Took both Tucker and Doc out to an
ATTS test being hosted by the Greater Baltimore Akita Club yesterday. I signed them up a month ago. A few days ago, I opened an umbrella in the house, without even imagining it would scare Tucker, but he bolted from it and even though I have left it lying around the house so he could see it and learn that it was not "scary," he walked a very wide arc around it all week.
I came within centimeters of withdrawing him from the test because why pay $25 for a failed test? But Rob and a few other people convinced me that it was dumb to withdraw him, just give him a chance. So I did.
And the little brat passed with flying colors and "superior" marks in all categories, including the dreaded umbrella test. I was shocked. The umbrella opened and he made a barely imperceptible "surprise" face, then ran right up to it, sniffed it, and then greeted the umbrella holder for some attention. I was floored. And thrilled! So Tucker got good marks for the "pit bull mixes."
And Doc . . . oh Doc. He also got superior marks on everything EXCEPT the "threat" part of the test. And he got extra-low grades there because on his form I noted that he is training in schutzhund. They felt he should have squared off against the scary stranger. But Doc just looked at him, contemplated him for a moment, then disregarded him and sniffed the tree rather than protect himself or me. Sigh. All I can think is that he knew it was not a threatening situation, whether an oddly dressed person rushes us with a bullwhip hitting the ground or not. He just didn't care! But the tester told me that Doc was a stellar example of the pit bull temperament in general and exemplified the "sound mind in a sound body" concept that the
ATTS likes to see. I was proud to hear that.
My UNPROUD moment, though, was this one:
Dumbass. Yes, he peed on the umbrella. And Rob captured it in a photo. I'm still so embarrassed. I was sure they'd fail us for that. But apparently they're not looking for manners in this test--just responses to various stimuli. Sigh.