Zeeke was really great at OB class today… 75% of the time. He was the only one who held his sit-stay at the end of the long line for almost the entire time. (He got up twice, but sat his ass back down when Den said “EEGGHHH!” . He was heeling like a charm - the other dogs were winding all over, owners yanking on leashes and tripping over them, and Zeeke was trotting along beside Den watching him. He’d get a little ahead and a little behind but a light tug and “Zeeke” reminded him to get back in place. I was very impressed. It was funny, they passed a few other people with miscalcriant dogs and the look Zeeke gave them as they passed was sorta like, “What’s your problem, dude?” LOL He didn’t pull, he didn’t break heel, he just turned his head to watch the whining, barking dog as they passed. Too funny.

Unfortunately the other 25% of the time he was a bit spazzy. See he has issues with patience - he has very little. Him sit-staying for a long time was a miracle, because he usually just can’t seat himself for that long. But at one point he was supposed to be sitting beside Den while the instructor was talking… and it just didn’t work. Zeeke was whimpering and barking and bouncing and moving back and forth and Den was losing his temper. He just gets some beans in him now and then. Oy.

BUT this class, if nothing else, is helping SO MUCH with the patience. The instructor does a lot of talking and explaining and demonstrating, which is great for Den and I, but it also teaches Zeeke that sometimes he just has to sit and wait for us. He’s doing 200% better than he was before.

I decided that OB class will be for Den and Zeeke to practice together. I’m home all day and can practice what I’ve seen at the class, but Den doesn’t get as much practice and I think it’s very very helpful to have the instructor watch and correct him. Many times I see Den doing things a bit wrong but I don’t feel I can correct him cause he gets defensive at me - he doesn’t do it with the instructor. He may THINK it, lol, but he listens and doesn’t say anything. I was so extremely proud watching the two of them walk around in proper form, I think they’ve BOTH learned so much already. I’m very happy that Den agreed to do this and to work with Zeeke.

When Zeeke had to go potty this evening I mistakenly snapped his leash to his normal collar and left, forgetting all about the training collar. But you know what, it didn’t seem to matter. I wouldn’t want to take him in a stressful place (where he’s less likely to listen) without the prong right now, but for walking around the yard he’s just as likely to listen to voice command. He knows “this way” means to come my way, so that’s what I use for casual walks instead of heeling.

Also, in the house now, we’ve changed some more rules: he’s now sleeping IN the crate, locked. He was loose, but yesterday I woke up to a crash and shattering of a glass that had been on the nightstand and Zeeke looking at me like “whoops.” Plus he was eating some paper and cardboard and I said, okay, enough of this, into the crate. Now I can sleep without worrying about something being ripped up. And surprizingly he’s been sleeping very well in his crate, even with the door closed. Even when we’re in a different room he’ll mostly be calm - if he starts throwing a fit I figure something’s wrong, like he has to go out - after that’s been dealt with he’ll settle right back down again. Again, very impressed. I need to get a water dish for his crate, though - I’m afraid of him tipping over the one that’s in there.

Another rule in the house is that he stays in the room we’re in. Since we’re in the office 90% of the time, the door stays shut and he stays in here with us. I went through with a garbage bag and tossed everything on the floor so there’s relatively few things for him to get into anymore (except for what’s on the desks). I threw all his toys in here (they WERE in here, he keeps moving them, who knows where they went now), so it’s not like he has nothing to do. I usually keep his PB ball around for him, and he has his jolly ball which he loves tossing around and chewing on the rope. Tonight he was laying on the floor on his side, pulling the jolly ball back and forth and chewing on it, lol. It was so cute, but he always moves when I grab the camera.

So, today is progress. Days like this make me forget the terror days. I’m hoping as time goes on the good days outnumber the bad ones by a bigger and bigger margin.