Dreaming an Impossible Dream???

During this past Saturday’s class, we practiced two new commands:  “Come” and “Stay”.

Keep in mind that Kitty still has not yet mastered any of the other commands we’ve gone over so far.  So, how in the heck am I supposed to expect her to graduate from this class?  Is there even a graduation?  All I know is that there is another level of classes that come after this one.  The class she is enrolled in now is BEGINNER level.  Will Kitty make it to INTERMEDIATE level???

Oh, dear… I feel like her failures are MY fault.  I know I should spend more time going over the commands with her.  I need to get on the ball.  I really do…

Well, tonight I made a vow to get more serious about her training.   I need to implement more than one training session a day.  So, I tried reviewing the “Leave it” command, and then worked on the “Stay” command a bit.  I think it is safe to say that Kitty is as A.D.D. as I am.  And she gets confused easily…  Hmmm… Yup.  I would say she is definitely my dog.

I’ve noticed that none of the commands really work unless she sees me with a treat in my hand.  That’s when she will “perform” for a couple of minutes.  However, if I try to use the same command just minutes after I’ve gone over a lesson, it doesn’t work.  She will not come when called.  She will not sit when asked.  She will not “leave it” alone… whatever it is.  As for the clicker, she still looks at me like, “What the heck is that?” whenever I take it out.

I am hoping that with time, she will become an obedient dog.  My ultimate dream is to get her trained well enough so that she can become a therapy dog.  I would love to have her do volunteer work for children and elderly people who may need their spirits lifted.  But in order to ever get to that level, she must first learn to sit, stay, and leave things alone. 

I happened to see a movie called Julie & Julia, where a lady decided to blog about a year long project she had cooking her way through Julia Child’s cookbook.  I’ve thought of writing my own one-year project blog, but it seems that the few ideas I’ve had to write about have already been taken. 

But right now I am thinking I may have found a topic.  I just don’t know if it’s possible to achieve such a high aspiration.  Would I be setting myself (and Kitty) up for failure by even suggesting it?  (Especially, after I now know that I’ve got my work cut out for me?)  Would one year even be enough time?  

Well, let me first say what it is… Within a year from now, I would like for Kitty to be trained enough to do volunteer work for children’s literacy programs and/or to visit elderly people in nursing homes to lift their spirits. 

What worries me is that I read a quote on one of the “service dog” sites that said a service dog is not MADE; it is BORN. 

I can’t help but wonder if I am wasting my time even trying?  Is that a poor attitude to have?  I wouldn’t have that sentiment if it weren’t for the site having that statement on it.  Does anybody out there know anything about dog training or whether dogs can be changed to serve the public if they have trouble obeying simple commands in a beginner training class?

More than that, is it possible for a person who has never owned a pet before, and who has no discipline in her own life to succeed in training a dog with a mind of her own?

Anyone have any feedback on this?  Anyone???  Anyone???