Kavik Posted May 22, 2012 Share Posted May 22, 2012 Is it really that important to you that you are able to let him run in the dog park? If it is really important that he run with other dogs what about finding some friends who have dogs that you know he will be OK with or who are at least very well behaved so you can work on his behaviour, rather than meeting random dogs at the dog park? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staffyluv Posted May 22, 2012 Author Share Posted May 22, 2012 Going from the home environment to a park with other dogs in it is a massive jump in terms of what you're asking from him. Did you have some steps in-between working at home and then trying Ziggy at the park, in terms of slowly increasing the distraction level? I don't think I am doing enough Snook - but it is usually just him and I at home most of the time, so maybe I need to take him on leashed walks at the local park before attempting the dog park.. Today the kids next door were running and yelling in their yard and he could see them through the fence but stayed with me and kept on with what I was asking him (stay, come etc).. So he can do it - I just think other dogs are way more fun to him than kids are. We will keep working at it. Is it really that important to you that you are able to let him run in the dog park? If it is really important that he run with other dogs what about finding some friends who have dogs that you know he will be OK with or who are at least very well behaved so you can work on his behaviour, rather than meeting random dogs at the dog park? You may have a point Kavik - I guess it is probably as much for me as it is for him. I love the interaction with other people and their dogs and watching them all have a great time playing together and it lets him have a really good run. If there are no dogs around that seem insecure he doesn't do it. He plays lovely with our friends female stafford and every foster we have had here he is awesome with. He seems to want to be with other dogs - he gets so excited when he sees another dog. Most of my friends have smaller yards as well, so the only way he can get to have a run is to go to an offlead park. Otherwise he is just walking around.. I do a fair bit of basic training things at home but we need more, both of us. I have left yet another message with the local dog club about joining - hopefully someone will get back to me soon. I need to learn how to teach him and get him to listen to me. I think being around other dogs in a controlled environment will benefit both of us. Even the trainer thought that joining her classes would be the best thing for him but her classes are about a 45 minute drive each way for me. I would rather join something a bit closer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kavik Posted May 22, 2012 Share Posted May 22, 2012 I'd rather my dogs have more value for me and for what we are training than for interacting with other dogs, especially if that interaction is not appropriate at times. I find I am able to give my dogs plenty of interaction and stimulation from training activities on walks and in training classes, without going to a dog park :) Kaos occasionally gets to run with friend's dogs who I know well, but never with a large group of random dogs at a park. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staffyluv Posted May 22, 2012 Author Share Posted May 22, 2012 Thanks guys, I do see that he probably doesn't need to have a run at the park and that it is me wanting to have that freedom. I just need to do more with him at home... Snook what you are saying does make sense to me. We have been working on him catching things as a fun thing in between other training. This morning he caught the ball, the toy and treats without missing one thing. My son was home this afternoon and I wanted to show him how Ziggy is catching. Ziggy missed everything I threw when I said catch... I think the distraction of having Cory there was the issue because as soon as he left Ziggy. Caught the ball again. I think I had a lightbulb moment and I realise it all depends on the level of distraction around him. Now more than ever I know I need more help and have filled in the forms for the local dog training group... Hopefully they respond to their mail as I sent another message and still have not heard anything... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconRange Posted May 22, 2012 Share Posted May 22, 2012 Find out what day/night the local obedience class trains (do they have a website or facebook page?) and phone them during training hours. Our club has a phone, but it isn't staffed outside training hours, so this might be why you aren't getting a response. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staffyluv Posted May 22, 2012 Author Share Posted May 22, 2012 Find out what day/night the local obedience class trains (do they have a website or facebook page?) and phone them during training hours. Our club has a phone, but it isn't staffed outside training hours, so this might be why you aren't getting a response. :) They only have a mobile phone to leave a message and the website says it is to contact the secretary of the club...I have left numerous messages. So now I have filled in the paperwork that was in a link and have to send it off with his vacc certificate.. I am hoping that gets me a response as I have to send a cheque with it to join. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kavik Posted May 22, 2012 Share Posted May 22, 2012 (edited) Can't you just show up with the paperwork on the day? Edited May 22, 2012 by Kavik Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wuffles Posted May 22, 2012 Share Posted May 22, 2012 You could always try contacting CDC, as they're not too far from Queanbeyan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nawnim Posted May 22, 2012 Share Posted May 22, 2012 (edited) ... Edited June 1, 2012 by padraic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cleo's Corgwyn Posted May 23, 2012 Share Posted May 23, 2012 I checked with a Quangers instructor I know and she said email is the best method as far as she knows, so hopefully you'll hear back soon! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staffyluv Posted May 23, 2012 Author Share Posted May 23, 2012 Kavik, not sure if I can just show up. The website does say when days and times and terms training is held... I thought it might be a bit rude to just show up if others had already booked and had their places approved. They do say they limit each class to a max of 10... If I don't hear, it might be my only option. Cleo, thanks for that, I will try email and I posted copies of my application, his C5 vacc cert and a cheque to them today, so I guess I can email them tomorrow telling them I have posted the info in, just to cover all bases... I am really keen to get him into training... Although I think I need it more than he does, he seems to pick things up so quickly... It is just the distraction thing I need the most help with... Wuffles and padriac, I will try CDC if I can't get onto them this time...thanks for the suggestions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staffyluv Posted May 24, 2012 Author Share Posted May 24, 2012 Great news for us.. Our trainer is going to start group lessons in June, so we have signed up with her... I can't wait to start and I know Ziggy and I will be so much better for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lilmisssascha83 Posted May 25, 2012 Share Posted May 25, 2012 Hi Staffyluv, I was going to suggest CDC. Jo is pretty good in getting back to people. I know when I first joined up she was really quick in responding to my emails and she also calls people back who leave messages. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staffyluv Posted May 25, 2012 Author Share Posted May 25, 2012 Great news for us.. Our trainer is going to start group lessons in June, so we have signed up with her... I can't wait to start and I know Ziggy and I will be so much better for it. That's great Staffyluv! And the icing on the cake is she contacted me today to ask me if there was anywhere in Queanbeyan that would be suitable.. Even better that is where we live. I really can't wait to get him into this. Even our trainer said he needs this to learn to deal with distraction... Totally excited. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staffyluv Posted September 9, 2012 Author Share Posted September 9, 2012 Just thought I would update on how Zig is going with the recall and in your face dog issues... I braved the dog park for the first time in a very long time today... Hoping that all the work we have been doing will pay off when he is off leash with heaps of distraction.. It is definitely paying off.. He recalled nearly all the time (nope, not perfect yet)... There were 2 occasions when I had to call him a couple of times.. But I have worked out if i sa 'Zig, let's go', he comes first time... His in your face attitude that has been an issue is still there. However he only did it once nadi called him out and kept him away from the other dog... He did pretty well for a first time out and off lead with other dogs... He was very excited to be running with the other dogs and had a lovely rumble with the biggest lab I have ever seen. He had a fun time playing with 3 Poms that turned up to. He came over to me about 45 minutes after of fun time and nudged his lead, so I said, let's go and we left.. He waited patiently at the gate while I put his lead on and mostly his behaviour was a huge improvement on what it was when we started this thread... We have used our trainers advice and the advice of a lot of people here. We now use a Lupi harness and he no longer pulls when wearing it. He is much mprived when just wearing a flat collar. His recall has improved out of sight and his other issue of getting in other dogs faces is looking like it might be under effective control. This was our first test out and I am so happy with him. I am sure we will continue to improve and I am sure we will have the occasional set back. But it just goes to show, if you put the work in, it really does pay off... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staffyluv Posted September 9, 2012 Author Share Posted September 9, 2012 That's an awesome update staffyluv. Thanks snook, he really did me proud today.. I can see his over exuberance though and I know if I was to let up even a bit, he could easily slip back to old behaviour... I still think I will limit his free running time with lots of other dogs. But I think it is good practice for his training... After all, how will he learn to ignore the distractions if there are none.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staffyluv Posted September 17, 2012 Author Share Posted September 17, 2012 Blimey this dog is frustrating sometimes.. Back at training yesterday. Training started about 10.30am and finished at 12.15pm. Yep it's a long time but there are 5 of us in the group and each dog has its own 'issues'... For the first 45 minutes or so, even our trainer commented on how great he was - he really did me proud. He did everything that was asked of him. Even sitting in the car with the door open and he doesn't get out unless invited (even with other dogs around). Then it started - he was lunging towards other dogs (not aggressively but he wanted to get close to them to play, sniff whatever). He was jumping on his lead, laying on the ground and totally out of control - I had no control over him at all. After about 5-10 minutes of trying to regain control by walking him away, offering treats, tennis ball, I gave up and put him in the car. When we got home, he slept all afternoon - am I working him to much for to long at training? Am I expecting to much from him? He is about 18 months old now. How long is it before he does what I want him to do ALL the time? or at least when I ask him to do something.. We do training at home every day - it might be for 5-10 minutes at a time but it is everyday and a few times a day to reinforce what he learns at training. Maybe we need obedience classes instead of these special type classes? I don't know - I do know I am getting frustrated with 2 steps forward and then 2 steps back... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weasels Posted September 17, 2012 Share Posted September 17, 2012 (edited) am I working him to much for to long at training? It does sound like it - my brain started to go to mush after 45-minute uni lectures too! How long is it before he does what I want him to do ALL the time? or at least when I ask him to do something.. Possibly never They're 'only human' after all :D Sounds like you are doing great tho and compare how well you are doing now to when you started and remember you will just keep improving with all the work you are doing - and he isn't even an adult yet! Edit - Weez started to come good around 2 years old, all the work I put into him seems totally worthwhile now I can trust him off-lead around most things and can recall him/do heelwork in front of sheep which I couldn't even 6 months ago :) I felt many times we were getting nowhere too! Edited September 17, 2012 by Weasels Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kavik Posted September 17, 2012 Share Posted September 17, 2012 (edited) It sounds like a long time to ask him to concentrate to me! Are you able to keep the same level of enthusiasm up for the two hours? If you have a hard time keeping the same level of enthusiasm up it would be hard for him to as well! Are they expected to work the entire time or do they get some 'down time'? Is it possible for you to excuse yourself part way through to give him a break before the time he gets to the point he can't concentrate? Put him in a crate or in the car? In agility classes, I will do some relationship building exercises before and after our runs, and when we are finished I put Kaos back in his crate until it is his turn on the next sequence. That way I am only asking for his full concentration for a short amount of time, and I can give him my full attention and concentration at that time as well. Edited September 17, 2012 by Kavik Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staffyluv Posted September 17, 2012 Author Share Posted September 17, 2012 Thanks guys - I know I am expecting a bit much from him deep down. Like I said, when we train at home it is only for a short time and then at training he is expected to stand still or do what's asked for a long time.. He does get a bit of time out in the car during the training time.. He tends to get really hot in the sun in a short period and need to cool off in the shade with cool water to. Thinking about it, it was really warm yesterday and he wanted to go back to his water quite a bit.. I think the class is just to long for hi To be honest, I am happy to stay there as long as it takes with him but he just shuts down after a while and then starts being naughty... I try to keep the enthusiasm up, I try treats, tennis ball and change over to try to keep him motivated - when he starts this new jumping around on the lead (and can he jump high, it's like he has springs for legs) like he is trying to get away that I lose my enthusiasm and get frustrated. Maybe he is telling me he has had enough. I might ask her if we can attend half classes, she is pretty flexible with classes we can attend - if we miss one in our group, we can attend another group class. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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