Obedience - FAIL

[ownedbycats]

I took Sunshine for her second to last obedience lesson on Saturday. To get to the door of the building you have to go down a hill, then there is a strip of grass between you and the porch. To the right of the door is a strip of grass about 10 feet wide, a row of trees, and then the river with little chunks of ice floating in it. It was the first time we has gone down the hill with snow on it. At the bottom of the hill were 3 ducks two together and one closer to us, between us and the building. We got halfway down the hill and Sunshine just couldn't take it anymore. She tore the leash out of my hands and took off after the closest duck. It was an escaped black and white domestic duck I've been told is a Muscovy. The Muscovy didn't fly, it waddled off, with Sunshine following behind straight into the river. I barely have time to collect my wits enough to call my dog to come, she gets halfway to me and spots the other two Muscovy's still sitting there and takes off after them. Back to the river go the ducks and back to the river and in goes Sunshine, up to her shoulders. Granted, she again came back when I called her but she and the leash were both soaked and dripping. And she had burrs stuck so deeply in I had to wait and chop them out when we got home so she is looking a little funny until her fur grows back out. I spent the entire obedience lesson wishing I could pretend the dog on the other end of the leash belonged to someone else. It was almost worse when she did so well with most of the lesson (aside from barking at the instructor's puppy)

[Dog Dancer]

You know, sometimes a dog just has to be a dog! I can see Sunshine standing very proud in the river! She chased the marauding ducks away so they couldn't hurt you mom. You should be proud!

[14+kitties]

[ownedbycats]

Well, I AM proud of the fact that she came back when called. Sadly, she proved that the "Leave It!" that works so well at home and in class needs a lot of work.
I'm also surprised that she went into the river TWICE. Surely once into an ice cold river would teach her that it's cold and she should stay out. Especially since she can't stand cold snow on her belly?

[Dog Dancer]

That's just because there's no ducks in the snow!

[hazelrunpack]

DD, I think you hit it right on the nose! Er...the beak! I feel your pain, obc--ours are very good at a lot of things...like not jumping up or leaving things alone...until either a guest gets brave enough to venture into the house or the Pack is out in the yard watching squirrels. But as DD also says, sometimes a dog just has to be a dog. I'm satisfied if mine keep all the embarrassing stuff to the backyard out of sight of the public!