My Border collie flunked puppy kindergarten !!!
- By Mary Yatti
- Published 06/26/2008
Mary Yatti
I'm a wanna be screen writer, stand-up comic, creative writer type. I see the humor in common every day things. Don't get me started on stories about my pets as I can go on non-stop. Click here: for Mary Yatti writings on the World Wide Web.
This past winter, I enrolled Curli (named after Three Stooges character) in puppy training. I dressed her up in a pink sweater once a week and made the trip to the Pipe Creek Civic Center where classes were held. She was eight weeks old and wanted to make rounds to greet all the other dogs present. She was so tiny and cute that everyone made over her, including the instructor.
I took her outside before, after and during the training for potty breaks. Curli however had a different idea. To show her intimidation in front of the bigger dogs, Curli would urinate then roll over on her back exposing her belly in an act of submission. I started carrying paper towels to wipe up after her. The instructor said, “that’s okay, she’s just intimidated by all the bigger dogs, she’ll get over it, help her work on it by praising her for going potty outside.”
The training started, and it was Curli’s turn to sit for the instructor. I looked at Curli, and said, “Curli, sit!” I couldn’t believe it; Curli sat the first time I asked her too. The problems started when Curli started outguessing me and sat if I just looked at her and said her name. She could anticipate my commands. Curli spent so much of her energy watching the other dogs that she decided to take her puppy naps during the second part of each class. She was so sleepy looking that I would usually let her be. It was late for her (8:00 PM) plus it was cold outside. She is older now and is turning out to be a pretty good dog. We play “catch the Frisbee” and other games each morning and evening.
