What a difference a few weeks makes. Lots of biscuit training later the penny (erm dog registration tag) dropped and he started to get the whole sit thing, within days he's figured out "down" and to our astonishment, he even got "stay".
Turns out that Greyhounds like most dogs are poor generalisers, he easily figured the whole sit thing out on a comfy sofa (its what he'd normally do but we added a command and treats), but extending that beyond the comfort of a sofa was one sit too far.
At least until we started to get him comfortable with sitting on the rug, then the floor and then the lawn. since then he's taken to planting his furry butt instantly because he knows he'll be praised or even get a treat.
Eventually obedience class grade out came round. I'd pretty much resigned myself and Bomber to a well earned fail, but then something amazing happened.
He had an irrational urge to be the worlds most obedient greyhound.
First up we were tested on lose lead walking - this is when the dog walks besides you without pulling the lead. Bomber tends to be A.D.D on a lead (or anywhere for that matter), but today he was glued to my side. I'd taken to tickling behind his ear and praising him when he did walk beside me, and it appeared to have paid off.
I was utterly and pleasantly stunned.
Next was sits and downs - Bomber instantly dropped like a stone, planting his behind and giving me an "aren't I good" look.
Once again I was gobsmacked, I gave him a treat, praised him smiling from ear to ear.
He must have heard the smile in my voice because the next grade out exercise was one that I'd been dreading and pretty much knew we'd probably fail on. The dreaded stay.
For grade out he had to sit or stand in the same spot and stay put for at least 10 seconds as I walked away. Trying this at home usually resulted in Bomber going "oh look! [insert distraction here] lets play/run/walk/mooch or do anything but stay put".
Not today. Bomber sat, flopped down on his side and stayed put. Looking perfectly content with his lot in life he was so chilled out he wasn't going budge.
I certainly wasnt complaining and 10 seconds later he's executed the perfect stay. I walked back and praised him, gave him a treat and a cuddle.
Then the instructor said ok lets go for a 20 second stay - I was floored - lightening never strikes twice, would our boy remain flopped out on his side?
40 seconds later (I was so stunned, I actually counted), bomber was still contentedly laying on his side, calmly watching the world pass by. Now I really was speechless
The final grade out exercise was what is called a recall. An instructor would hold his lead and I'd walk 10-15 metres away and call him. If he ran directly to me without stopping enroute to a) sniff another dogs behind, b) play c) take a leak on something and I could catch his collar, he'd pass.
Having woken up expecting to have a puppy school dropout on my hands that afternoon, I was mentally unprepared for how swimmingly it was all going. Now however it all came down to one final exercise. Would Bomber race to me without getting distracted on the way? Could I catch his collar? Or would he just wig out and go for a zoom around the training compound?
It turned out that my worries were completely unfounded. Bomber raced straight up to me, almost bowling me clean over.
He'd passed! I could almost have cried I was so proud of our previously untrainable boy.
Looking back I think several things figure in Bombers decision to be the worlds most obedient Greyhound on obedience pass out day.
1) Bomber loves to please. Praise is his nectar. He mightn't be super food motivated like our other Greyhound, Lottie, but give him a cuddle, a pat and some kind words and he'll move heaven and earth to get similar attention next time
2) Shelly, the trainer. She is awesome. Not only does she really get dogs, she's also amazing with people. Moreover, she uses plain english to explain how it all works so even a complete ignoramus such as yours truly actually got it.
3) Relationship. Bomber is really bonded with me and my wife. We have got to the stage where we can just about read his mind (he seems to almost have telepathy when it comes to figuring out when a walk or dinner is about to materialise). A good relationship equals trust and comfort and we thankfully have that in spades - the classes also really helped it to develop and blossom too.
So are Greyhounds trainable? Yes, they're really smart dogs.
Proud but sleepy and slightly bored Greyhound and his doggie diploma, held by his well trained treat dispenser.
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