. I prompt her, but I am amazed how well she does.

Intermediate class We sat for examination by the "judge" in puppy class; now we are learning to stand. By the third class, I was able to take my hands off Weegie and straighten up. Eventually, I will tell her to stay and step six feet off. In novice, this exercise will be off leash.

The recall is just six feet long, on-leash, with front but no finish. By the time we leave this class, it will be off-leash, 20-30 feet.

We practice finishes separately. Weegie surprized our trainer by doing perfect finishes in the first two classes. I swore up and down that these were our very first attempts, and Donna accused me of lying.

Look where she has landed! A perfect sit. That's Donna in denim shorts and dark glasses. She's a wonderful teacher. She and I trained in open together about ten years ago.

Intermediate class

It was beginner's luck. This week we didn't do so well on the finishes. I don't see us getting this one down for a few weeks yet.

Intermediate class

On the long sits and downs I stand right in front of Weegie. She's not rock-solid in these new surroundings, and I won't move away from her until she is. The long sit in novice is one minute long. The long down is three minutes. I had forgotten what an eternity this can be. Eventually, it will be off-leash, at a distance of about 30 feet, and our trainers will provide deliberate distractions.

Intermediate class

Wily, my dog-pound girl, and I arrested at the intermediate stage for many, many months when I first started training her. I expect Weege to move up at the end of the summer. At last: a reward for starting with a pup.

Intermediate class Dog days. Hot summer evenings, working up a thirst. It's pretty hard for Weegie, and she yaps with frustration now and then. But she likes the dogs and the people, the twice-weekly ride across town in the car. She even shows what I hope will be a good appetite for work. I hope so. This is going to be her job.