Rowdy is the 7th dog I’ve taken through obedience classes. The preceding six include four goldens, one lab, and a greyhound, but at the risk of dropping a few notches in the eyes of family members and friends who consider me the go-to girl for all things canine, I now have to admit that he is the most embarrassing, frustrating, puzzling, humbling of all my trainees. And given that the list of Those Who Came Before Him includes a dog-aggressive lab and a, well, a greyhound, that’s sayin’ something.

Make no mistake, Rowdy is sweet and a quick study, but he’s also overly social and excessively nosy – always ready for a good time and on the lookout for anyone who might be starting the party without him. As such, the group of twenty something puppies exiting the ring as the our “Manners” class enters, awakens his inner party animal, so he bows, jumps, barks and yodels at all potential playmates. The celebration continues as we start the class with a “Walk in the Park”, winding our way through the other dogs while (theoretically) maintaining the heel position and focus on the handler.

We reach the party pinnacle during the Recall exercise, for which we line up along the wall and one at a time, leave our dogs on a “Stay”, cross the mat and call the dog. When it’s our turn, Rowdy races to me enthusiastically, immediately, obediently. Excellent. The not-so-excellent part comes as the dogs on either side of us take their turns. Rowdy’s revved up and primed to run to anyone with a high-pitched happy voice, and if there happens to be another dog in motion at the same time, that’s bonus. It’s also (if you’re Rowdy) call for more bowing, jumping, barking and yodeling.

The good news for all involved is that “our” behavior and our teamwork get better every week. Sure, the bar started a little low when he peed a few times in the ring, once on me (I knelt on the floor before class, he hiked a hind leg to sit in my lap, left the telltale wet mark when he got off) and pooped on the mat during a heeling exercise. Even the crabby lab and the sighthound knew not to poop in the ring; but as I said, we’re improving.

How could we not?

The instructors are incredibly patient and helpful and encouraging, though one has mentioned more than once that sometimes names prove to be self-fulfilling prophecies. Our progress sustains my confidence though, that one day “Rowdy” will be an ironic twist to the tranquility of the golden dog lying on the fleece blanket listening to a kid read.

But just in case, “Stories with Serenity” – a nice ring to it, don’t you think?