Dog Training Journal

[primabella]

today we taught micket to stand on his back legs. he knows it very well, considering we only spent about 2 minutes teaching it. amazing what cookies can motivate a pup to do

we also taught him how to play "where's mickey" a game where he hides under the coffee table and one of us walk around saying, "where's mickey?" he slowly creeps out and once we turn and say "there's mickey!" we'd run after him until he hides under the table again. its great exercise - for the both of us!

[ParNone]

Week 2 for Oz

Well the 2 big issues we had last week were heeling and whining.
He did much better at staying in the heeling position this week. <mini yeah!>
He still did the whining thing, if we were stationary too long, but
he did stop, if I said "Quiet" or put him in a "Settle", so definite
improvement there. And when the 4 Rotties got a bit out of
control and were growling and barking at each other, Oz
didn't join in. He totally ignored them. He got some several
"AttaBoys!" for that from me.

For the "Come" command and responding to their name, the
trainer went to each dog to see how they performed with
distractions. Oz was definitely one of the better dogs at those.

One new command this week was "Off" for jumping up. The
trainer went to each dog to entice them to jump up. We
had our foot on the leash, so that the dog would get a
correction as soon as they jumped up and we would say "Off"
at the same time as the leash correction was happening.
She wasn't having much luck getting the dogs to jump up.
Well except for Oz and the Yorkie. That Oz, he definitely thinks
he's a terrier.

Another new command was "Sit Stay". We were without a
doubt the worst ones at this. Oz just doesn't see much point
in that staying in one place thing, doing nothing. He's not
hyper, like Murph use to be, with warp-speed movement,
but he does always seem to need to be moving or doing
something. This is definitely gonna be our main focus before
next class.

All in all I think we're doing real good. The trainer is spending a
lot more time with the Aussie (who I mistook for a Springer
Spaniel last week), the Yorkie and the Pointer and doesn't spend
much time with me and Oz, so I think that's a good sign.

Par...

[Crikit]

Well Tama went to agility on Tuesday and did great. He went through the chute just fine with no problems at all and he just burst through the weaves. We're having some problems with the A-frame but I'm sure he'll get it in time it's just going to take a little bit of time, just like the teeter. This week with the teeter we were trying to teach him to go to the end and ride it down, I'm just going to have to work on it some more.

Then tonight I started a clicker class which should be really good for him. He's already got the idea that click means treat. And we're working on attention and to go to a pillow, I'm just going to have to teach him what to do with the box and decide on what kind of treat I'm going to get him to do.

Yesterday we went to the barn and Smudge and Winter ran the course great considering that I wasn't feeling up to running so I just kind of jogged along instead of running like I usually do...that really through Winter off but it worked because she had to pay more attention to me...if that works I might try it more often.

[wolf_Q]

4th class:

He was actually being pretty good for this class. He was listening quite well. Then the trainer tried to put a treat on his paw and have him "leave it." Now, he knows this, and he does it at home just fine...lol...he wouldn't stop pawing and licking her hand...hmm....Later thouigh, when I had him do it, he did great. He doesn't seem to listen to others very well. He knew the "stand/stay" at home, and he was doing really crappy at this for class too. At least he was doing stand ok....

We did loose leash walking, and he was OK at this until he'd see another dog...every time he sees another dog he goes wild tugging on his leash and jumping at them...Ugh...

At the end, the trainer was handing out our coupons and when she went to give on to me Nebo jumped up and took it from her hand. lol

[ParNone]

hi wolfq!

Just wanted to tell you this was a great idea. I love reading
everybody's progress and trials each week. Makes the
struggles less frustrating to see that everybody's going
through the same thing, even though the actual commands
we're excelling or struggling at differs.

Par...

PS: That Nebo is such a character... Must be hard not to chuckle
at his antics.

[AdoreMyDogs]

Kersey is in her 4th obedience class right now. We actually started a new (and cheaper) school just to try it out and it's OK. I LOVE her old school, but it's just too expensive to take her threw as many classes as I want to. The new instructor is not as much fun, but it's about 50 miles closer and $150 cheaper! In just a few weeks we'll be graduating and I'll then be heading to the advanced class, with an instructor whom I have met and like alot.

Monday I signed her up in the new class, but it was actually the 4th week, so I came in late. It's an 8 week course and we are starting off-lead healing. Kersey's doing very well. In class, when we did about turns and left turnes, Kersey's attention was not quite as it should have been, but she is back in the swing of things now. I train her for 10 minutes every day and she has it down well now. We are also working on "finishes", when she must move into the heal position, and the methods are different then we were used to and she didn't know what to do while in class, but she now does finishes very well.

I am also starting her in tracking this spring, and starting next Sat or Sunday (date not yet set) I will be joining a SAR group for training. I just spoke with the instructor of the SAR group and she gave me some pointers on how to train Kersey to use her nose instead of visual ques. One of the things we will be working on is taking her without Graham to the park to train with her. I will be doing some baited track training in short grass to begin with, then I will move to a field with long grasses once I get her using her nose, instead of her eyes. I will also trade in her flouresent colored tennis balls, to jute and/or hemp balls, which blend in with the earth so much better!

One other pointer that both the advanced class instructor, and the SAR/tracking instructor advised that I work on, is making Kersey actually hand me her tennis balls, instead of spit them at my feet, which she always does. I have one of those "Chuck-It" tennis ball throwers, and I always used it to pick up the tennis ball, and Kersey quickly learned to drop it at my feet, but now I am in the process of "untraining her" to do that, and to hand it to me. I make her present it to me, but it requires a bit of persuasion still. I only just started making her hand me her toys in my hand, without me having to bend down. She is doing well with it, and is just starting to realize that the game is over unless she hands me the ball. It's a bit more gross because the ball is always wet with slobber, but I pretend like it's the most wonderful thing when she actually hands it to me

Monday is our 2nd class at this new school, and we will be doing more off-lead healing. Kerse still tends to get just a tad too far ahead of me while healing, but after our class on Monday, she should do fine I think.

I just recentlly registered Kersey with the Mixed Breed Dog Clubs of America (MBDCA), and that will enable us to show her in obedience and tracking. We are by no means ready to do either, but I will at the very least furthering her obedience. Hopefully she'll like the tracking and SAR work that we are due to start soon.

[Logan]

You guys are such an inspiration!!! Even though we aren't in any training classes, I love reading everything that you are all reporting.

Lilly's report is:

Sit, "gimme five" and "where's my treat?". That's about the extent of our training, forever, I fear!!! LOL!!!

[Dixieland Dancer]

I am getting ready to advance Dusty into the Open class of obedience work. This is the Intermediate level. He is still competing at the Novice level but we are starting the next level. All of this is off lead work now. He is learning now to retrieve a dumb bell and return it to me and to drop on recall. When he reaches the age of 2 in May I will add retrieving the dumb bell over the high jump and the broad jump!

His healing off lead is wonderful even when we do turns if there are no distractions so I am going to concentrate on getting him to do it when there is distractions.

I received the materials for getting certified as a professional trainer and have found many helpful hints that I am going to apply to both of my Goldens!

[Cincy'sMom]

Leslie-

Where did you get the info to regisiter Kersey? I have thought about doing that for both Sadie and Cincy since we will prob. start competeing in Freestyle this summer. I'm not sure if it is neccesary, but would atleast like to look into it.

Thanks!
Amy

[AdoreMyDogs]

Originally posted by Cincy'sMom
Leslie-

Where did you get the info to regisiter Kersey? I have thought about doing that for both Sadie and Cincy since we will prob. start competeing in Freestyle this summer. I'm not sure if it is neccesary, but would atleast like to look into it.

Thanks!
Amy

MBDCA
The obedience club that I now belong to told me about it.

[Cincy'sMom]

Thanks Leslie!

[Cincy'sMom]

I was Cincy's class night again, and as usual, she did REALLY well!! We worked on all the usual stuff, leave it, walking, greeting, etc. but added distractions ( someone running by and a loud noise) "go see", which is encouraging the dog to lead the way to visit someone, and staying in another room with a "stranger" I have been really nervous as to how Cincy would do with the noise, but she barely reacted. I think we can pass this test!!! Only 3 weeks to go!!!

[Dakota's Mommy]

Go CINCY, I know you can do it, just show that mother of yours, LOL! I miss you girl and your sister too. Can't wait to see you in a little over a month or so, but be good for now. If not before on the computer, we'll have another one on one talk when I'm home at the end of March just like we did last June. Again, I really miss you girls and can't wait to see you. Be good for your mommy! Love, Aunt Christy

[lizbud]

Once again, Moki surprised me by doing things in class
that he had trouble remembering at home. We
practiced extra hard last night & we did our lessons before
his supper instead of after. I think it made a difference for
him. The Instructor is offering the CDC test next week for
any of us who feel our pups are ready for it. I'll have to really
consider if I think Moki's ready for it yet.

[Aspen and Misty]

Hee hee. Today I taught Chewy Speak and Dig.. LOL


Ash