Back in training

Phew! With my brother's wedding coming up in just two weeks and my annual report kicking into production, all I want to do when I hit home is lounge. Still, despite the chaos, we decided that Danny needed personalised attention and so we called in Chassard's old trainer.

I'll be frank. The puppy class Danny went for previously was a complete disaster. The class used the soft approach which may work for more timid dogs, but for rambunctious, hyperactive, no-holds-barred Danny, it was a waste of $200. All we got from it was toilet training and how to get him to sit. Danny's baaaaad habits were still completely intact. Every morning and evening, the neighbourhood has been treated to a variety of ear-splitting shrieks we came to call Danny's Symphony in E minor.

He has also been chewing everything in sight, including...

Yes, even his leashes aren't spared (sorry Gerry, this is the one you gave Chassard). In the short four months since he arrived, he managed to completely chew through two leashes, leaving one in four pieces and the other....well, the other we just managed to find the handle. I eventually bought him a metal leash. I'd love to see him get through that one!

Anyway, after a month's wait, the trainer came last week. Lance trains both dogs and horses, and takes a completely no nonsense approach with them. Any toe out of line is quickly whipped back - unfortunately, same goes for the owner. He lost no time in telling us that all his bad behaviour is our fault cos we haven't been correcting him or have been inconsistent.

Mom and Rhoda have both been condoning Danny's nipping habit. Mom would call them "Danny's love bites" and tell me to stop scolding him. Now, every "love bite" gets a smack on the snout.

Straining and pulling on the leash gets corrected with a quick tug on the choke chain...yes you heard right - a choke chain. I hesitated in getting Lance for the longest time because he uses the choke chain for some behaviour correction. I didn't (and still don't) like the sound of it and even the guy at the pet shop gave me a look when I bought it. (Hey, he sells it , right???) Plus, I read somewhere that Schnauzers take better to "soft" training. (Haha. I know better now.)

The truth is, it's only been one lesson, and Danny's improved by 10 fold - no kidding. He now sits quietly waiting for us to finish dinner before getting his, even without any toys. On walks, he follows our pace and walks right by us. It's some kind of a miracle.

We can't wait for the next lesson.