The Dog Training Success And Progression Thread, Part II Options

[Bunter1]

[KB Merlin's Mum]

This is a bit exciting. A new thread for 2012.

Best make some progress now...

[Wanders off to dust down CU and get the clicker out.]

[riotous_uk]

you know, this Alfie dog really has come a long way, even if I hadn't really realised it until the last few days. For those that don't know, this is a dog that used to mouth hard on your arms when he got excited.

Today I wanted to see how good his self-control really is so we started playing tug, got him right into it then asked for a leave and then an immediate sit stay. Didn't relaly think that he'd manage it, but he did 10 secs at the first attempt (my target). repeated and he met the 20 sec target, repeated the game and then stay and he reached the 30s target easily.

Then played tug, asked for a sit and wait whilst the toy was thrown, realeased him and had another game of tug. Did the same in a down.

Then the last bit, got him really going in a game of tug, asked for a leave and a sit and he achjieved 1 min stay. In all of the above the toy was in plain sight in my hands and he made no attempt to grab at it or me. What a dog ♥ He's going to make someone a smashing dog.

Well impressed with that lad's self control. Pretty sure teal couldn't manage that. Leon could and Faith but they aren't as full on as Alfie and Teal.

Will be doing some more training as I've decided to put him throw his bronze Good Cits test and see how it goes. Won't be many dogs or people about on test night, so we'll give it a bash. Might help him get a home.

[woofgang]

Oh well done Alfie ...I could see how mouthing hard on your arm could make him less than a popular rehome

[nikirushka]

Oh Pauline that is fab, I love reading about his progress He's done so wonderfully well with you, I always have my fingers and toes crossed that his forever sofa will pop up very soon. It's about time it did.


Raine is continuing her little happy spree - this morning I was randomly brushing dogs in bed with a bristle brush and she was rather forcibly nudging me to do it more when I stopped. This is the dog who has always found brushes a bit of a worriesome affair and not been at all keen She even let me brush her tail And hold it too, albeit briefly but I didn't want to push it.

She's also, just now, let me run my hand from her head down her back to touch her tail just briefly - it did go straight down BUT she bounced straight back to happy afterwards, and got a whole sausage for the trauma Bless her, she was so keen to get the sausage she launched herself at it and fell over but still happy - before when I've tried to do a bit of CC with sausage and touching her tail or feet, she's laways gotten terribly worried regardless and slunk off not wanting the treats.

What's really gotten to me is how this has all come about - now it could be the food; I put her on gluten free two weeks ago, but she's still getting normal cheap dog biscuits for treats, value sausages etc, so I don't think it is that.

But the only other thing I've changed is toy play, again - final stage of it now I think, and that's been to teach her that SHE makes the decision about whether it gets thrown/kicked or not. It's taken a long time, but I give her no cues at all to drop it for me, no signals, nothing, if she wants it thrown she drops it and backs off, if not, she just carries on running. She's gone from a dog who was totally crazy-obsessed, drooling, manic, dropping it to chase constantly no matter how long the walk, to a dog who might drop it once or twice on the whole walk if that.

And, she's not having it at all at the moment since she hurt her claw - and she's happier than ever. The last few walks in the field, she's checked for it first, then just tootled off to do her own thing and been very relaxed and happy about it She still wants to play in the garden but that's my issue - because of the dog flap they've all learned that if I go outside they're going to get a kickabout with the cuzzes so that's something I need to address as she can still be a bit manic there. But still nothing like she was. And I'm probably going to block the flap soon anyway (will have to if I'm going to succeed with saving the lawn this year!).

[riotous_uk]

sounds like things ar emoving on with Raine as well, but she may also benefit from some self-control exercises.

[nikirushka]

Oh absolutely, I'll be working a few into the days now that's she's so much more relaxed. Training has been tricky with her up to now - just so worried all the time in case she makes a mistake and gets the dread 'AH!' screeched at her thanks to that ruddy trainer so rather than be enjoyable, any sessions have been stressful because she's always worried about consequences (even though she's never had any corrections from me in our clicker sessions)

I'm hoping now she will start to enjoy them - her self control is fantastically better than it was, just needs tweaking really

I should point out, the sausage behaviour is not normal for her, she is normally very patient and takes treats nice and gently. She was still a bit giddy from enjoying her brushing I think and of course she doesn't normally get an entire sausage!

[staffymad]

Well done Raine and Alfie

Not sure if anyone remembered about my 'steam train pulling problem'? I can say now say that we have a 90% of time non pulling little tank aka Lilly, well for me anyway

[jackied]

I have managed to walk the dogs together for 5 weekday walks in succession without any major catastrophes.

Lucy can now stay completely calm while I do LAT or whatever with Twix, her LLW has improved enough that they're not a nightmare to hold onto, and although her recall isn't perfect I trust her more than I did at one point, as long as I can keep her out of the Pheasant Field of Doom .

[celia]

Barney did a sort of wrong then right thing today. A dog that Beth knows, but not Barney, came bombing over to greet her, she doesn't like him that much but anyway he came galloping across the snow suddenly.
Barney shot after him, snow makes his legs work faster , and he garrumphed and postured a bit . He came away when I told him to leave , even though Ben dog came too. A friend was with me and took hold of Barney while I directed Ben back to his person. Barney did not want Ben coming near my friend but overall it was a grumpy but not disastrous incident and I don't think his grumpiness bothered young Ben at all ,as he seemed keen to stay with us till I escorted him away. So not exactly progress but within certain parameters not too bad either.

[rosiemongrel]

we have a 90% of time non pulling little tank aka Lilly, well for me anyway

Fab

Lucy can now stay completely calm while I do LAT or whatever with Twix, her LLW has improved enough that they're not a nightmare to hold onto, and although her recall isn't perfect I trust her more than I did at one point

WTG Jackie & Lucy

it was a grumpy but not disastrous incident and I don't think his grumpiness bothered young Ben at all ,as he seemed keen to stay with us till I escorted him away. So not exactly progress but within certain parameters not too bad either.

Not bad at all, that's practically ic Barney

This post has been edited by rosiemongrel: 7th Feb 2012, 4:16 pm

[nikirushka]

Not sure if anyone remembered about my 'steam train pulling problem'? I can say now say that we have a 90% of time non pulling little tank aka Lilly, well for me anyway

Fantastic, well done you! Pulling on lead is my big fall down, I'm lazy as hell about doing it and if I do manage to get out and do some I never do it long enough to actually get anywhere because I just run out of patience. So I'm full of admiration for anyone who does!

So not exactly progress but within certain parameters not too bad either.

I think that's brilliant, good boy Barney!

[jackied]

That's great about Lilly (LLW makes life SO much more pleasant), and Barney too.

within certain parameters not too bad

I know exactly what you mean. Sometimes things can be an improvement even if they're still not really what you want. And it sounds like a complicated situation to handle - dogs, people, snow. Barney being able to STOP being grumpy is really good.

[staffymad]

Fab

Thank you

Fantastic, well done you! Pulling on lead is my big fall down, I'm lazy as hell about doing it and if I do manage to get out and do some I never do it long enough to actually get anywhere because I just run out of patience. So I'm full of admiration for anyone who does!
I think that's brilliant, good boy Barney!

Thank you Its hard work as we normally drive to off lead places but part of the clicker training classes we have been doing LLW whilst waving through cones and Lilly loves the class and has become so much more responsive to LLW out and about. Still some way to go but slowly but surely getting there

That's great about Lilly (LLW makes life SO much more pleasant), and Barney too.

Thank you

Well done also to Barney and Lucy

[Gnasher]

you know, this Alfie dog really has come a long way, even if I hadn't really realised it until the last few days.
Will be doing some more training as I've decided to put him throw his bronze Good Cits test and see how it goes. Won't be many dogs or people about on test night, so we'll give it a bash. Might help him get a home.

well done fantastic Alfie - I have no idea why he has not found his forever home yet!

Raine is continuing her little happy spree - this morning I was randomly brushing dogs in bed with a bristle brush and she was rather forcibly nudging me to do it more when I stopped. This is the dog who has always found brushes a bit of a worriesome affair and not been at all keen She even let me brush her tail

Well done Raine

Not sure if anyone remembered about my 'steam train pulling problem'? I can say now say that we have a 90% of time non pulling little tank aka Lilly, well for me anyway

Fab progress for Lilly

I have managed to walk the dogs together for 5 weekday walks in succession without any major catastrophes.

Lucy can now stay completely calm while I do LAT or whatever with Twix, her LLW has improved enough that they're not a nightmare to hold onto, and although her recall isn't perfect I trust her more than I did at one point, as long as I can keep her out of the Pheasant Field of Doom .

for Lucy and Twix

Barney did a sort of wrong then right thing today.

Barney sounds good to me

I would like to add Molly to this thread she had never been off lead when I first got her and was so obsessed with chasing birds that off-lead was a scary thought we have worked through the long line and trailing line stuff, then off-lead with the occasional less good bit but somehow we have finally got there I need to pay close attention when she is off-lead and call her back frequently so she does not start to do her own thing and go off hunting but I am finding I can now trust her off lead more and more