“Dog School” by me Alfie ( helped a bit by my owner Anna Rowley)
My name is Alfie and I’m nearly 2yrs old
(that’s 14 in dog years!). I am however, still developing mentally (not a
problem – I’m quite well balanced) and physically (more of a problem – I’m a St
Bernard and currently tip the scales at 75kg!). I’m going to keep growing for a
while and expect to end up around 95kg – Mummy says I’m pretty much a small
donkey already (how rude)!
I went to live with Mummy and Daddy at
eight weeks old. They had spent the previous six months researching and
preparing for life with a large breed dog as it’s no mean feat taking on a big
chap like me. They had to ready themselves for the elephant-sized poos, the
exuberance of a giant puppy and lots and lots of dog hair – we have gone through
three hoovers in a year! Plus, because I’m so strong, they had to make a
commitment to weight-lifting just so they know they can hold me firm when 75kg
of dog wants to go in one direction and they want to go in another.
I spent my first few months getting to know
Mummy and Daddy, their family, friends and their children, other dogs, the
general public and pretty much being exposed to every experience they could
open up to me. I’ve been in coffee shops, the post office, the gym, I’ve sat
through rugby matches, live outdoor concerts, I’ve walked through the noise and
loud music of the fairground, I’ve been surrounded by large crowds up on the
Hoe watching all sorts of events, and I’ve even sat patiently through fireworks. I now have a very deep faith in
Mummy and Daddy – they always prioritise my needs - so much so that Granny
(known as Aunty Sal as she says she’s too young to be a granny) calls me her
canine grandchild because I am so much a part of the family. All this
integration has paid off – I recently spent time visiting a group of very
frail, elderly people – I knew I had to sit very still and be very gentle as
some were very unsteady on their feet but the residents seemed to really enjoy
my visit, spending a couple of hours with me, and asking if I could come back
on a regular basis.
When I got to six months old, Mummy told me
that I was getting big (nearly 50kg), and she said that big dogs must be
well-behaved dogs, and so with that we set off for Dog School. I absolutely
adore my trainer (and I think she loves me too – sort of – even though I’m
nearly bigger than her!). She not only teaches me stuff but she also shows
Mummy and Daddy how to continue the training themselves – so every day’s a
school day now – as we practice different things for a few minutes each day.
Since joining Dog School I have consolidated on the basics, and am now pretty
good with all sorts of commands, as well as interacting politely with other
dogs and their owners. It has been a steep but fun learning curve, and I have
not only learned commands, but also a respect for Mummy and Daddy. It would be
easy for a big dog to rule the roost in any family but Dog School has helped me
to learn that they are in charge, not me, and this has been an important aspect
of my development.
I’m not perfect yet though – I have been
told I have naughty tendencies occasionally in class (Mummy says it’s
embarrassing when I slobber on other people, or all over the front of her
trousers, or roll on my back with my legs in the air when I’m supposed to be
laying down, or drink all the water in all the dog bowls in the room, but I
think it’s character-building for her and Daddy!).
Mummy and Daddy said that all my
experiences with the general public and my training would prepare me for every
eventuality and that it was important for me to learn how to react calmly to
everything that would come my way. This reaped dividends when I was very ill
recently and had to have several x-rays and scans. The vet said he would have
to sedate me to keep me still as I’m such a large dog but Mummy and Daddy said
I didn’t need that, and they asked me to lay very still for the whole time and
I did - so I didn’t need the sedation – Mummy said she had never been prouder
of me.
In conclusion, Dog School has had a huge
impact on my life. We committed to regular attendances and as a result my I
have matured in my behaviour quite significantly. So much so in fact, that when
Mummy and Daddy got married this summer, it was my privilege to walk the wedding
rings down the aisle! They said I did a wonderful job, walking beautifully up
the aisle to the best man, sitting, handing over the rings, and walking back
down the aisle....it would probably have been nigh-on-perfect if I hadn’t
stopped and done a slow motion headshake towards the back of the church, covering
the last three rows in slobber! No-one’s perfect though eh – all the more
reason to keep going to Dog School!
