As for keeping her in obediance classes. I would highly strongly suggest at lest the lst yr you have her. Once she gets going, maybe do along with obediance some agility classes too. Chessie's need to have mental exercise as well as physical. When we in NY Rescue or ACC Rescue East place a dog, espeically if they are 3 & under. We firmely suggest one whole yr. of clases. and we encourage and check to make sure it's being done. You can even if you want down the road put some AKC titles on your dog. Don't need papers, just get an ILP number and you can run almost all AKC performance events. Just can't do Conformation or Field Trials. You can do Obediance,Agility,Rally,Tracking and Hunt Test. So you can have real fun with your dog. Always remember a "Working Chessie is a Happy Chessie & Happy Chessie's don't come into Rescue". Plus the experiance and knowledge you gain in pertisapating in these events it extrememly rewarding and you'll be able to handle any Chessie you get in the future. So plan on a good year at lest and have fun with your dog.

As for "attention training"(that's having your dogs eyes only on you). Set the dog in front of you facing you. Make sure your treats are small,real tiny and very tasty. I use a roll over type treat. Comes in long large susage type rolls. Hot dogs baked in oven till dryed out, cut in tiny pc. is also good. Throw little garlic on them if you want. As the dog sits in front of you. Don't let him move, but he can move his head and look around. Say nothing. But ever time he looks at you. Give him a treat. You' should do this exercise a couple times a day for about 5 min each. quit when the dog won't take his eye's off you with lots of rewards and praise. Do it before meals and make sure he's really hungry. I use this method with my conformation dogs too, only I don't make them sit. This teaches the dog to put his ears up and look right at you. Why it's called "attention training". It is an excersis within it's self. As the dog gets better I start using the command "watch me". The reason I use this is too fold. It's a verbal command, but by using the words "watch me" it has a very strong shhh sound with it. Eventally you can just do a quiet shh and the dogs head will spin around and he'll zero in and watch you. Makes it great in the ring for subble commands you can get by a judge be it obediance or conforamtion. Remember the unltimate in a well trained dog is like dessarge., commands are giving so no one knows. You can always tell a good well trained dog whose had attention training. They are always looking into their owners eyes to see what they should do next. Reading them and responding. My husband had that with his beloved Penny. Even when the cataracts clouded her eye's she'd still search for his face and try and see. She'd use his voice as he spoke sofely to her. It got tougher as the hearing went. But that focus never wavered even if she couldn't see or hear too well. It will truly bring a very strong bond with your dog. So well worth working on. Maybe ask your instructor to give you some one on one either before or after class so you really understand and do it right. But use the term "watch me" trust me it's the best and easiest in the end. Great tool.

As for using the dogs name. NEVER use the dogs name with anything negitive. NO recall than punish for something they'd done. NEVER use the name in a correction. Once the dogs name is known, than only should be used in positive mode. Usually the rule is use the name for motion. Like Fido come,Fido heel. But stationary commands is just the simple command. If the name is used too much, dog becomes to desenitisesd to it. The name can be over used. Keep your commands short, one or two word at the most. Don't go off in full sentances and rampling. Basically what you want is when the name is used, the dog is drivin to check out what Mom or Dad wants cause it's got to be something good. NEVER call your dog than correct it. Always go to the dog, get control than do a corrrection. Thou usually by the time this is done, dog dosen't know what he's being corrected for anyway. Remember dogs have attention span of a snap.

Now for the commands keep them simple, sit, down these are commands that mean, sit your butt and don't move. Lay down and don't move. When a dog jumps up command should be "off" not down. That's a different command. Keep it simple and too the point. A well trained dog shouldn't need a stay command once the sit or down are implamented and done. Stay is a re-inforcement for obedience compation.

As for the re-call. Come is used mostly, but in field training the command "here" is used. Most all our rescue dogs come to here as they get use to it and I do explain it to the new owners.I'm use to using it as because most all my own dogs are field trained to some degree it's just easier to continue on with the other dogs. They learn it real fast.

So keep in class, enjoy your dog and welcome to the wonderful world of obtaining your "Masters Degree" in K-9 behavior threw Brillo But University. Keep your sense of humor helps a lot.

Sandie