Training Talk Thread

[huski]

I train offlead too but I can just imagine Mason running into another ring to greet someone elses dog during a trial, I dont trust him off lead if he can see other dogs!

Don't worry, I never used to be able to let Daisy off leash and never used to be able to get more than a few seconds of focus on her if I was lucky. Mason is still young he will get there - it has taken me 12 solid months of hard work using the method of training we do now to get Daisy to where she is :p

huski have you thought about doing tracking with Daisy - would be fun with a Beagle :p

Yes! Probably not till we're done with obedience though. She would be brilliant at it, she is one of the most scent driven beagles I've met. But it was so easy and so much fun to train her scent discrim I am sure she will love it.

huski - how excitement During stays, I've taught Zig to give me eye contact. It makes him focus on the job at hand instead of looking around and whining at all the lovely dogs he could be playing with When I've trained out of sight (so far) he continues to focus on where I've gone but that's normal for him anyway.

Thanks TSD (and to everyone who asked my question). I tend to look at Daisy in the eyes but I have been curious if it is making her barking during stays (which is sporadic not a regular thing she does every time) worse.

I stare at Jedi's feet! Occasionally I will look at his face just to make sure he's paying attention but I found that if I always looked him in the eye he looked like he was waiting for his next cue! So staring at his feet works for us - he knows he can relax a little. And then I sing my Incy Wincy Spider to myself...

I took your advice re singing incy wincy spider and now I do it all the time

Yep Sweepies has a lower pass score of 150/200. Why QLD is the only state that does this is beyond me but oh well it's not a huge deal!

Just means more experience in the ring for me which can't be a bad thing!! :D :p

[kathq]

Great news Huski, can't wait to hear your results

As I had already guessed, I am struggling with the scent discrim exercise with Polo. He just has not cottoned on to using his nose and is still just grabbing whatever article, regardless of how close another one is or how many are out there (I tried having more options at one stage to see if that would get him thinking). I work through two sets of metal articles in each session. How long do I keep going with this method? Am I teaching him bad habits instead and confusing the exercise? As I previously mentioned, Polo is retrieve mad and has had a lot of training in this area for retrieving trials. He will sit with something in his mouth for a very long time, so I can not just ignore when he retrieves the wrong article. At the moment I am either taking it and saying nothing, or encouraging with movement and voice to go and have another try. At no point is he seeming to use his nose. I know he has a 'good nose', he just hasn't cottoned on to this exercise. Do I persevere with this method longer??

FHRP this link goes to the method I taught Coco with. She is retrieve obsessed and this seems to really work. Hope it helps.

http://www.dogscouts.org/Dog_Activ-_Scent_Discrim.html

[FHRP]

FHRP this link goes to the method I taught Coco with. She is retrieve obsessed and this seems to really work. Hope it helps.

http://www.dogscouts.org/Dog_Activ-_Scent_Discrim.html

Thanks kathq, that's exactly the method I've been using

[FHRP]

So, have dropped the scent work for a few days, although I did discuss it with a friend tonight and may go her 'peanut butter' method if I can't get through with Polo. I took Polo to agility tonight as I'm repsonsible for the Masters class at the moment and Rogan is still out of action so couldn't run him. Was very pleased that Polo did 12 weave poles a couple of times during course changes and some nice handling when we had a little play around I have had a more positive approach to training again in the past week and it shows in Polo's enjoyment level Not that he's ever not excited....

[Tiggy]

FHRP do you find a difference between training your Vizsla and GSP?

[Tiggy]

I found this on another forum. I don't know if it's been posted before.

The Basket Case

Oh darn, I'm dejected, my gosh but I'm sad,

My obedience dog is driving me MAD!

When we practice at home ... why, he works like a

dream,

Puts on a performance that rates high esteem.

His recalls are groovy, he "drops" like a flash,

He "fronts" with precision, what more could I ask?

The high jump he clears with incredible flair,

The dumbbell held high as he soars through the air.

The broad jump's no challenge, he clears it with ease,

As he soars on high just as smug as you please.

On sits and on downs, well ... he's BETTER than steady,

Doesn't move one iota, doesn't sniff or get heady.

But then comes the day that we enter a trial,

He's NON COMPUS MENTUS, completely SENILE!

He bombed on the heeling, the "recall" no better,

And THEN on the "down" he made love to a Setter.

So then as I stand looking grey as a stone,

I utter out loud, "Well, he works great at home."

From the judges' expression, he thinks I'm insane,

For no dog has acted quite so inane.

From this I have come to one brilliant conclusion,

My dog rates first place in the art of illusion.

Author unknown........

[FHRP]

FHRP do you find a difference between training your Vizsla and GSP?

Yes, but then I found differences between training my two Vizslas! So, it's hard to say if it's breed differences or dog differences. My experience wth the two breeds is very limited. So far for obedience, Polo has been the most willing worker, eager to please and 'easiest' to train (apart from scent work ). He is a more robust dog to train, and can stand reptition more than the Vizslas. However, they are both very trainable breeds. I did however select Polo's breeding for the working ability and drive I saw in the sire, which has most definitely been passed on.

[Sue & Waldo]

I found this on another forum. I don't know if it's been posted before.

The Basket Case

Oh darn, I'm dejected, my gosh but I'm sad,

My obedience dog is driving me MAD!

When we practice at home ... why, he works like a

dream,

Puts on a performance that rates high esteem.

His recalls are groovy, he "drops" like a flash,

He "fronts" with precision, what more could I ask?

The high jump he clears with incredible flair,

The dumbbell held high as he soars through the air.

The broad jump's no challenge, he clears it with ease,

As he soars on high just as smug as you please.

On sits and on downs, well ... he's BETTER than steady,

That is Cindy!!

Doesn't move one iota, doesn't sniff or get heady.

But then comes the day that we enter a trial,

He's NON COMPUS MENTUS, completely SENILE!

He bombed on the heeling, the "recall" no better,

And THEN on the "down" he made love to a Setter.

So then as I stand looking grey as a stone,

I utter out loud, "Well, he works great at home."

From the judges' expression, he thinks I'm insane,

For no dog has acted quite so inane.

From this I have come to one brilliant conclusion,

My dog rates first place in the art of illusion.

Author unknown........

[RubyStar]

Love the poem tiggy, so true

Well agility was interesting tonight. My dogwalk-phobic dog thinks playing the banging game on the see-saw is just the most fun ever! Go figure I took her onto the wobble board while everyone else with their normal non-phobic dogs () did the contact equipment, and she loved it. I know she loves target games with her front paws and the banging of the seesaw never bothered her before, so I thought I'd just ask her to paw it and "bang it!!" Great she thought! Can we do it again? And again? So we did it a few times from the very end, and as her enthusiasm grew, I moved it back towards the beginning and she did it each time, to the point I had her walking across it. I made it clear that it was different to the dogwalk by saying "bang it!" instead of the dogwalk "walk it!" Not once did she show fear of the seesaw.

Back to the dogwalk, I just treated her for any interaction with it. She was jumping up onto it, taking a step, and jumping off. Sometimes she'd take 2 steps then I'd treat and encourage her to jump off before she could do it for herself. Each time she took a few more steps, the treats I placed further up were enticing :D To the point she actually got half way across on her own and saw the other end and thought yippee there is my way out! She picked up speed and fled down the other side. So big cheers and jackpot time and I left it there ;) I knew not to push my luck and do it again this session!! I think her dummy handler is finally learning something ;)

Yay for slow progress! But I won't count my chickens just yet, next session she is likely to "remember" she's scared of it

[Ptolomy]

Woo Hoo Rubystar - your email is oozing positives - great work

[pie]

Yay for Ruby! Hopefully she remembers it's not so scary after all! Ahh love your backwards dog, scared of the dogwalk but not of the seesaw Sounds like she's improving though!!!

Well my training last night was less than inspiring, I was soooo tired (had to do a 4am airport run ) I kept telling him the wrong things, I told him to walk it on the seesaw then as he sped up it I realised and shouted BANG! and he stopped dead in his tracks right at the end and didn't do a flyoff, thank God! Bad, bad handler. Then I told him to 'walk it' on the A frame which I didn't even notice, but the instructor pointed out. Then Kyzer paid me back by forgetting how to do rear crosses over jumps

But he did some good weave entries and I even managed to rear cross the weaves Focus on the positives

We are going to need some divine intervention or a miracle from God to get a pass in Excellent jumping this weekend ;) Ah well, it's all practice

[RubyStar]

Woo Hoo Rubystar - your email is oozing positives - great work

Big C/T for the usually negative handler then? :D

Yay for Ruby! Hopefully she remembers it's not so scary after all! Ahh love your backwards dog, scared of the dogwalk but not of the seesaw Sounds like she's improving though!!!

Well my training last night was less than inspiring, I was soooo tired (had to do a 4am airport run ) I kept telling him the wrong things, I told him to walk it on the seesaw then as he sped up it I realised and shouted BANG! and he stopped dead in his tracks right at the end and didn't do a flyoff, thank God! Bad, bad handler. Then I told him to 'walk it' on the A frame which I didn't even notice, but the instructor pointed out. Then Kyzer paid me back by forgetting how to do rear crosses over jumps

But he did some good weave entries and I even managed to rear cross the weaves Focus on the positives

We are going to need some divine intervention or a miracle from God to get a pass in Excellent jumping this weekend Ah well, it's all practice

I'm sure once we get to a full size seesaw she will crap herself again ;)

You'll do fine on the weekend!! And as you say, it's all practice :D I'm sure Kyzer forgives you for your dummy handler moments last night, seeing as you did have to get up at a time of day that nobody should have to experience!!

[Ptolomy]

It must be the week for early starts - I did a 3.15am start yesterday and was sound asleep by 7.30pm

[pie]

It must be the week for early starts - I did a 3.15am start yesterday and was sound asleep by 7.30pm

That should be illegal

[The Spotted Devil]

Just had a very funny time at the park. Decided it was time to transfer the very beginnings of the seek back to the outside world. I thought I would start safely by tossing the article into long grass first. Find! Zig shot out, sniffed around, grabbed the article and bolted back to front. Yay! Just to make sure it wasn't a fluke, we had another go. Find! Zig shot out, sniffed around, grabbed the article, marked the nearest tree () and bolted back to front. Little turd I growled at him when he lifted his leg (the only thing I would ever correct for in training), gave a verbal "good" marker when he presented me with the article but didn't give a food reward. He remembered the next time round and got a big jackpot He was clearly "in a mood" or had found something very special because he wasn't as quick to be called off marking in the rest of his free run either!

[Tiggy]

Yay for Ruby and her dummy handler .

[Tiggy]

I feel like doing some obedience training today - maybe I'm over my slump . I'm even taking the dogs to obedience training tomorrow night which I haven't done since starting agility training with Banjo. I was thinking if Rally is going to be ANKC recognized next year maybe we'll make our debut in that .

[Ptolomy]

Just had a very funny time at the park. Decided it was time to transfer the very beginnings of the seek back to the outside world. I thought I would start safely by tossing the article into long grass first. Find! Zig shot out, sniffed around, grabbed the article and bolted back to front. Yay! Just to make sure it wasn't a fluke, we had another go. Find! Zig shot out, sniffed around, grabbed the article, marked the nearest tree () and bolted back to front. Little turd I growled at him when he lifted his leg (the only thing I would ever correct for in training), gave a verbal "good" marker when he presented me with the article but didn't give a food reward. He remembered the next time round and got a big jackpot He was clearly "in a mood" or had found something very special because he wasn't as quick to be called off marking in the rest of his free run either!

These are the sessions that you want to bottle

[The Spotted Devil]

Just had a very funny time at the park. Decided it was time to transfer the very beginnings of the seek back to the outside world. I thought I would start safely by tossing the article into long grass first. Find! Zig shot out, sniffed around, grabbed the article and bolted back to front. Yay! Just to make sure it wasn't a fluke, we had another go. Find! Zig shot out, sniffed around, grabbed the article, marked the nearest tree () and bolted back to front. Little turd I growled at him when he lifted his leg (the only thing I would ever correct for in training), gave a verbal "good" marker when he presented me with the article but didn't give a food reward. He remembered the next time round and got a big jackpot He was clearly "in a mood" or had found something very special because he wasn't as quick to be called off marking in the rest of his free run either!

These are the sessions that you want to bottle

Yes, well he nearly had his pair of black whatsits bottled on the spot

[bedazzledx2]

:D :D ;) :eek: :) ;)

Just had a very funny time at the park. Decided it was time to transfer the very beginnings of the seek back to the outside world. I thought I would start safely by tossing the article into long grass first. Find! Zig shot out, sniffed around, grabbed the article and bolted back to front. Yay! Just to make sure it wasn't a fluke, we had another go. Find! Zig shot out, sniffed around, grabbed the article, marked the nearest tree () and bolted back to front. Little turd I growled at him when he lifted his leg (the only thing I would ever correct for in training), gave a verbal "good" marker when he presented me with the article but didn't give a food reward. He remembered the next time round and got a big jackpot ;) He was clearly "in a mood" or had found something very special because he wasn't as quick to be called off marking in the rest of his free run either!

These are the sessions that you want to bottle

Yes, well he nearly had his pair of black whatsits bottled on the spot