Puppy class ... or should that be POOPY class?

No pics with this post ... for obvious reasons. We did take the camera, but ... em ... well let's just say the pics can't be broadcast on the WWW. LOL.

Sweep made some very nice friends, including Lucy the scottie pup and Ciara the irish terrier pup and not forgetting Jack the dalmation pup and the bearded collie pup whose name escapes me. And we met Harvey the corgi on our way home. Harvey was going for the older dogs good citizen class.

First of all we decided it would be me handling Sweep this evening. Simon took a seat on the sidelines with the camera, doing his great impression of a surly teenager. Sweep and I took our place in the circle and when he gave me his attention he got his treat. Now, as you can imagine, one small hound has a limited attention span especially when there's new friends to play with. So that exercise was a non-starter. Then we had to do some dog distraction, and one by one we practiced weaving in and out of the other pups and encouraging Sweep not to play ... or bounce on everyone that was going past him. Again that exercise will take a lot of practice.

However then Sweep decided it was time to pee. Result: one empty puppy and one red-faced Alison! Out came the mob and bucket and, many apologies later, we started our treck round the hall, weaving in and out of the other pups. That is until we got to Lucy, who Sweep decided he would hump. Then came the beardie pup who Sweep barked at, then Jack ..... Sweep couldn't get free to play so he promptly pooped all over the floor instead. So, again another red-face and lots more apologies. We finally got back to our starting position having ignored Ciara for all of a second before lunging at her and creating havoc with knotted leads!

The next exercise was sit and stay. Yeah right! Sit we can do. Stay we cannot do! Stay means Sweep completely ignores me and wanders off in the opposite direction. Recall was impressive though. He was being held by the trainer while I walked away a few steps constantly telling him to stay. Excellent ... until I said, in the most stupid high-pitched tone, 'Sweep, come'. At which point Sweep ignored me and ran off to get to Jack the dally pup again. Ho hum.

Walking to heel was a no-no. Even when being bribed with a million and one treats Sweep doesnt do THAT at all. But while waiting for our turn to go up and down the hall, he found pooping a most appropriate passtime! Purple-face ensued at this point and a quick look at the clock reassured me that there was only 5 minutes to go ... PHEW! Again, for the third time, the mop and bucket appeared.

So, where are the pictures? Well Simon did take a few ..... he thought it was funny to catch Sweep 'in the act' so to speak. Then again, to a teenager, a poopy puppy is sidesplittingly funny, especially when you see your mother's face turning from pink to red to puce! Now you realise why I havent posted them!

Better luck next week, I guess. And we'll work on the pooping in the meantime.