PUPPY BOOT CAMP
82
When moving to Spain in May 2008, my plan was “NO animals” so I would be free to travel the world and see my brother in Australia once a year. So here I am in August 2012 with seven animals and a 6ft 8 “pet” drag queen.
Until last July my four cats and three dogs were free to roam 7000sqm of land in the campo but now I live in a bungalow near the sea with a small garden the dogs need taking out for their exercise. This seemed like an easy task until I put their new leads on them and set off for the mountain. Within minutes I was in a big knot on the floor, of dogs and me, as they had no idea how to walk on them! Eventually untangled and on my feet we set off again and all was well until we met another dog walker.
My three who are 21kgs, 23kgs and 45kgs all went ballistic, thinking we were on their land and this was an imposter. Three broken nails later, a grazed knee and a red face from effort and embarrassment, I had them under control enough for the man to pass. At that point I decided they needed some proper training and started the hunt on Facebook.
I found “Dave the Dogman” who highly recommended Gary Joynson at Calahonda Pet Dog School. I agreed to take Foxy-Poxy, the ever increasing giant 45kg puppy to training first and off went the next Sunday. Foxy instantly took to Gary, but thought the lesson was one big game at first, so while all the other beautifully trained dogs in the class followed their commands, Foxy thought she had to leap in the air, doing 360 pirouettes, slipping her collar and pounding round the other dogs trying to play.
However by the end of the lesson Gary had weaved his magic and she was already walking on my left and sitting when told. As the weeks passed Foxy provided much amusement for all as she looks like a combination of Bambi on ice and Scooby Doo and does not realise she is so big. She was still running full pelt at Gary on arrival, launching herself at him from six feet away and trying and jump in his arms! However she soon learnt that “WAIT” does not mean fling yourself on your back with your legs in the air, but actually to stay still, in the position of sit or down until I went back to her or called her to me.