Johann showed off a boxer burn at class....

[johann]

We're doing a advanced rally class right now that involves a lot of off-leash work. I've wimped out so far and have just let his leash drag but not actually unhooked it from him.

He had been so good tonight, we worked on group down stays/distraction heeling, etc. Very hard mental stuff and I could tell he was tired. Finally we went back to doing the course. Trainer told me to try him off leash (shut the ring gate) and use lots of treats to keep him with me.

I unhook the leash, he watches me hand the leash to the trainer and gets a crazy gleam in his eye. Looks at me, looks at the leash in the trainer's hand........and he was off. The station signs are held up by small pieces of PVC pipe, the perfect size for a crazy boxer's mouth.

He grabs the first sign holder that he sees and then burns around the room. Around, and around and around and around. I tried to get his attention by running/throwing treats/etc. No luck. Randomly stopping to jackhammer and growl at the trainer trying to get her to play. We eventually (about 5 minutes later) caught him. :p Such a complete doofus. : We retried with the leash attached but dragging and he was great. I know what to work on...

 

[Lizzie]

That really made me smile That 'gleam in the eye' is such a giveaway - you know something's gonna happen and it usually does! I bet he made everyone laugh though!

 

[CoraBoxer]

Lol thats awesome =) Was the trainer convinced? haha

 

[samsons]

That really made me smile That 'gleam in the eye' is such a giveaway - you know something's gonna happen and it usually does! I bet he made everyone laugh though!

YUPE he did !! i am STILL laughing !!!! what silly kids we have !

 

[MKAD]

That really made me smile That 'gleam in the eye' is such a giveaway - you know something's gonna happen and it usually does! I bet he made everyone laugh though!

No doubt!!! I love it when Sam does that; I know it's showtime.
Thanks for sharing; that is a great story!
Mary

 

[larrygs]

Thanks for sharing, really made my day! Yes we all know that gleam, and what a boxer burn looks like. And they are very aware about things, like the leash. Got to love it, so very funny!

 

[sueco]

Great story! Our puppy does that whenever she is in the back yard.. Glad to know there is a name for it!

 

[johann]

Yup, as soon as I saw the gleam in his eye I knew I was doomed.

He provided some serious laughs to me, the trainer, and the classmates. Trainer said her am staff did something very similar at their first trial....minus the growling and stealing sign holders.

This, however, is why we only entered into the on-leash level of rally for our trial in July.

 

[NateBazooka]

I unhook the leash, he watches me hand the leash to the trainer and gets a crazy gleam in his eye. Looks at me, looks at the leash in the trainer's hand........and he was off.

Your boxer is smarter than mine. I've been working on transitioning from the Gentle Leader to just his flat buckle collar when on walks (he does fine at my side 99% of the time, but if he sees another boxer oh man.. I've gotta dig my heels in). I'll be walking him using the gentle leader, and I'll stop, grab his collar, unhook the leash from the gentle leader and switch it to the collar.... but every now and then he's too excited about the leash being off the leader to realize that it is *now* attached to the collar, and attempts an ill-fated burn.

 

[johann]

Your boxer is smarter than mine. I've been working on transitioning from the Gentle Leader to just his flat buckle collar when on walks (he does fine at my side 99% of the time, but if he sees another boxer oh man.. I've gotta dig my heels in). I'll be walking him using the gentle leader, and I'll stop, grab his collar, unhook the leash from the gentle leader and switch it to the collar.... but every now and then he's too excited about the leash being off the leader to realize that it is *now* attached to the collar, and attempts an ill-fated burn.

Poor boy...thinking he's free. Have you tried using 2 leashes (one hooked to the GL and one to the regular collar)?

Gotta love on leash boxer burns.....