Leave it!

With big but not very bright dog alongside, I recently went for a ‘refresher’ dog training course near Villereal with the fantastic Polly Anne Lloyd, an animal behaviourist and trainer (www.dog-shrink.com). We first met nearly 3 years ago, after I’d heard good things about Polly and thought Danté - my 5 month old Irish wolfhound - and I could benefit from some training.  The first session was held near Bergerac and, turning up fractionally late, we found that they’d already started. 

Manhandling my oversized puppy out of the car, I clipped his lead on and walked gently down the slope towards the group.  Danté decided this was THE scariest thing and took off at a gallop past everyone, me legging after him, calling out a casual and cool "Hi" to Polly as she watched me being dragged into the distance.  Finally I sat down to join the group in a intelligent conversation about our dogs problems when yet again Danté decided that actually this was an even scarier thing and decided to drag me backwards off my chair then take me for a run down the field.

Anyway, we progressed from randomly running off to learning simple tasks of walking on the lead, ‘sit’, ‘wait’ and ‘stay’. And ‘leave it’ - which involves teaching your dogs to leave things alone – other dogs, cats, cars, postmen, the neighbour’s chickens, Jehovah’s witnesses etc. Polly demonstrated how this worked and how to say the command - gently to start with and, if you aren't getting a response, building up to a booming fishwives’ ‘LEAVE IT’.  I proudly admit I was rather good at this; other more gentle ladies couldn't quite get the tone.  At a later session, I’d brought my son with me and, sitting on the grass playing Pokémon cards and deciding which card to pick up next, Polly shouted ‘LEAVE IT’ – at which leapt to his feet and stood to attention .... just wish Danté had the same reaction.

The classes are always full of a great range of dogs - crazy puppies who escape from their leads then tear round and round, the husband and wife team (where the husband is training the dog while the wife trains the husband), the Jack Russell who is feeling fruity and a selection of rescued dogs with unknown problems.  The owners are great, friendly and openly share their problems, sometimes it is like an AA meeting ....my name is Sarah and my dog hates cows, my name is Tony and my dog ate the postman. Once these problems are out in the open you can see the group relaxing and realising they are on their way to finding a solution.

These classes run year round and are held at various locations, including near Bergerac and Villereal – and well worth enrolling in - even if it is just to learn how to shout "Leave it".