Dog Not Wanting To Work In Class Some Days

[Serket]

Serket, doesn't sound like a club I'd be wanting to attend

It's probably not as awful as it sounds - it's just hit and miss week to week I guess, I don't think we'll attend every week now that we've moved up a class, maybe every 2 weeks or so and just do more training at home instead. We attend a different class during the week as well, so she'll still be getting out and about

Erny - thanks for explaining Sounds much more active and energetic than what I've been seeing

[dee lee]

Oh, aren't all dog training clubs like this?

It sounds like mine, though my instructor was pretty relaxed as it was a beginners class. She also reiterated every week that the dogs would get restless after a short time and that the class was more for us to learn than for the dog's training. We only just graduated into first class so haven't started it yet, but it also goes for an hour.

How do you do your exams to progress if you dont attend the classes? Sorry if this is a dumb question but I just assumed the only way through was to attend then be tested?

[Mas1981]

Oh, aren't all dog training clubs like this?

It sounds like mine, though my instructor was pretty relaxed as it was a beginners class. She also reiterated every week that the dogs would get restless after a short time and that the class was more for us to learn than for the dog's training. We only just graduated into first class so haven't started it yet, but it also goes for an hour.

How do you do your exams to progress if you dont attend the classes? Sorry if this is a dumb question but I just assumed the only way through was to attend then be tested?

We have to attend to be tested, the next class up though the dog has to pass a club trial to move to the next level..... something I am sure we wont be doing for a very very long time lol!

[OSoSwift]

I go to our club, but use artistic license!

Rommi I can train in slightly longer blocks, Lewis well around 5 minutes may 10 at an absolute push and He LOVES training, especially heeling.

I think to expect a dog for focus for an hour is extremely counter productive, I can't imagine any dog being able to maintain focus of any intensity for that period of time.

I have yet to see a trial at even the highest level that goes for more than 15 or so minutes.

Try and find a club more focused on trialling or a group of like minded people to train with and bounce ideas off.

[Erny]

Oh, aren't all dog training clubs like this?

It sounds like mine ... but it also goes for an hour.

Like what? Not sure if you're referring to the OP's school regime, or mine.

You need an hour for the class - to teach the people. It's only (generally) once a week and they need to know the basics of skills to be able to practice with their dogs for the other 6 days of the week. I'd love to be able to teach people just one little facet of training at a time. It would be easier for me and easier for the people. But trampsing backwards and forwards to school daily just wouldn't be practical nor economical. So you have to be able to give them enough to be able to move on with during the week, and that takes time to explain, show, and to adjust them when they don't quite have it right. If the people knew what they were doing, how to manage, handle and train it, you'd only need 15 or 20 minutes. But then, if the people knew what they were doing, they wouldn't need dog schools.

[TerraNik]

My club applauds handlers who say their dog has had enough and leave early or those that take their dog aside and do some play or give it a rest while the handler still watches the class to still get the information. You shouldn't feel 'forced' to try and keep your dog's focus for an hour - it's your dog, you do what you think suits it best.

I've done that in the past, it seems that it depends on the luck of the draw with the instructor what's 'allowed' or not

Personally, if someone told me what I was "allowed" to do with my dog between exercises I would tell them to go jump. As long as you are participating and your dog is not out of control and distracting the others during this down time, what does it matter? You are trying to get the best out of your dog and asking for 100% focus for an hour is ridiculous.

[Erny]

Erny - thanks for explaining Sounds much more active and energetic than what I've been seeing

It is quite energetic, once the introductory/initial 'explanation' process is done. I quite fall in a heap after classes - instructors need to be even more 'energised' than the handlers do, to keep the handlers energised. After 3 hours or so of classes, it is quite exhausting. But it is so liberating when you see dogs and their owners getting things together and seeing them have fun doing it, that tends to keep myself and my fellow trainers sparked up long enough until classes are finished.

Edited March 8, 2010 by Erny

[Mas1981]

Candice, if you want to trial someday, I'd suggest getting along to some more obedience trials and sitting ringside watching others and learning. Once you know what you want to work on, I'd be working on them on your own and not with the class, maybe to the side of the class and join them for the group stays or anything else you still want to learn more about. Being close by you've always got your instructor to ask questions of should you need it. Work Mason in short sessions, of only a few minutes each and put him away for a rest in between. When you ask your dog to trial, they start out only being in the ring for a couple of minutes so you don't need to ever be aiming for an hours focus from any dog at one time! So short sharp sessions and more of them are better than an hour of work in bored or distracted mode

I love watching trials but what i really need to watch is HOW people train their dogs. I need to work out a way of making class more exciting for Mason, he wont play with toys while we are listening in class and are waiting for others to get help from the instructors but yet he loves toys at home and when he at the park etc. It has been suggested to take a sock and put some food in it and see if he will play with that so I am going to give it a go.

[dee lee]

Oh, aren't all dog training clubs like this?

It sounds like mine, though my instructor was pretty relaxed as it was a beginners class. She also reiterated every week that the dogs would get restless after a short time and that the class was more for us to learn than for the dog's training. We only just graduated into first class so haven't started it yet, but it also goes for an hour.

How do you do your exams to progress if you dont attend the classes? Sorry if this is a dumb question but I just assumed the only way through was to attend then be tested?

We have to attend to be tested, the next class up though the dog has to pass a club trial to move to the next level..... something I am sure we wont be doing for a very very long time lol!

Sounds like my club. We had to attend for 6 weeks in the beginners then up we go to 1st class. Once in 1st class you can go whenever you want but have to trial to go up to 2nd etc.

I dont have such an issue with the time spent in the class, but then my dog is a bit older and very calm. I figure that its me that is getting the training and its only once a week, she will survive.

However I imagine it would be pretty difficult with a bored pup.

Erny I was comparing the OP's to my club. Imagine if you could go to training every day!!

Edited March 8, 2010 by ✽deelee