End Game

So tonight I attended group training class sans Chingu.  Trainer Gina suggested it just so I'd have an idea of what I'd be getting into and maybe I wouldn't be so nervous.  Every single session we have she has to remind me to breath and it can be hard to relax.  She said probably the first couple of classes she'd have to handle Chingu just to get him in line because he really feeds off my nervous energy.

Anyways it was very interesting and different handling dogs that aren't chomping at the bit to get at the other dogs, who like to be pet by strangers, and who are generally friendly.  It was like a whole new world and I think will be excellent practice for Chingu.

First all the dogs sat around in a circle, then they all had to do a down and stay.  Then we got up and we walked around the room while the dogs heeled.  Then we sat back down and all the dogs did down.  Then each dog had a chance to weave in and out between the other dogs while the others all stayed in a down.  Then we all just walked back and forth in the room heeling.  Then we played musical owners with us all switching dogs like 5 times.  Then back to the heeling, downs, sits a few more times.  Then we practiced stays and then finally the dogs were allowed to socialize.

I feel that Chingu could handle walking in a circle and sitting and down.  I, however, feel that I'd lose him when dogs started coming to sniff around and there's absolutely zero way we could play musical owners.  Although musical owners might be harder on me than on him.  I know once upon a time at the shelter different people walked him and he did live in two foster homes without any bites so I should give him more credit but its hard to let go.

Anyways it gives us a goal to shoot for.  I think if Chingu could successfully complete a class like that without incident I'd declare him successfully rehabbed.  That wouldn't mean cured or that I wouldn't still have to be vigilant but it would mean I could trust him a bit more.  Now he might not ever get there.  Musical owners is a big reach but who knows, you gotta reach for the stars.  When you start at the bottom you can only go up.

But the important thing I saw tonight is as nice as it was working friendly dogs I really missed Chingu.  Say what you will about him and I know he's scary to some but he's my little guy.  Chingu might not be for everyone but he's definitely for me and while sometimes his training is frustrating and hard I wouldn't trade him for anything.  I love that dog and he loves me.

Today we had a moment.  We've been working on him letting me handle his feet.  He'll usually just let me touch the tops of his feet or he'll very briefly put his paw in my hand (for .5 seconds).  But today he was laying on his chair and I was petting him and he let me keep my hand on his paw and then I tried gently holding it and he let me for a whole 5 minutes!  So we just sat there while I pet him with paw in hand.  It was so sweet and he laid his head down by mine and just closed his eyes.  Its moments like that that make it all worth it.