Training Talk Thread

[RallyValley]

Had quite a good training session tonight I like nights when I feel some progress may have been made and things go well

Me too! By the end of my second heeling pattern I was able to get some quite nice work out of Lexi and stop bumbling around and confusing her

And Toby did ok at playing some CU games

[TerraNik]

I'm feeling all out of whack with training at the moment. Luuka and I were doing really well until we got a new obedience trainer who is ... just not the right fit for us I feel. She means well but she confuses me. She tells me to be firmer with Luuka and then that I'm not praising enough. She also made me completely change how I was teaching Luuka drop. I was bending down and leading her part of the way down with a treat but the trainer said I'm not to bend at all, and I just have to make the signal with my right hand and say 'drop'. So now Luuka just stares at me.

She won't do anything at all without a treat. I'm doing it all wrong Like I said to TN last night, I feel like Luuka is a super expensive and complicated piece of technology and I am an ape trying to work it!

Bah.

It's very typical of spitz breeds to not want to do things without a 'reason' (e.g. in Jedi's ET he didn't want to keep running after 6km until I told him there was a pigs ear waiting for him! That was reason enough to keep going! ). Lappies are easier to convince than most spitz breeds because they are after all, working dogs. But not doing anything unless there's a treat being waved around is something that is more likely linked to how you've trained her. We can talk about this tonight, if you like.

[Mas1981]

Mason's work has been quite good this last week - despite the fact that he is itchier than he has ever been in his life at the moment, but this morning I wanted to do a recall, he sat and waited and when I called he then ran off and found a stick and would not come back to me I was quite un-impressed with him but I just put him back onlead and carried on doing other stuff.

Can someone remind me again, when you are leaving the dog behind which foot do you step off with? I think I have gotten myself confused

[RallyValley]

Mason's work has been quite good this last week - despite the fact that he is itchier than he has ever been in his life at the moment, but this morning I wanted to do a recall, he sat and waited and when I called he then ran off and found a stick and would not come back to me I was quite un-impressed with him but I just put him back onlead and carried on doing other stuff.

Can someone remind me again, when you are leaving the dog behind which foot do you step off with? I think I have gotten myself confused

The right Not that I probably do it

[pie]

Had quite a good training session tonight I like nights when I feel some progress may have been made and things go well

I'm waiting for an agility mock trial! They had quite a few leading up to the Nationals but now that I would actually like to take part in one with Ruby, they don't seem to be having any

Me too, would really appreciate one at the moment, oh well.

[RallyValley]

I'm waiting for an agility mock trial! They had quite a few leading up to the Nationals but now that I would actually like to take part in one with Ruby, they don't seem to be having any

Me too, would really appreciate one at the moment, oh well.

Me three I won't be in many agility trials coming up! I have the Royal and then Perth and then I am pretty sure thats it until next year!

[mirawee]

Can someone remind me again, when you are leaving the dog behind which foot do you step off with? I think I have gotten myself confused

I have been taught to step off with the right foot when you are leaving the dog and step off with the left foot when you are heeling

[huski]

I'm feeling all out of whack with training at the moment. Luuka and I were doing really well until we got a new obedience trainer who is ... just not the right fit for us I feel. She means well but she confuses me. She tells me to be firmer with Luuka and then that I'm not praising enough. She also made me completely change how I was teaching Luuka drop. I was bending down and leading her part of the way down with a treat but the trainer said I'm not to bend at all, and I just have to make the signal with my right hand and say 'drop'. So now Luuka just stares at me.

She won't do anything at all without a treat. I'm doing it all wrong Like I said to TN last night, I feel like Luuka is a super expensive and complicated piece of technology and I am an ape trying to work it!

Bah.

It's very typical of spitz breeds to not want to do things without a 'reason' (e.g. in Jedi's ET he didn't want to keep running after 6km until I told him there was a pigs ear waiting for him! That was reason enough to keep going! :rolleyes:). Lappies are easier to convince than most spitz breeds because they are after all, working dogs. But not doing anything unless there's a treat being waved around is something that is more likely linked to how you've trained her. We can talk about this tonight, if you like.

What Nik said!

All dogs want to work for a reward, for some dogs praise is enough, for some dogs its food, for some its a toy I never phase out rewards and ignore any trainer who implies you should do so in dog sports.

I also agree with Nik that if she won't down without a treat in your hand that's the way you've taught it, she's still being lured without actually understand what she needs to do.

[FranVT]

YES!

THAT'S EXACTLY IT!

Sorry for caps but I just haven't been able to articulate it properly. She is just following the treat not actually obeying a command.

How to correct this?

TN you're an angel, I will be online tonight, I'm skipping obedience, I know it's a cop out but I feel that trainer is a hindrance more than a help at the moment :rolleyes:

[megan_]

Have you tried some non-luring methods? My food driven girl loses her mind when she lures - she pays no attention to what she's actually doing.

Also, you can slowly phase out your hand going down (first it touches the ground, then 1 cm away, then add another cm etc)

[Tiggy]

I'm confused can a dog keep trialling in open after they get their title Thanks

[RubyStar]

I'm confused can a dog keep trialling in open after they get their title Thanks

Yes And UD and UDX.

[Mas1981]

We have our club comp on sunday - not quite sure what to expect as we have had a major flare and he is on a whole lot of new meds so I am not too confident about how he will work

Edited to add that we have worked so hard this week and I am really disappointed, think i need a non- broken dog to train and try and compete with

Edited September 10, 2010 by Mas1981

[RubyStar]

Had quite a good training session tonight I like nights when I feel some progress may have been made and things go well

Aaaand I hate days when you feel everything is just wrong Leaves me feeling sad and frustrated, and then I get madder at myself for allowing myself to feel that way and wonder why I keep at it Today was one of those days.

The positive though, Ruby did her 3 minute sit/5 minute down out of sight stays (and a group stand for exam, though the examination wasn't very thorough at my request).

Here's hoping for a good session next time to pick me up again and show me why I keep perservering. Being a perfectionist and not being able to deliver on that is a horrible feeling!

[huski]

Had quite a good training session tonight I like nights when I feel some progress may have been made and things go well

Aaaand I hate days when you feel everything is just wrong Leaves me feeling sad and frustrated, and then I get madder at myself for allowing myself to feel that way and wonder why I keep at it Today was one of those days.

The positive though, Ruby did her 3 minute sit/5 minute down out of sight stays (and a group stand for exam, though the examination wasn't very thorough at my request).

Here's hoping for a good session next time to pick me up again and show me why I keep perservering. Being a perfectionist and not being able to deliver on that is a horrible feeling!

I definitely know what you mean RS!

Although I must admit now we generally don't have bad training session if I look at it from the perspective of - is Daisy keen and enjoying herself and working to her potential.

There's lots I do to stuff it up though which is frustrating.

Edited September 12, 2010 by huski

[RubyStar]

I need to write on a sticky note and stick it on my steering wheel as I drive to training or a trial for a reminder - "MAKE IT FUN FOR THE DOG (and don't be a tightass with the treats)".

Edited September 12, 2010 by RubyStar

[huski]

I need to write on a sticky note and stick it on my steering wheel as I drive to training or a trial for a reminder - "MAKE IT FUN FOR THE DOG (and don't be a tightass with the treats)".

I need one of those t-shirts that say 'smack the handler, pat the dog' or whatever it is

[sas]

I need to write on a sticky note and stick it on my steering wheel as I drive to training or a trial for a reminder - "MAKE IT FUN FOR THE DOG (and don't be a tightass with the treats)".

I need one of those t-shirts that say 'smack the handler, pat the dog' or whatever it is ;)

[RubyStar]

I need to write on a sticky note and stick it on my steering wheel as I drive to training or a trial for a reminder - "MAKE IT FUN FOR THE DOG (and don't be a tightass with the treats)".

I need one of those t-shirts that say 'smack the handler, pat the dog' or whatever it is ;)

Yep I definitely need one that reads something like "Blame the handler!" Or "She can do it at training!"

This one is funny

Edited September 12, 2010 by RubyStar

[bedazzledx2]

Love it!!!! :p I can think of a whole range of cheat T shirts...with or without the profanity!!!!

I need to write on a sticky note and stick it on my steering wheel as I drive to training or a trial for a reminder - "MAKE IT FUN FOR THE DOG (and don't be a tightass with the treats)".

I need one of those t-shirts that say 'smack the handler, pat the dog' or whatever it is

Yep I definitely need one that reads something like "Blame the handler!" Or "She can do it at training!"

This one is funny