New posting days: Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

Saturday

Isis has been a calm, happy dog for the past three days. But, I wonder, what will happen at dog school today? Will The Hairy One work? Will she be on her best behaviour or will she rage and spin?

Well, she behaves beautifully, sitting in her bed next to me and now and again making gentle little forays towards the door. No panics, no twirls or spins. But she won’t join in the training. That’s OK. I think she is doing very well just to be  OK in such a busy place. We will work on catwalking at home this week.

Training. We have our ups and downs. Mostly ups. She enjoys  using her brain and loves her rewards.

She now does her sits and downs at the drop of a hat. She is also impressing me by doing short ‘stays’. I attempt to teach her ‘wait’. The waiting part is fine but when I try to recall her, she won’t move. On Wednesday evening, for the first time during any home training sessions, she flies into an angry spin, biting her foot and making it bleed. Oh no. I reach for the Sudocrem and begin to massage it gently between her toes. Nyaff! She bites my finger. I roar. Instantly she stops. I continue to apply the Sodocrem.

A few days ago, I foolishly wrote, “For I have learned that she does not want to bite me.” Do I hear a canine snigger?

She remains irritable and growly for the rest of the day. And I have no idea why. Until I think about the training. She had learned to stay. I was insisting that she come to me. I confused her and I think she was frustrated.

Poor Isis. I will work on the ‘come’ in the park with the new thirty foot lead and the Acme whistle.

Isis came from the Aeza cat and dog rescue and adoption centre in Aljezur, Portugal. For information about adopting an animal from the centre, contact kerry@aeza.org or  www.dogwatchuk.com