There’s a program called Puppy Kindergarten and I enrolled Lucy in it this past Saturday.
It didn’t start out well.
Within minutes of arriving in the parking lot of the Evergreen Barn in Mendocino, Lucy got so hopelessly tangled up with a border collie that the owner and I had to restrain our dogs while someone else removed the collie’s collar and untangled the leashes.
Flying ears.
When the puppy group was released for play in the training room, my normally mellow darling turned into a psychotic tweeker.
Cesar Milan says not to take your puppy’s behavior personally. But how do you manage that while five other “parents” watch in horror as your great white shark ruins the delicate balance of Puppy Kindergarten?
Expert trainer, Elaine Miksak, asked me to gently coax Lucy into the “time out” area and keep her there until she settled down.
Try as I might to get Lucy’s attention away from chomping on the other dogs’ necks, it was a no go. It would have been far easier to pick her up and haul her out of Puppy Kindergarten forever.
Elaine, bless her heart, finally intervened to skillfully move Lucy away from the action.
After a few minutes, she settled enough to be allowed back into play. However, I was asked repeatedly to intervene by going to her, calling her name while gently clapping my hands, moving backwards and coaxing her to follow. This simmered her down for about 15 seconds at a time.
A gorgeous four-month old golden retriever dabbled in the play, but when it got rough, took refuge at the feet of her owner. I found myself standing by him after my one hundredth “coaxing” of Lucy to stop her bullying ways.
Looking for action.
“We used to have a golden retriever,” I said. “He was perfect.”
He gave me a weary smile, almost as if I’d said I’d once driven a Mercedes and now drive a 20-year old piece of crap Geo—almost as if to say, “I don’t care to hear your tale of woe.”
His look made me realize that I believed Lucy was less than the others, that she would never be more than the snapping, barking creature that she was at that moment.
A few minutes later, play time was thankfully called to a halt and we were asked to leash up our dogs. Lucy thrashed as we walked to my chair. She lunged to incite the other dogs to play. I quietly soothed her into a sit.
Elaine gave a sweet lecture on I don’t know what because I was giving myself a silent lecture to straighten out my thought process with my dog.
This was Lucy’s first experience with playing with puppies outside of her littermates. In her defense, littermate play is like my childhood—a turbulent mob of sibling rivalry. Lucy took what she had learned in her kennel at the Humane Society and transferred it to these strangers.
Most of Lucy’s experiences are first-time. It is up to us, as her owners, to be patient with helping her learn. It is a daily process. Unfortunately, I am not good with daily processes.
New mantra: I am good with daily processes.
After Elaine’s lecture, the puppies were allowed two additional mosh pit sessions intermixed with two basic training periods. (It was the longest 90 minutes in recent memory.) In the end, Lucy sat quietly at my feet before slumping into a down position. One of the “fathers” commented on how well she was behaving.
Too tired to misbehave.
I wanted to proclaim, “This is the puppy I know, not that monster from before. She is a good puppy, I swear she is.” I wanted to cry. Puppy Kindergarten was hard. It was really, really hard.
This class helped me realize that my initial two weeks with Lucy had turned me into a neurotic mess. My desperate need to make certain she is well behaved and the dog everyone loves gave me occasional bouts of vertigo.
As I write this, she is quietly chewing a rawhide bone on the rug in my office. She has had two walks today. She has met people on the street and exhibited great affection towards them. She has been played with and loved.
Serenity
She is perfect right now.
She will be perfect as she grows older.
I need to calm the hell down.
It Happened at Purity 
Your tale is delightful, hilarious, woeful and so well-documented! I am impressed. With both of you! Ye Olde School Yard ain’t what it used to be. Apparently, parenting a puppy is still what IT used to be. How we forget! Thanks for sharing…..you tell a great story, Kate!
Thank you Angie.
I am good with daily processes. I am good with daily processes. I am . . . .
Well done AGAIN, Miss Kate! Laughed out loud and felt your pain and shame! I relate it to training or attempting to train our children AND grandchildren!! I’ll do my best to stop by this weekend and give the little imp some play time! Her coloring with that ‘gray’ eye makes her look even more mischievous–kind of like a little pirate puppy!! I look forward to many more Lucy Blogs!!
Miss Lucy looks forward to your visit. Stop by any time! Except tomorrow morning as we’ll be back in Puppy Kindergarten.
Oh My Goodness – Maybe Ms. Lucy was just on hyper excitement with all those puppies – do not give it and get back in there!!! Happy Weekend:)
I will go back. I will go back. I will go back. This is today’s mantra.
in one sentence, I think you really just taught me a valuable life lesson here that I really needed to “get”.
Our dog that passed 2 yrs ago was a pure breed Yellow Lab (pup, still) and I find myself always prepping the conversation now, a bit critically towards our new dog, a rescued shelter “mutt”, because she likes to protect her yard, barks, and sometimes a little crazy in the energy bursts department, but she loves her kids. She loves her family. She welcomes friends. You just made me realize I need to quit apologizing to others ( and myself) that she is not the former (gold breed) dog we once had. So, I guess she’s a Geo, but… she is actually running better & better every day .;)
I was stunned to realize I had been thinking that way. Ever since that realization, I look at Lucy differently. She is a diamond in the rough. She is beautiful.
As the co-parent of a border collie, a shih tzu, and a
wonderful mutt, I understand this perfectly!
Thanks JoAnne. I think most dog owners can relate.
OMG! I laughed so hard at this. I know from whence you come, my dear. And you write so wonderfully, by the way. I love being on your list. Blessings on your new ‘kid’. XO Deborah
Thanks Deborah!
I love it just like every other one!
And I love you dear Jacob!
Haha! This is a great story. I’m sure Lucy will get better as she attends more classes – there are more classes, right?
Puppy Kindergarten is once a week. This past Saturday was Lucy’s second class and she did MUCH better–I think mainly because I am doing MUCH better at remaining calm. (Also, it helped that there was a new puppy that was behaving badly.)
Excellent rendition of Owner Training of new baby and Lucy has become your baby…by the way a 20 year old Geo is not necessarily a piece of junk, it’s a collector’s treasure. Good blog.
Somehow I knew you’d pick up on the Geo reference. HA!
Robert and I laughed so hard! We LOVE watching Cesar — and don’t even have a dog! But we know what’s wrong with everyone’s. HA! Good luck. You’re a great mom ’cause you understand children are there to humiliate us. Lucy is lucky to have you.
Thanks Katy!
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