Recruiting Circus Performers

[Genabee]

Ok... so I know that relative to some, perhaps even some of you reading this, I work Genevieve pretty hard in the obedience/trick department... (maybe not as hard as Elbie!!!! ) Admittedly, I don't have to take her to school every week. I don't have to play with her, by her toys, teach her things etc... I choose to, or rather we choose to, because we believe it makes for a happier, healthier dog all round. And no, I don't expect everyone would do this with their pooch. Bearing all this in mind...

In my movements today, I came across a lady who is getting a puppy, and asked about what age is ideal for puppy school. I gave her my two cents worth (along with others), as you do... I explained that you want to pick a good pre-school programme that covers lots of things, not just free-for-alls where the pups get all wound up and go mental. I explained how for example the one we attended was great because Genevieve learnt all these things etc. And further explained how we continue with obedience now because I felt 4 weeks at puppy school was not enough. And I said start sooner rather than later, as bad habits can set in without even realising...

Her response...

She doesn't want a circus performer, just wants to make sure the dog sits when it is told and it craps outside, not on her bed! Fair enough.

I further explained that it isn't about creating a 'circus performer', the things they learn actually serve a purpose - like getting them to lie down or stand to groom them, getting them to stay so they don't run on to the road etc.

Anyway, she failed to see my point.

Rant over.

Apparently Genevieve should join the circus. Any followers?

[poodlefan]

Sometimes it helps to explain that you are teaching "manners" not "tricks".

Sit, drop, wait for your bowl, come when you are called and don't pull on the lead are just "good manners".

[Genabee]

Sometimes it helps to explain that you are teaching "manners" not "tricks".

Sit, drop, wait for your bowl, come when you are called and don't pull on the lead are just "good manners".

Good thinking poodle fan! I should have been quicker on my feet.

I know I probably took it way too personally... But I also think, why ask in the first place...

[koalathebear]

There's a related thread over here where I gave my reasons why we teach Elbie tricks.

Dog ownership is such a personal thing. I know people who never take their dogs to obedience, believe that dogs should be 'natural' i.e. no tricks/training/desexing/even housetraining etc. I met a guy at work today with two purebred Rhodesian Ridgebacks that he says are bad-mannered and have never been to obedience. A girl at work has four dogs and none of them have done obedience but apparently they all walk very nicely on a leash and have manners at mealtime and that's what's important to her - I think one of them also works as a pig dog (tracking the pigs).

Other people just want their dogs for companionship and just need some very basic manners from their dogs.

Quite a lot of people (including members of my own family) judge us for the tricks we teach Elbie, but at the end of the day - we just want to keep our dog happy and entertained. He's a mutt that probably comes from a working line kelpie and a working line border collie - this could be a disastrous combo in a suburban backyard but so far he seems very happy and non-destructive. We're also intending to take him herding again - just to keep him entertained.

We were also told to distinguish between "commands" (sit/drop/stay/wait/come) and "tricks" like shake hands, drop dead, spin etc. Anyway, it's easy to feel a bit sensitive about it but we've decided that dog-raising is much like child-raising and every parent/owner seems to have his/her own philosophy and so as long as the dog's happy, healthy and well-adjusted - it's really no one else's business.

ETA: Elbie's too young for agility/flyball etc and will be for ages so we have to keep him entertained in the interim

Edited September 28, 2010 by koalathebear

[poodlefan]

Sometimes it helps to explain that you are teaching "manners" not "tricks".

Sit, drop, wait for your bowl, come when you are called and don't pull on the lead are just "good manners".

Good thinking poodle fan! I should have been quicker on my feet.

I know I probably took it way too personally... But I also think, why ask in the first place...

My personal favourite was a friend's boyfriend who told me that training would turn a dog into a "robot". HIS pup was going to be "a free spirit".

"Oh really" was my comment "free to pee and poo in the house?"

"Of course not!!" he said.

"Oh, so you will be training him then" was my comment.

Edited September 28, 2010 by poodlefan

[Genabee]

Sometimes it helps to explain that you are teaching "manners" not "tricks".

Sit, drop, wait for your bowl, come when you are called and don't pull on the lead are just "good manners".

Good thinking poodle fan! I should have been quicker on my feet.

I know I probably took it way too personally... But I also think, why ask in the first place...

My personal favourite was a friend's boyfriend who told me that training would turn a dog into a "robot". HIS pup was going to be "a free spirit".

"Oh really" was my comment "free to pee and poo in the house?"

"Of course not!!" he said.

"Oh, so you will be training him then" was my comment.

I feel better already!

[persephone]

Yep -

I often explain to people about educating their dogs ..

educating them in the house rules, so that there is less work for the humans, and a set of behaviours to which a dog should adhere. , and educating them so they are easy to handle .

To a lot of folks, this sounds better than 'training' which can conjure up all sorts of images

[aussielover]

Sometimes it helps to explain that you are teaching "manners" not "tricks".

Sit, drop, wait for your bowl, come when you are called and don't pull on the lead are just "good manners".

Good thinking poodle fan! I should have been quicker on my feet.

I know I probably took it way too personally... But I also think, why ask in the first place...

My personal favourite was a friend's boyfriend who told me that training would turn a dog into a "robot". HIS pup was going to be "a free spirit".

"Oh really" was my comment "free to pee and poo in the house?"

"Of course not!!" he said.

"Oh, so you will be training him then" was my comment. :D

There was actually a couple at our puppy school with a staffy cross puppy that actually DID have this attitude.

They actually let him pee/poo in the house and said that in the morning the dog left all these "presents" for them WTF??? The puppy was also allowed free run of the whole house and they didn't believe in crates or playpens or even confining to a few rooms because that was "cruel".

They were only doing puppy class so that he could "make friends"

The teacher got them into line pretty quick though :D

[W Sibs]

I'll follow with Charlie and Emmy!!

I get accused by people I know of not letting my puppies be puppies/dogs and because of the training we do.

But, at the end of the day, my dogs are the one that gets invited to picnics, bbq, camping etc because they are well behaved, whereas they don't trust their dogs to do that or they will get embrassed if they took their dog out in public.

[Genabee]

I'll follow with Charlie and Emmy!!

I get accused by people I know of not letting my puppies be puppies/dogs and because of the training we do.

But, at the end of the day, my dogs are the one that gets invited to picnics, bbq, camping etc because they are well behaved, whereas they don't trust their dogs to do that or they will get embrassed if they took their dog out in public.

Exactly!!!

As KTB said, it is a bit like having kids...

At least my 'privately educated, snob, circus trick performing' dog, will be quite the socialite!