Training Talk Thread

[huski]

Fran how long do your training sessions go for? Careful not to push her too far too soon, I started out doing sessions that were no more than 3 minutes long but I would ask for 110% and would always finish with the dog wanting more. I can train for a lot longer than that now but I wouldn't do an hour long class as I find the dogs can get bored easily. I'd rather 110% for ten minutes than anything less than that for an hour.

Sounds like Luuka has lots of potential, just be careful that class time doesn't get too boring! Don't be afraid to pop her in a crate or on a tie out to give her a break.

[FranVT]

I get bored after more than 2 minute sessions at home anyway They are small, impromptu sessions but they are intensive.

The class is low-intensity, I can't do much about it going for an hour unfortunately, there is relaxing and listening time when we are allowed to sit or kneel with the dogs while we're listening and there is lots of socialisation practice as well, learning how to approach someone with a dog when you have a dog etc.

Edited July 21, 2010 by FranCQ

[RubyStar]

Ptolomy I did that game too except bugger me we did it with her breakfast bowl so bowl on the ground dog would look at me. Hmmmm we then had a few issues when I wanted her to look at the bowl so we could get started on directed retrieving and NOT offer eye contact.

This is me trying to teach my girls the directed retrieve (need to get started for retrieving, so it ties in well with obedience!) Finding it hard for them to lock onto the bowl, and not me

I spent so much time putting value on looking at me that Millie is proving a tad difficult to do agility with Why would she want to look at that jump in front of her when she can gaze lovingly at her mum?

[huski]

I totally get where you are coming from, I hope I didn't come across as bossy I just see a lot of dogs getting bored in class and I know it made Daisy think heel work was totally boring she was more likely to lose focus etc. Now if she gets really distracted I end the training session, pop her on a tie out and then when I bring her out again she is really raring and ready to work. A lot of classes tend to be geared toward pet owners more than competitors, which is why a lot of experienced triallers won't do them - that's not to say you won't get a lot out of it, just that the class structure is not always congruent with what we want for trialling. Altough I'm sure cos you are doing a lot of work otside of class you will be fine

[Tassie]

FranCQ - do you know any of the puppy attention games eg where you stand facing the dog and have a piece of food in one hand and outstretch the arm with the food in it - the dog should automatically look at the food. Wait until the dog looks at your face (usually wondering what the hell you are doing to begin with, and it will only be a quick glance) and mark this with either a "yes" or a clicker and reward with the food in the hand. You can then repeat by putting the food in the other hand and doing the same exercise. Then you can progress to food in both hands.

Going back to my corner now.......

I teach this game to my puppy classes, but must admit I had only done a little bit of it with Rory - he has lovely focus anyw3ay. But on Sunday at a show (coinciding iwth a market), he was sitting up on his trolley while some (pretty savvy) people were talking to me about training their puppy, so I thought I'd show them how the game worked. Piee of food in each hand, a litle bit out from my body. At first of course Rory mugged the food, but within a couple f tries, he 'got it', and then was super good. (We have done a bit of it before, but not with two pieces of food almost at his eye level.) He's such a good boy.

[Tassie]

......

Must give my credit card to someone else for safe keeping! But not giving it to any of you other CR addicts

That won't work if you're using paypal - don't need your credit card in your hand if they already have it.

[pie]

Wouldn't work for me either, I don't even get it out, I know the numbers off by heart Thankfully I have a debit card not a credit card so I'm not spending more money than I have.

[RubyStar]

......

Must give my credit card to someone else for safe keeping! But not giving it to any of you other CR addicts

That won't work if you're using paypal - don't need your credit card in your hand if they already have it.

Paypal is dangerous! When I can't be bothered getting off my butt to go get the credit card, I just use paypal. Didn't think you could use paypal for clean run though? I actually had to get up last night to get my card out of my bag!

My mum even has a paypal account now. She has become addicted to ebay This is dangerous stuff!!

[FranVT]

I totally get where you are coming from, I hope I didn't come across as bossy :D I just see a lot of dogs getting bored in class and I know it made Daisy think heel work was totally boring she was more likely to lose focus etc. Now if she gets really distracted I end the training session, pop her on a tie out and then when I bring her out again she is really raring and ready to work. A lot of classes tend to be geared toward pet owners more than competitors, which is why a lot of experienced triallers won't do them - that's not to say you won't get a lot out of it, just that the class structure is not always congruent with what we want for trialling. Altough I'm sure cos you are doing a lot of work otside of class you will be fine

You didn't come out as bossy at all don't worry! I really respect your opinion as I think you've done wonderfully with Daisy! You and Nik are two of my training icons

I totally understand what you mean about her getting bored, I do what you said and always make sure training ends on a high note. It usually goes something like this:

[bit of heelwork and stuff]

[Luuka does a really good job of something like a sit or drop or focuses really well for awhile]

Me: "GOOD GIRL! YEAH YOU'RE GOOD! YOU'RE THE BEST GIRL!"

[Luuka jumps around like a maniac sometimes wooing or yipping]

[Go inside or into the shade, sit down and have a bit pat/tummy rub, relaxing time]

Hehe. All that in the space of about 2 mins, around 3x per day. Once in the morning, once when I get home from work or at the park in the arvo then once later at night.

When the trainer asked me if I was thinking of trialling and I said yes, she was really excited and said she would make sure the class wasn't too monotonous and she would keep an extra eye on Luuka and me so that we were doing everything properly from the start. This lady is in her 70s and has been breeding, showing and trialling SBTs for years. She is thrilled that there is going to be new blood in the area

FranCQ - do you know any of the puppy attention games eg where you stand facing the dog and have a piece of food in one hand and outstretch the arm with the food in it - the dog should automatically look at the food. Wait until the dog looks at your face (usually wondering what the hell you are doing to begin with, and it will only be a quick glance) and mark this with either a "yes" or a clicker and reward with the food in the hand. You can then repeat by putting the food in the other hand and doing the same exercise. Then you can progress to food in both hands.

Going back to my corner now.......

I teach this game to my puppy classes, but must admit I had only done a little bit of it with Rory - he has lovely focus anyw3ay. But on Sunday at a show (coinciding iwth a market), he was sitting up on his trolley while some (pretty savvy) people were talking to me about training their puppy, so I thought I'd show them how the game worked. Piee of food in each hand, a litle bit out from my body. At first of course Rory mugged the food, but within a couple f tries, he 'got it', and then was super good. (We have done a bit of it before, but not with two pieces of food almost at his eye level.) He's such a good boy. :D

Good boy Rory! I was standing last night before training talking to a fellow handler, our dogs politely at our sides, when all of a sudden Luuka leapt up and nosed my hand with her snout, I realised I was holding a treat in my hand She didn't get it though of course.

[Tiggy]

I got five things from the clean run free shipping

[RallyValley]

I keep looking at Susan Salo Step Up to Competetiton but I am not sure if it's worthwhile since I don't have the others. What did you get Tiggy?

[kathq]

I think they secretly text each other!!!!

Hang in there! as Ptolomy says, it will get better

Kathq and Seita my heart goes out to you as I know how frustrating UD can be. It seems that we all follow a similar path. We believe that our dogs are ready to trial in UD (and I don't doubt that they do know every exercise) and usually the first trial you enter you fail 1 or maybe 2 exercises, but overall its something minor and fixable that causes the fail so you come away really happy with the effort. From there it becomes a procession of having to fix every exercise one by one as they fall to bits and the dog fails things that they have never done in the past. So hang in there we really do understand and you both will come out the other side, much better trainers, having trained all the UD exercies multiple times and repaired many broken bits.

Bedazzled and I still shake our heads as one of our boys will make an error, like not sitting in the box, and within a couple of weeks the other one with follow with exactly the same error. Its almost like they have been chatting to each other in the back of the car saying...........what will we do this week!

Thanks for the encouragement guys. We arent going anywhere just yet as from the way she behaves the Cocomonster is having a whale of a time. Its just me that seems to have any hangups.

[Tiggy]

I keep looking at Susan Salo Step Up to Competetiton but I am not sure if it's worthwhile since I don't have the others. What did you get Tiggy?

purple whistle

clean run slip lead

and three of the toys

[Tiggy]

Going training tonight yay! I've had a few weeks off and now I'm feeling super motivated to get back into it. I'm making a goal to do a CCD trial with Sophie this year so I better get cracking ;) .

[Ptolomy]

Going training tonight yay! I've had a few weeks off and now I'm feeling super motivated to get back into it. I'm making a goal to do a CCD trial with Sophie this year so I better get cracking .

Goodonya Tiggy - I will see you in CCD

[RallyValley]

My big thing was by November 9th 2010 I would have Toby with one JD pass, that I will is debateable. But I have at least had a good crack at it and learnt a lot.

[Tiggy]

Going training tonight yay! I've had a few weeks off and now I'm feeling super motivated to get back into it. I'm making a goal to do a CCD trial with Sophie this year so I better get cracking :D .

Goodonya Tiggy - I will see you in CCD ;)

I don't know whether to be or about that

[Tiggy]

Had a great night at training. The raccoon tail was a hit with Sophie I've finally found a toy she likes . Did about 10 minutes obedience training with both and spent half that playing then popped Banjo over some jumps valleyCBR had set up. Tired now I better get to bed. The dogs are already asleep .

[RubyStar]

Going training tonight yay! I've had a few weeks off and now I'm feeling super motivated to get back into it. I'm making a goal to do a CCD trial with Sophie this year so I better get cracking .

You've said it out loud now, can't back out!

[Tiggy]

Going training tonight yay! I've had a few weeks off and now I'm feeling super motivated to get back into it. I'm making a goal to do a CCD trial with Sophie this year so I better get cracking .

You've said it out loud now, can't back out!

Yep I know