I’ll give you a clue about the right answer in puppy training class. Our little bundle of fur, being a rescue from an Amish puppy mill, was already over 3 months old when we got him. I was glad he had a little religion already. But by the time I signed up for training, he was too old for the puppy class. We went to our first tweener class last week. It is a walk-in situation, which suits us; though why we have trouble connecting schedules when all four kids are out of the house, I can’t explain. We were the only ones who raised their hands to indicate it was our first time being there, which leads me to my clue. When the instructor asks if your puppy knows “Sit”, and you say “Yes”, the answer to the follow-up question of “How many times do you say it before your dog obeys?” is not “As many times as it takes”. You’re welcome. I live to serve.

The class begins with a get acquainted time for the dogs which consists of them nipping and growling and rolling around on the floor. Some of the sweet little things walked behind their owners’ chairs or bumped noses. Not ours. Ours was right out in the middle of things the entire time. I began to understand a bit more of how parents of kids with ADHD feel.

Then we all began our assignments. The first was for the dog to learn its name. Really? What dog doesn’t know its name? Apparently the answer to that question is “Some”. I witnessed a dog sit in front of the instructor and not turn once when she said its name. She said its name more than once, but no one called her on it. The puppy gazed off in a completely different direction as though it was composing a poem in its head.

Then we worked on “Sit”, “Down”, and some sort of follow the hand exercise. Our dog was stellar, if I do say so myself, but, after practicing at home, has decided he’s supposed to bite the hand rather than bump it with his nose. I have a feeling that will land us in the doghouse if the instructor notices during the next class. Thank goodness there are only four. One down, three to go.

There are options, of course, to continue on to the next class which is called Basic Training. I don’t suppose they’ll include a course on weapons proficiency. I’m trying to decide whether to sign up and how much more training this dog needs; but I have a feeling the answer to that question is “As many times as it takes.”