I may have missed it in the thread, but did you take her to the petsmart class? I was in there the other day and took a look at them. Anyway...about the treats since that was the original thread! Since I know where you live in TN:D have you gone over to Just Dogs! Gourmet to check out their treats? They've got several kinds of treats. Sophie likes the carob cookies and the peanut butter ones. You might try those with her. Also, have you tried cheerio's? Sophie loves those, too!

I didn't know about that gourmet store but I think I saw it the other day when we were out and about. I wondered exactly what it was. I'll have to check it out.

Now about the class...

We did take her to that first class where I felt she was "labeled" ... oh boy, it's so hard not to fall back into human jargon.

Anyway, the way life happened (or the planets aligned...LOL) we haven't been back. The first week after the fiasco (second class meeting) my husband and I both had a low grade fever. Nothing serious...just seasonal sinus problems but with everyone being cautious about flu, etc. I didn't think it was a neighborly thing for us to do to go to class even though I was 99% sure we weren't contagious.

Then last week (third class meeting) I laid down in mid-afternoon because I was a bit queasy and didn't wake up until after 7. (Class was at 5...eek) My husband said I needed the sleep more than the class. I am embarrassed a bit about that one because I didn't even give the instructor the courtesy of a call (since I didn't mean to sleep through the class).

Now I'm at a point where I just wrote off the experience for the time being because I have gotten so flustered and embarrassed at missing so many classes. It's not really the instructor's fault although I do admit I did get my feathers ruffled that Taffy was (for the most part) ignored and "labeled" just because she didn't fit the normal dog mold at that first class meeting.

LOL... Kristy, guess you could say I'm homeschooling her for the time being... LOL

Now that I've read that the restaurant by the PetSmart burned to the ground, I'm pretty convinced that we won't be returning for the rest of the classes. This is not a reflection on the instructor nor the store but I wouldn't be able to be that close to the burned out structure and see it/smell it without it causing the nightmare memories of when our house burned a few years ago.

I know that's way more information than you probably wanted but I didn't want to badmouth the classes per se. I just think our dog is exceptionally smart and I know she is exceptionally stubborn so the classes just weren't what she needed. To have tried to make her fit the instructor's model would not have (in my opinion right now at least) increased her training.

I can't seem to gracefully get out of this post...LOL. (Personally I think there was a pre-conceived notion that Yorkies were "difficult" before the instructor ever got to know our Taffy. What I call the "cookie cutter approach" is not what I consider good teaching for children....or dogs.)

Now I really will bow out...gracefully or not

This has been a very interesting thread. Of course, Toy, your posts are always interesting, but I've enjoyed reading everyone else's too. My Samantha is six now. We live in Egypt and until she was 3 there was no training for pets here - only for police dogs and she needed no encouragement to think she's bigger than she is! ;) I read a lot and tried different things, but the thing that worked best with her was to work WITH her.

She didn't like her food bowl, but liked to eat out of the dust pan, so she got her own dust pan which was treated like a bowl and there was no more kibble all over the floor. She has glass and china bowls now, which she likes. She also taught me her routine for my leaving the house. One day she went and got on the couch and waited for her treat. The next time I said "Samantha get on your couch" and off she went. My housekeeper was stunned! That was four years ago and now she will go to the couch when I start putting on my jewelry or my shoes. She will do this no matter what lovely distractions there may be. However, if I leave out any of our parting conversation, particularly saying goodbye as I close the door, I hear her complaining as I go down in the elevator!

There's some very interesting work going on at Duke about canine cognition. This link also links to the story in Time Magazine about this project. Brian Hare Explores Canine Cognition | Duke Institute for Brain Sciences | Brain Research

Thank you so much for the link to the article. I really enjoyed reading it and find it quite plausible. I'm going to be quite interested in what this research uncovers. Thanks again for sharing.

Sometimes a dog is too overwhlemed to take any food. When we take our Buddy in the car, he will not accept a treat at the gas station, coffey house, or pet store. He is just too excited to care. I wouldn't think it is the treat you have selected, and more the excitement your girl has when she is at a new place with a bunch of other smells and other dogs. I would imagine the course takes a few weeks. Maybe she just needs to acclimate? But then again...I don't know much. Just a theory...

chester loves the wellness lamb and salmon soft treats, and he loves the solid gold turkey jerkey treats, both good with no bad stuff in them

Have you thought about getting a trainer to come to your house? We did that for Buster and I want to do it for Maggie after the first of the year. I had a friend that took her Yorkie to PetsMart for training and they asked her to not bring her back. I think they should offer separate training for small dogs. Buster and Maggie have their favorite treats and will turn their nose up at certain treats. I think they get bored with their treats so I'm always looking for something new, but if I would just let them have the treats they like, I could probably save a lot of money....:D

great minds think alike
 

:)My little girl is the same way... She is not interested in treats either. We went to puppy classes and she took the treat maybe three times then refused them. She seemed to like the praising and loving more than the treats. My trainer said she had never seen a pup refuse the treat for praise, but she thrives on it. We are now in intermediate classes and I still haven't found a soft treat she likes. So we just praise her and she is great. Keep trying, but I think your little angel will do great whether for a treat or some loving. Good luck!:aimeeyork

I completely understand! I have considered taking Sophie there but probably won't. And I don't blame you for not wanting to go back after Longhorn burned. I understand the bringing back memories.

Oh, and the dog bakery is there next to Starbucks if I didn't say it earlier. They are really nice. Good luck!