Bonnie Brat

She may have started out as a sweet little puppy



Don't let this adorable little face fool you



She is spoiled rotten to the core. Pure attitude...



I thought she had a good foundation of obedience. Yesterday was supposed to be her monthly exposure to sheep. Our instructor, Chris, asked me how Bonnie was doing with her obedience. I said "Fantastic! She has a reliable down and stay!"

Yeah, Right...NOT! The Freckled Monster made a liar out of me



Bonnie refused to sit and 'wait' at the gate - darted right through my legs.

I should have turned around and left then. No, in my excitement I thought she would listen to me later. I was W-R-O-N-G

I should have turned around and left when she started leaping into the air, only to be suddenly snapped back like a desperate fish on a line.

I should have turned around and left when she lunged at the sheep and body slammed the fence (she is okay - no injuries).

Chris shook her head and said "No sheep today - we need her to approach the sheep with the right attitude." She then told me my time would be better spent working on her obedience. We needed her to enter the pen with some respect for my authority - because, imagine this...Bonnie obviously thought she was in charge.

*sigh*

Today we went back to Fido's so John could work Beth for a couple hours. I spent my time wisely. Armed with a clicker and a bag of tuna brownies - Bonnie and I worked on remedial training (generalizing & reinforcing the commands regardless of distractions), i.e. Waiting at the gate, releasing on okay, sitting, downs, stays, with distractions etc.

Bonnie has an issue with completely ignoring me when she is stressed or excited. When we got any where near the sheep, Bonnie REFUSED to lie down. She REFUSED to sit. In fact she looked at me with such a defiant little look....(suffice it to say - if she was one of my kids - ooooweeeee...to the MOON).

Bonnie has been forcibly enrolled into Obedience Bootcamp for the next several months.

This little stinker ain't gonna eat nuttin' without working for it.

AH HA! Bonnie Brat...you have met your match!

(Note: I know I created this monster by being lax in training. She is so freaking cute that I let her get away with murder. Now I have to fix what I allowed to happen. *Big sigh* )