Those magic words!

[jackiem]

As you know Bob has been undergoing training (or more to the point I have been undergoing training on how to train Bob!)
He is walking at my side or even just behind me most of the time now and last night when we were having our evening walk/train three people were walking towards us along our normally quiet lane. Bob still wants to meet everyone in typical lab style so I said "Sit Bob, stay" and he sat immediately and he stayed. One of the people said those magic words "What a well behaved dog!". I really never expected to hear this description of my lovely Bob - you can imagine how it made me feel.
It has been slow progress after the initial successes but he really is getting there now. He spends much more of his time on our walks watching me for silent instructions and instead of trying to lead me where he thinks we should go he waits to see where I am going to take him. The progress has been so slow that I hadn't really noticed until the last week or so.
He really is becoming the dog that he deserves to be.
The trainer says that I have to continue our quiet walks with no disruptions for at least another four weeks before I venture forth into places where other dogs are likely to be. The idea being that it becomes second nature for Bob to pay more attention to me than to other dogs which should make him much calmer. (He has also said that Bob needs a little friend but I cannot convince Malc!)

[janhind]

I can just imagine how proud you were Jackie.

jan xx

[carolb]

You must be so proud Jackie. I know you have put in a lot of work with Bob and now its paying off. Fancy someone describing him as well behaved Like you say he is now nearer to being to dog he deserves to be and soon will be able to have lots of doggy friends without putting them off by his over enthusiasm WELL DONE BOTH OF YOU.

[jackiem]

I've just re-read the post and realised that it came across as though Bob isn't a good boy! He is a saint indoors, sits and waits for his dinner - no diving into the bowl before I've finished putting his dinner out, follows me through doors only when invited to, never gets on furniture, never goes upstairs, very clean in the toilet department, not destructive, obedient, no longer pushy for cuddles - he just sits and waits until I'm ready, not pushy for walks as he knows when his walks are due, doesn't jump up, greets all guests with enthusiasm without bowling them over, especially gentle with small children, no longer steals food from the worktops despite temptation and generally cannot be bettered. He doesn't bark excessively at passers by but will bark if he hears something unusual. He is a pleasure to live with and despite becoming this model dog (indoors!) he has still kept his comical nature and seems really happy. The other night he brought one of my walking shoes into the kitchen, then the other and then lay down in between them looking at me with his big brown eyes waiting patiently for his walk. Quite simply he is adorable and I am so lucky to have such a lovely boy.
Outside, well, as you can see from the first post, he is getting there!

[Garyt]

Well done Jackie and Bob too

Think you need to be more persuasive with your hubby and get yourselves up to MKF and snap up Angel the choccie girl,what a beautiful laid back dog she is,if i had,nt two already i would have been straight back to rehome her,just a lovely girl...

Gary

[jackiem]

Well done Jackie and Bob too

Think you need to be more persuasive with your hubby and get yourselves up to MKF and snap up Angel the choccie girl,what a beautiful laid back dog she is,if i had,nt two already i would have been straight back to rehome her,just a lovely girl...

Gary

Training Malc is a bit more of a challenge! I'm just banging my head against a brick wall trying to persuade him that another dog will be good for Bob. I really don't know why as we had two when we had Polly and Max - perhaps Malc fell over one or the other once too often as they did take up quite a lot of space. Perhaps I can get rid of some furniture........

[Mad Maisie]

Well I can honestly say your Bob sounds like a dream!!!! and well done on his training!!!!

Lovely!!!!

Gill, Meg and Maisie

[drexl1234]

You must be very pleased and you deserve to be. They give us so much pleasure and satisfaction. A little pal for him sounds a good Idea. wish you look in the future when you meet up with the other dogs.

[jools1]

Well done Bob, and well done you,
Jools

[jackie]

Well done, it is worth all the effort in the end. Shame about Malc not wanting another, there is pros and cons to two......I didn't ask Michael if we could get another

Jackie x

[benjiesmum]

Sounds like you are having great success with Bob! Excellent!!!

[mollysmum]

Well done to Bob and you, great to hear that all the training is paying off.