I’m almost positive that Mom and Dad’s trainer was trained by a cat.  That is the only logical explanation for the illogical walk we did together in class this week.  It all began with our continuing work in training Mom and Dad to follow my lead while leashed to me.  After barking my concerns at their trainer, he took my leash so we could once again properly show my parents the correct technique.

However, this guy kept randomly changing directions!  I’d be leading him forward, when all of a sudden he’d go backwards.  Curious to see what got his attention, I’d lead the charge in that direction.  He responded by suddenly going in a big circle.  Well that’s just silly!  The last time I went in a random circle during a walk was when I was a puppy and I discovered my tail.  Trying to refocus the easily distracted trainer, I once again assumed leadership and headed in the direction I wanted.  So what does he do?  He suddenly turned right, giving me no choice but to follow him!

Realizing Mom and Dad were watching their trainer’s bad example, I decided to end my lesson and simply walk next to this confused soul.  After all, I didn’t want to teach Mom and Dad the wrong thing.  My presence at his side seemed to calm the trainer, because he kept petting me.  It also built his confidence, because he finally picked a single direction and stopped zig zagging around the room.  However, I can say with the utmost certainty, only a human trained by a cat would be so unfocused as to wander in every direction at once without a specific destination!  A dog always has a purpose no matter which way he walks.

At least I did better than Asa.  The snake was following him!  This past week while I cautiously stayed by Mom’s side as the mysterious lightning fast snake was hissing, Asa continued to charge ahead oblivious to the threat to Dad!  Well not only did the snake follow Asa to class, it scared the trainer!  Ok, I never actually heard the hiss this time, but every so often Mom and Dad’s trainer would let out a random “ACK!”  He must have seen the snake and was trying to warn Asa!  Well it worked, because Asa would immediately stop plowing ahead, and instead would turn to face their trainer to see what was wrong.  Asa never did find the snake.  But on the bright side, the trainer finally stopped walking in random directions like he was doing with me.

Unfortunately though, this class rattled Mom and Dad’s nerves, and left them very confused on their homework for this week.  Mom is now racked by indecision and keeps randomly changing directions during our walks rather than follow my lead.  And Dad, who up until now was the bravest human I’ve ever known, now yells “ACK!” at both real and imaginary foes as Asa tries to lead him onward.  Wish me luck, I certainly have my paws full trying to undo the odd behavior learned in this class!