by Tekla Stolberg
(Esko, MN, U.S.)
Einstein and I at a campfire ( he is really white, but the fire makes him look gold)
Can't do tricks? It's okay, he's cute enough for a treat. :)
Comments for Einstein's Progress in Agility
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by Tekla Stolberg
(Esko, MN, U.S)
Einstein is my three year old Bichon mix. We got him from the shelter when he was one. Einstein had originally been taken out of the shelter before to be trained to be a service dog, but he failed due to lack of an ability to focus. He was then put back into the shelter at the age of one and was going to be put down because he was labeled untrainable.
One day I went to the shelter looking for my missing cat and my brother decided to go look at the dogs. While he was there he found a dog that looked a lot like a dog my mom used to have (Winnie the Poodle). So we decided to get him. The poor thing was all matted up and miserable.
I may not have found my cat, but I made a new best friend. Now Einstein is going on four years old and in the three years that I have had him I have trained him to sit, stay, and come ( even though he doesn't always listen). Currently I am attempting to train him in dog agility. It wouldn't be fair to judge how he is doing at it since we just started, but I believe we can do it. Last year at the third annual mutt strut, they had a miniature agility course set up and Einstein and I astounded all the people at the shelter by completing the course the fastest. That is when I got the idea to do agility with him. Due to the winter and lack of agility equipment ( because my last set was wiped out with last year's flood) I have been unable to really start any training. Now we have just started the a-frame and I can't wait to see how it goes. I personally couldn't have asked for a better dog.
One morning I woke up and saw Einstein laying on his back with his head on the pillow next to me. He was just looking at me and smiling. This morning was particularly special to me because he never did it again. I am not going to say that dogs from the shelter are perfect, but I think everyone should try adopting. It will be a wonderful journey.
Tekla, what a heartwarming story! As your title says, persistence is key to training a dog - especially one that has been labeled "untrainable." As you said, "dogs from the shelter are not perfect" - but very few dogs, no matter their origin, are perfect. Shelter dogs are generally there because of some issue with their behavior. As long as you are realistic and patient, you can do a tremendous amount.
(We were told in an obedience training class that Comet would never be able to be off leash around other dogs or anywhere except an enclosed yard and that proved to be totally false - although he could be challenging, he was very good at lifting our spirits on a daily basis and the most loyal dog we ever had.)
Sorry to hear your agility equipment got wiped out by flooding. Good for you for not giving up. Re training for agility - I have been reading more and more about clicker training and what amazing things can be done with this positive, hands off program.
All the best to you - and please let us know how you and Einstein are doing - we can add it to your page!
Jo
Comments for Persistence does pay off in the end
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