Obedience Class part 2

Well like I knew, she is very very very food motivated and she loves to do stuff with the trainer but not for me. This week we learned to walk with a loose leash and down. She was wonderful with the trainer and did exactly what she was suppose to do. Then I tried. At first it seemed hopeless as we went out into the aisles and she was distracted by all the smells. But once she realized I had food in my hand she was great. I've tried to do the same thing while we are on our walks but I don't have food. I need start carrying treats so we can practice while we walk. Then we got to down. It was the one we had issues with when I tried on my own. So the trainer showed us what to do with her dog and then she tried with Daphne. Well finally there was something she wouldn't do with the trainer. We really worked on it and I just need to really really praise her when she actually does it. I wasn't a huge fan of the fact that the trainer tried forcing her down. She pushed the butt of another dog down when we were learning sit. Not hard or anything but I have always been told/seen that you shouldn't manipulate a dog into a position. So we've been working on it this week and I discovered if I do a modified leg tunnel like Victoria does, she'll go down. Now I just need to work that with the clicker and hopefully she'll get when I say down what she is suppose to do.

Friday I'm going to get her microchipped. The local pound is doing a clinic where it is $20. Can't really pass that up and in case she ever runs away, I know she won't be put down. I've also been slightly clipping her nails one by one. I'm debating whether to get it done professionally or just grow a back bone and stop being so timid when I go to clip them. I do know that we need to at least get her teeth brushed after class this weekend because her breath is disgusting!