Sooky Dog, Distraction Class?

[JulesP]

Not quite sure what to do about Brock's sookiness. I am in a trial type class at the moment, so no real distraction type stuff. He isn't improving in this class though. i.e. sit stay he nearly dropped when the dog next to him got told off for dropping. He is fine if everything is perfect but I am concerned about being in a trial situation if dogs break. He is also very sooky about SFE and is going backwards if anything.

I could go into a different class were they do all sorts of different exercises, weird stays etc. I've avoided that class as I am worried that it will totally freak him out. Or am I babying him and he just needs to get over it?? Kind of hit a plato here.

[BaaabyFlynn]

have you got something that really jazzes him up - a ball?

I also believe in building a dogs self confidence through exercises where they win

This is no no in general but to build up one dog I would let him win at tug of war ocassionally. from a dog that wouldnt play tug he became a dog that wouldnt let go unless giving a release command

You've hit a plateau - if you had hit Plato he wouldn't be very happy - and you would be a time traveller

I would build his confidence with small victories and stop sooking him when he is scared - just be cool calm and collected

[PAX]

. i.e. sit stay he nearly dropped when the dog next to him got told off for dropping.

There is no way I would do stays with people that told off dogs next to my soft, good dog.

Set it up so he always gets it right and he will get more confidence.

[JulesP]

Nothing really jazzes him up. He plays tug to make me happy, the minute I let go so does he.

In the sit stay I am staying very close and using lots of encouragement. So today when the other dog got told off, I returned to mine gave him some praise and then stepped away again.

He was probably the most bouncy today that he has been, but that was with 2 weeks of no training! Most BC of that age would have been nuts!

[Nekhbet]

I think you need to go backwards a little to come forewards. Dont keep plugging away at the dogs obedience if the dog has confidence issues. I would be working on leadership and desensitising him to other people and dogs before you keep trying and failing. The dog is nervous he is going to do wrong and get told off, you are nervous that your dog is not doing well and you feed each other. Its a downwards spiral. Rock up to obedience one day, and just do for a nice, confident casual walk around. Expect that you are going to walk around and just be there. No pressure on you OR especially the dog. Dont bother with toys and praise unless you see the dog starting to relax or you will be reinforcing his stress, and dont be talking the dog through it. If he calms, 'good boy' and a calm pat. Lead by example until Brock realises that you are not expecting the world from him. My shepherd was an extremely nervous and skittish dog, and I have been letting him just hang around places and people. I havnt even bothered with any formal obedience since I got him, it was too much to expect him to soak in his environment AND comply to formal commands. I do a little when we go out but thats it. He is become so laid back, he has even started ignoring large men, shouting people, trucks passing etc like they werent there and I do some obedience and heavy praise then so all his learning is done at the excitement level I want - calm and cool. Time and patience!