Ahh!

[Kowai]

Thanks so much guys!! You've all made me feel much better

Omg bloody staffords is right! Zach and I are from Northern NSW, so I think he misses the warmer weather! While he didn't want to work in the heat, he sure did want to sunbake and roll around!

I havent seen him have a good roll around like that for ages! Even though I was mortified at the time! Atleast the women I was next to took it really well that Zach disturbed their dogs. Luckily though their dogs did rock-solid stays dispite Zach's gallavanting I had no idea whether I had to go back and grab him or not or leave him... The judge eventually told me to go back and grab him though thankfully

I wish the day had've been normal or atleast slightly cool.. Not too cold though, Zach also doesn't like cold weather! If the grounds too cool he wont do his drops Aww his poor tum!

Dogdude if your idea works you'll have to let me know!

Actually I'm reminded of a training session a few weeks back which made me nervous for the trial It was another really hot day and we were doing our drop stays.. Oh it was just so nice and warm out there that Zach just put his head down on his paws and I -swear- he fell asleep!!

[Gamby]

Gamby, sent you PM, let me know if you didn't get it as it isn't in my sent item's box AAAGH!

Hi Arya

I'm reading through it now and you are spot on with what you said.

Back to the drawing board this week.

[Gamby]

Well we haven't done anything since Werribee's trial.

I haven't rewarded Gambit for any thing only a cuddle if he did any part of an exercise by himself

Today was promotion day at GODC and I asked the judge if I could try somenting by taking food into the ring with me and I understand that Gambit would be disqualified. The judge agreed and into the ring we went.

He only lost 5 points from his heeling out of all the exercises.

I got him to do the dumbell retrieve instead of the change of position, which he did perfectly.

The judge was amazed at how well Gambit worked as he had never seen him at his best. By the way he wasn't fed in the ring I only held the food in my left hand.

After the class had finished I went back into the ring without food this time with the same judge. Well, Gambit lagged and came around to my right hand side.

The judge couldn't believe the difference in him with and without food.

Suggestions again please would be very much appreciated.

Just to clarify my training I will not work him on a correction collar.

A very frustrated handler of a brilliant Obedience dog as long as I have food in my hand.

Gamby, sent you PM, let me know if you didn't get it as it isn't in my sent item's box AAAGH!

Hi Arya

I'm reading through it now and you are spot on with what you said.

Back to the drawing board this week.

[helen]

I did some work with this with Bella ages ago after the first Gina O'Keefe seminar here.

Went back to beginning using clicker and a few steps at a time, but never using food as a lure only as a reward. The food was sometimes in my pocket, sometimes on the ground outside the ring, it can be hanging from trees or anywhere you can find. das he can already heel it should build up quickly once he starts going without the food. I also added more pats and verbal praise

I am also a great believer in having cabana in my pocket before we go in the ring, doing a quick heeling warm up and by the time you get in the ring there will still be some cabana smell, even if there is no cabana. I still use it as a crutch with Bella for my own piece of mind even though she will work if I don't do this know LOL. After the pups we might even get back to open.

Edited December 2, 2007 by helen

[Gamby]

Went back to beginning using clicker and a few steps at a time, but never using food as a lure only as a reward. The food was sometimes in my pocket, sometimes on the ground outside the ring, it can be hanging from trees or anywhere you can find. das he can already heel it should build up quickly once he starts going without the food. I also added more pats and verbal praise

How far did you go with the steps before rewarding outside the ring?

Did you build up like three sets of 10 steps, 3 sets of 20 steps etc.

Or ran out side the ring to reward after the first good set of heel work?

[helen]

rewarded pretty often and quickly at the start then progressed pretty quickly after that, maybe doing a few patterns with lots of fun praise and patting then feeding after particularly good work. Just work at his pace

Have you ever done zig zag heeling. We did some in Helen's class at BDAG, for me it is a good way to improve heeling as the dog is starting to learn to follow your shoulders and has to watch you more.

Also the other thing that I forgot helped (learnt off Gina) if the dog looses attention, don't encourage dog to watch then reward, simply stop the game and make the dog choose to participate

Edited December 2, 2007 by helen