obedience

Last week saw the annual Crufts dog show here in the U.K.  I watched in wonder at the various breeds on show and how well trained they were.

Then on my regular visit to Craig y Nos with Dexter last week I saw this level of training first hand and close by as a lady with two exceptionally well behaved young dogs walked perfectly at heel towards us.  As they approached us she stopped, and her dogs attentively and without instruction sat by her side waiting for us to pass on the footway.

Such wonderful behaviour.

Then there was Dexter.  I’m sure all he wanted to do was play with them.  But after finding his way into every patch of mud he could and then jumping onto the owner’s clean jeans I don’t think they were as keen.  Dexter, you see, is not well trained.  He pulls in every direction when on his lead, jumps up on everyone he meets, sits down when he should be walking and runs when he should be sitting down.

But I wouldn’t change him in any way.  When we were in the café, a young girl wanted to say hello to him.  This is always a worry as you don’t know how a dog will react to tiny fingers being poked into his face.  I’ve never had a single concern though.  Dexter, as he has done with every small child he has encountered, simply stood still, lapped up all the affection and then gave it back with interest.  The poor little girl was soaked he’d licked her that much!

And that to me is far more important than him sitting down when he’s told.