I'm a Smart Dog

Mommy and Daddy took me to two obedience classes and my human-sister even came along a couple of times. I know lots of commands now! Here's the list:

1. Guard (I growl, but my wagging tail gives me away as a nice puppy!)
2. Drop it
3. Get in (the car)
4. Come
5. Sit
6. Down (I lay down.)
7. Stand
8. Stay (I can do this while I sit, stand, or lay down.)
9. Speak (I try to bark quietly.)
10. Shhh!/Hush!
11. Shake
12. Heel
13. Wait
14. Up
15. Off (They use this when I put my paws on the counter or on a guest.)
16. Touch
17. Out(side) (Sometimes I go in my human-sister's room. She doesn't like that.)
18. Inside
19. Leave it
20. Bow to the queen (Mommy thinks this one is pretty funny.)
21. Daddy's home (I greet Daddy like he's the king!)
22. Around (This is a version of "finish".)
23. Halt
24. Tunnel (There used to be a tunnel at the dog park in Maryland.)
25. Crawl (My human-sister taught me this one because I used to get stuck under the coffee table.)
26. Beg
27. Go to bed/crate
28. One paw, two paw (We are still working on this one. Mommy is trying to teach me "red paw, blue paw.")

We are also working on commands called "get it" - I think they want me to fetch the newspaper - and a command called "toys away" - for some reason these people don't want to pick up after me!

I learned most of my commands at the puppy kindergarten class at the Charles County Humane Society in Maryland. My teacher was Julie Jacobus. She's really nice and has very yummy treats in her pouch! She even came to my house once to help Mommy get me ready for our move to Utah.

Once we moved to Utah, Mommy took me to a training class with the Golden Spike Dog Obedience Club. I learned some more commands and had to practice my old commands too. Now I know so much and am getting to be a good dog even off-leash. Mommy wants me to practice even more to get something called a Canine Good Citizen certificate. Geez. This is hard work. It's more fun to have recess with the other dogs than it is to go to class.

Besides, I know so many commands and my humans only know a couple. When I ring the bell they let me out to go potty. When I shove my nose under Daddy's arm he pets me. When I bring my family a toy they play with me. Other than that, they don't understand what I'm trying to tell them most of the time. Mommy just has to guess if I'm hungry, thirsty, or if I want her to turn on the light in the bedroom. If you ask me, I'm the smart one in the house!