Let Sleeping Dogs Lei Obedience Class Holds Hawaiian Night

Ella, a golden retriever in a bikini, is the talk of the class. She rolls over on her back for every dog she meets. “Put her in a bikini and see how she acts,” says one dog owner.

“Yeah, what a floozy,” says another.

Welcome to doggy finishing school Hawaiian-style, where instructor Val Ellingson makes learning fun.

During a recent session at the Family Dog on the South Hill, four-legged students followed the tropical theme by bobbing for milk bones, hanging 20 on little surfboards and jumping through Hula-Hoops.

The gags are used to teach practical behavior, Ellingson says - like teaching dogs to resist a man in a hula skirt strung with sausages and cheese.

“Leave it, leave it, Alex,” Lisa Mackey whispers as she and her dog circle the undulating goodies.

When the lessons are over, off come the bikinis, T-shirts, leashes and sunglasses.

And then Jeb and Kenzie, Q and Wishes, Ella, Alex and Derrick are just another bunch of dogs.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 2 Color photos