Training Talk Thread

[pie]

I'm looking forward to having a go at teaching Trixie with the 2 x 2 method, really want to see how it goes, taught Kyzer with a channel.

Weave bases, cha cha cha!!! :rofl:

Hey I should wait until she's over 12 months anyway

Yeah I know I know

[Staff'n'Toller]

Anyone who can get nice extreme entries with 2 x 2, I am sending a red kid over for a few weeks holiday.

[Tassie]

Anyone who can get nice extreme entries with 2 x 2, I am sending a red kid over for a few weeks holiday.

Don't book the red kid's plane ticket just yet - don't know that about 2 metres away from the poles counts as extreme - and that's as far as we've got yet. (Mind you, having said that, I did use 4 poles to train difficult independent entries with Kirra (who was initially trained on V weaves.) Kirra did a few tonight when Rory was finished -she'd been shut inside, having extreme tantrums, so she was really fired up when she got to work .

[kathq]

And another one just cos he's soo cute!

Woo Hoo another baby.

How did you choose him Nic - I can't wait to hear more about him

He was the only boy! LOL I know both his parents and the chances of getting a low drive puppy from those two was pretty slim as both Mum and Dad are pretty full on. Then it was a case of wait to see if his conformation would be ok as he's going to be a show dog too and that checked out ok. Then at 6 weeks I assessed him and was really pleased with his attitude, he's a keen tugger already and I was with the breeder when we took them for their 6 week vaccinations and I was able to get him to tug in the vet clinic - somewhere he'd never been before that was strange and cold etc, that was all I needed to be sure he was going to be a good performance dog! Good nerves and keen to play with me both at home and in a new environment. Now as long as he gets his "bits" then he's all set to come home!

Congrats on the new babies. Exciting times.

Seita why a boy?

[Seita]

I went and did a ring run out again tonight and Ella put it all together for me! Yay! There were some sloppy moments and few little things like failing to sit after bringing one article back and a missed position (my footwork was at fault here). If she works like that on Sunday she'll be on a pass, not a very high score but still a pass!

KathQ - I wanted a boy this time around cos I'm sick of bitches, I hate seasons and I really don't want two entire bitches at the same time. And my last boy was also my first dog who was a complete failure as a competition dog so I want to prove that I can train a boy too!!

[Staff'n'Toller]

Anyone who can get nice extreme entries with 2 x 2, I am sending a red kid over for a few weeks holiday. ;)

Don't book the red kid's plane ticket just yet - don't know that about 2 metres away from the poles counts as extreme - and that's as far as we've got yet. (Mind you, having said that, I did use 4 poles to train difficult independent entries with Kirra (who was initially trained on V weaves.) Kirra did a few tonight when Rory was finished -she'd been shut inside, having extreme tantrums, so she was really fired up when she got to work .

Any entries from the left hand side of the arc would be fine with me.

Excluding: missing the first two poles but then weaving perfectly OR running alongside the poles really close then looking back expectantly for the reward.

[J...]

More questions from me on the finer points..

With the formal retrieve, I've never asked Darcy to wait before throwing the dumbell and I don't have a fetch command, I only use her release word (ok) with no hand signal. I also don't use a give command to take the dumbell as she will give it up fine. She doesn't break any of the above.

I know all these things are listed as voluntary commands, but is there a chance I will get pinged by a judge who believes they should be used?

Also UD work - is there any books/DVDs/other resources on learning UD stuff that people would recommend? I've got the scent work website that's been mentioned before

[JulesP]

Anyone who can get nice extreme entries with 2 x 2, I am sending a red kid over for a few weeks holiday.

I was getting extreme entries from both sides with Poppy after doing the 2x2 but ummm I couldn't get a straight entry I did so much on the sides of the arc that I forgot straight on

[RubyStar]

Anyone who can get nice extreme entries with 2 x 2, I am sending a red kid over for a few weeks holiday. :D

I was getting extreme entries from both sides with Poppy after doing the 2x2 but ummm I couldn't get a straight entry I did so much on the sides of the arc that I forgot straight on

I get the better entries on the left hand side of the arc

[RubyStar]

We set up one of the Novice Jumping courses that were at the Nationals tonight and I had a ball running it! Very nice course :p

Ruby is learning to go out on her own now, which is handy cos she's got a bit of speed on her! So I was able to send her off over a jump and into the tunnel standing at the broad jump that was before them, then got myself ready to start running next to the jumps on her tunnel exit and she shot past me again as I was running and followed the line of jumps in front of her which was great :D Enjoyed it immensely!

Millie on the other hand, won't stop looking at me Makes it very hard to do much with her! Oh and she's obsessed with tunnels and the chute So I broke it down to one jump then two jumps and by the end she was getting a bit of an idea. So lots of work to do with her! :p But her 2o2o is coming along nicely!!

Don't you wish you could take the best things from several dogs and compile the perfect dog?

Edited June 17, 2010 by RubyStar

[caffy]

With the formal retrieve, I've never asked Darcy to wait before throwing the dumbell and I don't have a fetch command, I only use her release word (ok) with no hand signal. I also don't use a give command to take the dumbell as she will give it up fine. She doesn't break any of the above.

I know all these things are listed as voluntary commands, but is there a chance I will get pinged by a judge who believes they should be used?

I do like to have a “give” command on the dumbell etc.

I want my dog holding on tight to their dumbbell while my hands reach down to it…no mouth opening in anticipation but a nice tight hold until I say “give”.

It’s very easy for dumbbells, articles to get dropped as you reach down to take it from the dog.

I’ll also proof it by reaching down and pulling my hands back or tapping the dumbbell or just holding both sides of the bell until I give them permission to give it to me. I’ll also reach down but pat the dog’s head instead.

Given all the retrieves in Open and UD, it's just one reason why I'm pretty fussy about a "give" command :D

[FHRP]

With the formal retrieve, I've never asked Darcy to wait before throwing the dumbell and I don't have a fetch command, I only use her release word (ok) with no hand signal. I also don't use a give command to take the dumbell as she will give it up fine. She doesn't break any of the above.

I know all these things are listed as voluntary commands, but is there a chance I will get pinged by a judge who believes they should be used?

I can not imagine a judge would ever ping you for not using an optional verbal.

Edited June 20, 2010 by FHRP

[Clastic]

Sorry, just a quick question... Mars and I will be starting training at our local obedience club. I went to the intake talk last night and they said that we need to pick a marker, it could be a word, noise etc..

So I was wondering.. I'd like to use a clicker, but was wondering if my boy would get confused if someone in the same group as me was also using a clicker?

Would a word as the marker be better?? (But then it has to be something I won't use with him normally...?)

Any suggestions or advice? Maybe I'm thinking too much into it and confusing myself?? Any help would be appreciated!

[Tassie]

Sorry, just a quick question... Mars and I will be starting training at our local obedience club. I went to the intake talk last night and they said that we need to pick a marker, it could be a word, noise etc..

So I was wondering.. I'd like to use a clicker, but was wondering if my boy would get confused if someone in the same group as me was also using a clicker?

Would a word as the marker be better?? (But then it has to be something I won't use with him normally...?)

Any suggestions or advice? Maybe I'm thinking too much into it and confusing myself?? Any help would be appreciated!

As long as he's used to working with you enthusiastically with the clicker, he shouldn't get confused - or not more than once or twice. Having said that, I don't use clicker a lot of the time, cos I'm a bit klutzy - so I tend to use (and teach my puppy class to use) an excited "Yes" as the marker. Easy to remember, quick to say, exciting sounds ..... I tell my puppy people it's the kind of "Yes" you would use if your footy team just won a really close game.

[Tassie]

Anyone who can get nice extreme entries with 2 x 2, I am sending a red kid over for a few weeks holiday. ;)

Don't book the red kid's plane ticket just yet - don't know that about 2 metres away from the poles counts as extreme - and that's as far as we've got yet. (Mind you, having said that, I did use 4 poles to train difficult independent entries with Kirra (who was initially trained on V weaves.) Kirra did a few tonight when Rory was finished -she'd been shut inside, having extreme tantrums, so she was really fired up when she got to work .

Any entries from the left hand side of the arc would be fine with me.

Excluding: missing the first two poles but then weaving perfectly OR running alongside the poles really close then looking back expectantly for the reward. :p

I got the

running alongside the poles really close then looking back expectantly for the reward. :p

this morning when I put a jump ahead of the poles LOL. Took a few goes for Rory to figure out how the new game worked ;) - but he got it. That was with a nearly straight on left hand entry.

I did so much on the sides of the arc that I forgot straight on

Thanks for that heads up, Jules - will be sure to work that :D .

Don't you wish you could take the best things from several dogs and compile the perfect dog?

Oh, yes RS - been there, wished that.

[Flick_Mac]

Just tried the two food game with Louie and Banjo.... it worked a treat with Louie (Banj doesn't need it quite as much I don't think!) I tried the heeling thing - he was SUPER focussed! Then I tried doing it with a recall to straighten him up a bit (and make it more consistent when we're not at obedience!)

YAY! Any other hints for similar games to achieve focus?

[J...]

I do like to have a “give” command on the dumbell etc.

I want my dog holding on tight to their dumbbell while my hands reach down to it…no mouth opening in anticipation but a nice tight hold until I say “give”.

It’s very easy for dumbbells, articles to get dropped as you reach down to take it from the dog.

I’ll also proof it by reaching down and pulling my hands back or tapping the dumbbell or just holding both sides of the bell until I give them permission to give it to me. I’ll also reach down but pat the dog’s head instead.

Given all the retrieves in Open and UD, it's just one reason why I'm pretty fussy about a "give" command

Thanks

Retrieving is something that I'm pretty fussy about even though it doesn't sound like it above. Even in play, Darcy is expected to give me the toy into my hands, not drop it at my feet or spit it into my hands. She will hold a dumbbell for as long as I'll take to collect it from her. There is no sign of anticipation or mouthing the dumbbell at all and she hasn't dropped it in ages.

I guess you could argue that your dog does not really understand what your release command means, if they will do a formal retrieve on it rather than release from the exercise.

You could argue it if you like, but you'd be wrong.

Darcy absolutely loves to retrieve, she sees it as a huge reward. She learnt to retrieve well before I ever intended to trial her in obedience. Throwing an item (toy or whatever) out in front when she was seated or standing beside me was just one of the proofing exercises I did to work on her waits for agility when she was young. It took very little to add the formal retrieve to that. So therefore the release is actually to something she sees as a reward. I don't see it as being different to using a release command off an agility start line or an agility contact.

EFS

Edited June 18, 2010 by Jess.

[wuffles]

Sorry, just a quick question... Mars and I will be starting training at our local obedience club. I went to the intake talk last night and they said that we need to pick a marker, it could be a word, noise etc..

So I was wondering.. I'd like to use a clicker, but was wondering if my boy would get confused if someone in the same group as me was also using a clicker?

Would a word as the marker be better?? (But then it has to be something I won't use with him normally...?)

Any suggestions or advice? Maybe I'm thinking too much into it and confusing myself?? Any help would be appreciated! :D

I use the marker word "yes" most of the time including at training. Your voice is much more versatile than a clicker :p

However, I do use a clicker sometimes -- usually when learning something new that needs really precise marking... it seems to give Ava a better idea of exactly what behaviour I'm marking. Of course this could just be my own fault for not marking at the right time with my voice

And YAY we start "Bronze" on Sunday. We are well and truly glad to be out of the Beginners class

[OSoSwift]

We have had classes of up to 10 dogs all working with a clicker. None of them ever seemed to miss their click, or mistake someone elses click for theirs.

I find the clicker is more precise and non emotional which I like. I do however do the "aust has just won a gold medal in eventing" yes along with the clicker if it is something I have had a few problems getting, or the dog had cracked the puzzle and given me exactly what I am after.

I has such a moment with Rommi today and the novice change of position, much jubilation followed by zoomies

Edited June 19, 2010 by Rommi n Lewis

[superminty]

Hi Jess

I guess you could argue that your dog does not really understand what your release command means, if they will do a formal retrieve on it rather than release from the exercise.

You could argue it if you like, but you'd be wrong.

Darcy absolutely loves to retrieve, she sees it as a huge reward. She learnt to retrieve well before I ever intended to trial her in obedience. Throwing an item (toy or whatever) out in front when she was seated or standing beside me was just one of the proofing exercises I did to work on her waits for agility when she was young. It took very little to add the formal retrieve to that. So therefore the release is actually to something she sees as a reward. I don't see it as being different to using a release command off an agility start line or an agility contact.

EFS

I use "Go" as a release cue/command for the following:

- agility release (sometimes)

- formal retrieve on flat

- formal retrieve over a jump

- seek back

- scent discimination

Never have a problem with confusion, the situation itself provides the "cue" for what I actually want her to do i.e. if I have just thrown a dumbbell, clearly the exercise is to retrieve it. If there are scent articles out, clearly the exercise is scent discrimination. I could just have easily used my usual release cue, except that as I use "Ok", it is two syllables, and I prefer to use single syllable commands.

All the above are self-rewarding for Minty, who loves agility, retrieving and finding stuff with her nose, so same as for Darcy, I am releasing to something that is perceived as a reward. I too insist Minty holds stuff until I take it, be it "work" or "play". I don't see why you would necessarily need individual word cues when you can use the situation itself as a cue. But every dog is different and each to his/her own.