Lablover

Having a ready cue ( or whatever you use - snapping the fingers) is basically commanding for focus/ready. Especially useful when owners stop in the middle of training to talk or listen (or become distracted forever reason). Rest , release or free for the same reason. Novice trainers tend to loose concentration but still expect their dogs to sit/stay or whatever by their sides. Not fair on the dog when in training sessions. Dogs read our body language, harnesses, environment, our clothing etc very well. Remember to smile: http://www.imtiredonline.com/smile/

A friend and her partner have 15 Weimaraners. I visit from time to time, and have not noticed them to be particularly vocal or suffering from separation anxiety. SA to my mind, is diagnosed when kennel pacing, toiletting, and other stress signs. Apart from barking, which normally is attention seeking, any other symptoms?

To what level or expertise did you train 1000's of dogs? Training for the dogs and their handlers has taken the form of classes, private lessons, boarding and training, behavioural modification, sales of dogs, personal dog ownership, working for and with breeders and also consulting to private companies. Thus the level of training is dictated by the individual dog and the handlers needs and wants. This has varied from leash walking courses to advanced level very highly proofed off leash obedience, complex skills and hand signals. Whilst I choose not to compete in VCA trials for personal reasons, I have been involved in the training of sporting dogs. I have also worked with scent detection dogs and handlers in a problem solving and training capacity. Im not bragging, Im not the best trainer in the world by any means, but I am proud of the runs that I have on the board. Hope that answer covers it to your satisfaction lablover:) Have a brilliant week. Brad Thanks Brad, I did feel a little bold/rude enquiring. No hunting or retrieving trials, which are my focus and love. Lucky our labs are focused and love the games as well.

To what level or expertise did you train 1000's of dogs?

You must be lumping not rewarding for each required behaviour. I'm not quite sure what you mean again No to the above. The second she sees the dinner bowl, it's almost too much for her to process anything else but that food bowl. She's a fantastic little worker on minimal treats, as long as I don't work her with dinner bowl in sight as her reward for a job well done. The only thing I make her do now with a dinner bowl as reward are sit stays Doesn't sound ideal, but it's ok with me because she works better with minimal stimulus, so I get more out of her training than my other Lab who will only work for food or squeaky toy! It can be a real joy to train a dog who enjoys interacting with you and is motivated just because they want to be there with you, and gets me down when food is the only motivator for the other one! Edit to add: we have tried doing small portions of heelwork or a recall for her dinner, but anything we do ends up a disaster so is not contributing in a positive manner to her training. So I've decided not to train her when she simply won't give her best. We get much better results doing small bits of heelwork and other exercises outside of meal times with a handul of treats, or sometimes without any (at home for the time being where there are no distractions) and then she gets a jackpot I am confused again. If you reward her with food, is the food on your person....to enable rewarding from the carried available supply? Same as using a bowl?

How old is pup? What is submissive in the litter? Frustration barking as mentioned by others can be significant especially when very young. Leant. Watch two dogs, one with a valued reward..the other submissive dog, vocalises. Regardless barking is a behaviour to do not wish to encourage....so............................................. .train........reward for correct responses.

You must be lumping not rewarding for each required behaviour. If you put her food dish down, with a little dinner, do you ask her to heel, then release? If you put her food dish down, with a little dinner, do you ask her to sit, then release? etc etc etc etc.

One who reads (as dogs don't lie -trust what we see) - to teach dogs to their/owners full potential or criteria. Training advertisements are usually for pet owners, not (just to throw in another spin) guide dogs for the disabled, quarantine, search, or others. Are these trainers, qualified?

Oops. Sorry Erny when we were discussing ADT training expertise years ago(and the significance of NDTF's qualification), I must have misunderstood. Remind me, where do NDTF trainees and graduates gain practical experience?

I think depends on the level you wish to obtain with your dog. I have much rather a highly motivated dumb dog. Mind you feel a bit awkward discussing dumb dogs, as each of us has varied opinions in what is considered dumb or intelligent. More often than not, we base our inteligence tests in human terms.

I should imagine the closure will have serious implications for NDTF due to the options for practical experience of students or graduates? In the long run, maybe practical experience may benefit rescue or pound dogs????

Thus my experience with our first labrador. She achieved CDX. At the time I was .....quite.....happy, but after owing a further labrador who at 7 months being in the run off for best in trial, realised .......concentrate on dogs with high innate motivation/drive. Yet another reason why police etc...require dogs with a strong retrieving drive (and great temperament). Also health!

Thankyou for the ideas. Decided on a photo, where 2 pups are chasing each other tails. Would add photo to topic, but since installing our new computer, have had no success. Being a computer dunce does not help!

Looks good. Mine look silly standing from a drop....like jacks in a box.

I often wish my dogs could drive ME to training. At least they are easier to transport than horses. Fit in the house better too!!

Hey, being married to a physicist would make your suggestion quite easy. Swaying more on a fun photo. Vague eh? But not a dog jumping in water etc.

Hey, I am normally the one who has confusing threads.

FHRD, Please tell. What are dominance exercises?

My favourite training photo, is one of labrador's with a Rubik's cube in its mouth. I need another for the back of my training log, any ideas?

From time to time I think about returning to intermittent obedience trials. As I have concentrated on retriever training and trialling, stand has never been taught. They have the sitting response/habit well entrenched. I found teaching stand pretty frustrating as a result, with my older dogs. I found teaching stand easier when having them at a sit and luring the stand with moving the reward upwards and slightly forward. Reward when standing still...otherwise you may like I have, dogs jumping to a stand. Looks great..but rather silly.

- If not Ob Ch, how far did you get in obedience trialling with your first ever obedience dog? How long did it take you to get there? CDX with labrador. Taught me not to try to make a silk purse from a cows ear. Wonderful pet. Duck hunting she loved. Low level desire. I do believe if we watch our dogs, simply watch, you can see traits you like. Some may call what I like..... manic though. - Are you still competing with your first trialling dog? No. - Did you ever get so disheartened with training and felt like you were going nowhere, that you gave up for a while (or permanently)? Not so much gave up, but with a hard mouth dog....it was tough for a while. Learnt a lot from the problem though!! So in hindsight really happy the problem reared its ugly head.

And smell, eh LL? Nothing like a ripe bird for everyone to keep a polite distance from me at the Easter trials Love chicken mince as a training treat (especially lovely when you're still finding it under your nails the next day ) and tinned tuna....however the latter is ridiculously difficult to handle so I use it in jackpot containers instead. Ripe bird ha. At least we showered every day. Bush camping on the otherhand. I agree with the fingernails. Washing clothing is important after wiping mince off hands for hours. The things we do!!!! I was raised by European parents. Anyone else smelt blown herrings?. Enough to need desensation/flooding for life.

Depending on the reason for food rewards, I have found mince steak useful. A couple of times visited country stores with blood dripping down my white handling shirt, as the large lumps of mince have bled from my top pocket. Oh well, dogs more important than how I look. LOL

Be consistent - hopefully consistently good. Try not to give commands you cannot re enforce. Some pups think their names are NO! Generalise commands or cues. Do not rehearse unwanted behaviour. Without focus you have nothing - train on flat areas of course. Train yourself in a mirror without the pup/dog. Do not speak sentences. Dogs are expert body readers. Pups are like little sponges... but short successful training sessions are best. Learn pups quit time, so in the next training session, you can stop before pup tires. Keep him safe from becoming frightened. Trust what you see when observing your dog If in doubt while training, stop .... have a little drink or chocolate, while contemplating your next best course of action. Make training FUN or game like. What else - Ummmmm lots.

By crickey.