When Chaos was about 10 months old we enrolled him in obedience class. Reggie has gone through the same classes at about the same age and we decided that he, too, would benefit from a refresher course. Wire Fox Terriers typically are not known for their aptitude in obedience so we thought the more times we take the course...the better our chances of having well trained dogs.
Chaos learned very fast. He already knew how to sit and go down on command (especially if there was a food treat involved.) and learning "down stay" wasn't much of a challenge either. But "Chaos Come" well, that was another story entirely.
At the end of the six weeks of classes there was a test that all
the dogs had to complete in order to get their certification of obedience.
The classes were helt in front of a pet store, in the parking lot, with
a busy street behind the class area. This made everyone slightly nervous
for if the dogs were to run loose from their leashes they could be hit by
a car. During the classes you were given demonstrations; practice time and
instruction sheets for home practice. The final test, that every
dog had to complete in order to get their certificate, involved sitting
and stayng at the end of the parking lot. The owner had to put the dog in
the "sit" position; drop the leash (as long a leash as
you wished) and turn and walk back towards the store. There was a trainer
stationed behind the dog to catch the leash if the dog bolted. So there
was lots of tension in the air as each owner went through the test.
Amazingly most dogs sat and stayed or at least got up and followed meekly
behind their owners. Finally it was Reggie's turn. I helt my breath
as he and my husband walked to the end of the pavement. Reggie sat and stayed.
Curtis walked back and called "Reggie Come". Reggie jumped
up and raced to Curtis' feet where he stopped and sat....perfect!
I was so proud. Then it was my turn with Chaos. My heart was pounding. I
said "Chaos Sit" and he sat.
I said Chaos
"Stay" and turned, dropped the leash and walked away. As
I took the long walk back I was praying "please don't let that dog
bolt and run". I knew how unpredictable Wires can be. I slowly turned
and much to my surprise he was still sitting in the exact same spot. I said
"Chaos come" and he jumped up and raced to my side. I was
so happy. Then the instructor complimented us saying "I have Fox Terriers
and I know how hard they are to train...this lady has done a great job
with this dog".
The final test was a contest. Two dogs were paired against each
other; put in the sit/stay position and their owners had to walk back to
the finish line. Then they had to call their dogs and the one to reach the
line first was declared the winner. If the dog moved before his owner called;
he was disqualified. Reggie won his first race and was in the
semi-finals.
Bored Reggie turned his attention to a cute little white dog named
Natasha.
She was all white and furry and petite. Both Reggie and Chaos adored
her. She was their favorite in the entire class. More about this
later...
It was Chaos' turn. I put him in the sit/stay position
and turned and walked back. I was calmer this time and felt sure
he would stay. As I turned I saw that the other dog paired with Chaos had
followed its owner and was disqualified. It was going to be a sure win.
I turned and called "Chaos come"...nothing happened. I
called again...still no response.
I called louder...nothing. He just stared at me with
a bored look in his eye. Soon the entire class as calling "Chaos
come, Chaos come." And then the little devil turned his back to
the class, and stayed that way...refusing to move from his
"sit"
position. I was mordified. It was if he was saying "I've done this
once, you know I can do it, I'm bored so lets stop this game and go
home."
We still had hopes of Reggie winning and he did win in the next two
contests.
Then came the next to the last before the finals. A real quick little black
and white dog was paired against him. It would be tough to beat this dog.
But amazingly this dog got up and followed his master back to the finish
line. It looked like we had won. All Reggie had to do was come when
his name was called. "Reggie Come" and he flew down the path
towards Curtis. But victory was not to be...for out of the corner of
his eye he spied little Natasha being wooed by a big shepard. 
Being
a Wire Haired Fox Terrier he was not going to stand for this and he suddenly
moved to the right; flew into the shepard and caused a hugh dog fight.
So much for Wires winning in obedience class.
