Challenges of an 8 Month Old's CGC Test ;o)



Thank You Linda for the photoshoot ;o)

    On a crisp 46 degree "last day of Summer" morning, the girls and I are off at 8am for Willow's 10am "Canine Good Citizen" (CGC) test!
Our 6 weeks of classes have been awesome with teacher-Ann, her "canine assitant Erin" and human assistants Linda & Cathy ... I'm not feeling over confident but feeling that Willow has learned all her lessons well and in fact all 6 dogs in class have shown great improvement ;o)
We got there extra early so we could play in the "Dog Park" and use up any excess energy ... Hah, an 8 month old with excess energy!!!!
On entering the training center, a new full wall mural is being painted on the wall over our class ring, the class movable partitions on wheels are arranged differently, it's unusual that the bustling Puppy Agility class isn't going on, training individuals aren't practicing and "Private" obedience sessions also aren't happening ... WILLOW IS TOTALLY DISTRACTED ... this is not a good sign and I'm beginning to feel my nerves on end :-0
We do some "healing" (walking at my side), for fun we quickly slip thru some Agility tunnels in the ajacent ring and then greet class assistant "Auntie" Linda (Golden owner of Willow's dad & cousins)!
Didn't know that we'd have to fill out a CGC form (darn, I don't have my glasses!)
First 2 dogs pass their test and Willow is next:

• Willow sits calmly at my side on leash at the ring entry ... I smile down at her, give her a lil' ear scratch and a soft "good girl" ... "Are you ready" teacher/evaluator Ann asks?
• "Forward" walk in and "Sit" to greet/shake hands with Ann ... Willow walks right past and no sit on command! 3 tries and she finally sits near me!
• "Forward" and Willow decides to say "Hi" to a poodle now practicing in the neighboring ring ... with much encouragement Willow is once again walking at my side ... we turn right at the big orange cone and continue walking, do an "about-turn" to greet assistant Cathy & dog Erin ... Willow does not sit and proceeds to "wiggle", greet and lick Erin "Oh Erin, so glad to see you" ... again with much encouragement and several retries, Willow finally sits, the handshake happens and we're walking again ...whewwww! I'm really feeling that we've "flunked" our test by now!!!
• Next, it's walk by my side as we pass assistant Linda with a moving cart ... Willow has had this senerio in past weeks and successfully ignored it ... NOT THIS WEEK ... she breaks her walk to examine the cart ... again needing much encouragement (no leash tug allowed) to return to my side and we continue our relaxed walk!
• Next it's move to greet Ann for Willow's "body exam & brushing" and the sit/down/recall on 25 foot leash ... done successfully, whewwww :o)
• Last part of the test is to approach evaluator Ann sitting in a chair, have Willow sit then lay down, hand Ann the leash and I leave the ring "out-of-sight" for 3 minutes (seems like forever!)
• Willow got up after 10 seconds but stood calmly beside Ann's chair ... that's allowed as long as the dog isn't frantic and pulling Ann off her chair!
• "Return to your dog" Ann calls out and the test is over ... "Congratulations on passing your CGC" and we receive our gorgeous Rosette and ex-large dog biscuit ... OMG, I couldn't believe it (our worst performance together in the 7 weeks!!!) ... it felt soooo bad  ;o)
• It's all about the dog being calm, friendly and under control ... I'm sure having just come off a long 3 night 7p-7a work weekend, Willow could sense my fatigue and increasing nervous state of mind!

So those are the happenings during our "CGC" test ... Sighhhhhhh  ;o) 

and next we'll move on to "Intro to Agility" in October ;o)

IT'S ABOUT THE JOURNEY TOGETHER and NOT JUST the FINAL DESTINATION ...

GOOD GIRL WILLOW and LOVING HAPPY 8th MONTH BIRTHDAY :o)