KUMA'S FIRST CLASS

          Last night was Kuma’s first training class. There were only two other dogs in attendance; however, one other was scheduled but the owner was ill. They may be there next week.

          I was very proud of Kuma. He already knew “SIT,” and does so even without the word prompt. If I hold a treat with my arm bent and hand up near my shoulder, he automatically sits and waits for the treat. Except for that one instance, he was a bit of a pain in the ass.

          Kuma wanted nothing more than to join in with the other two dogs. One was a ten-month old Corgi and the other looked sort of like a beagle but I didn’t hear the breed. Their names were Stella (corgi) and Jet, and Jet was just over six-months old. They too wanted nothing more than to mill about with the other dogs. We all had a difficult time keeping our respective students in line.

          We were given booklets with training information as well as a clicker to help with training. Kuma, again, caught on quickly to the fact the clicker means TREAT. He didn’t, however, like to perform the “sniff my hand for a treat” although he did it  perfectly for the trainer. He also responded to the clicker and the word “focus” when I held the treat up to my forehead. This is to help him begin to focus his eyes on my eyes. Supposedly at some point in time, Kuma is supposed to respond to my eye commands?

          Moriah (the trainer) did give me some good advice with regard to making Kuma stop jumping on me and my visitors as well as keeping his paws off the kitchen counters. Now, it’s up to me, myself and I to follow through and teach Kuma what I expect from him.

          Oh, and today I’m going to go buy him a new harness and me a new leash. I used the narrow leash I purchased when I first got him and the Georgetown Beer collar AJ provided. The harness that came with the leash is now too small. When he tried so hard to reach the other dogs, the collar choked him. I felt bad. The leash cut into my fingers and hand when Kuma used his entire 32 pounds to reach the other dogs because it’s so narrow. I felt bad even though it didn’t cut.

          Kuma is on his way to becoming the “perfect” companion provided his accomplice is able to be the “perfect” teacher. Time will tell.