I just got wind that Moe Strenfel (Momentum Dog Sports) is holding a course on foundation training nearby...my first reaction was "Can we handle this?" but the more I thought about it, the more I got excited. This would be SO fun for Dash and I, I mean this woman trained with the Bailey's! (Click here for more info on them)
Operant Sonditioning is so much fun but is much harder than using traditional methods. Well, at least for a newbie like me it is. But luckily I was introduced to OC when Dash was still a baby so it's the only method he knows...it's incredible at how much faster he learns than our other traditionally-taught dogs.
Whatever object you put in front of Dash, he knows that if he starts pawing it/nosing it/mouthing it, then one of those behaviors is going to get him a treat. Whereas if I put an object in front of my traditionally trained dog, she just looks at me and waits for ME to do something.
But back on topic, Moe. Oh geez speaking of, I just checked my email and had an email from her...just emailing her makes me nervous. If I do end up taking this course the one thing I am SO nervous about it Dash's screaming issue. The only way I can quiet him is if I tug. It's a good thing and a bad thing...good because he is quiet and transferring his energy to the tug. Bad because he is learning that if he screams he gets a tug. His tug is the most valuable thing to him so me just giving it up whenever he wants it, is not a good thing.
-B
Friday, April 22, 2011
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Stumped.
I have no idea why I have such a hard time keeping up with this blog...I mean, everytime I do a training session with Dash I always record our results, so why can't I do the same here?
Anyway, since my last update Dash has completed beginner's obedience. Woohoo! Except for the mnior detail that he is still a pain in the rear. And only listens when he wants. But for now we all blame it on his boy hormones as he is nearing his first birthday and is still intact. But no worries, he already has an appointment with Dr. Whackemoff.
Our next step will be CGC...as much I dislike the AKC and what it promotes, I just want to prove to myself that I can get that certificate. For me it always seemed like such a faraway thing, something that only 'cool' dogs could achieve. But we're cool dammit, and we're going to get one!
We are still training for flyball and agility, and before I forget here is a link to a recent flyball tourney I attended:
Click here!
This is (hopefully!) the team Dash and I will be competing with. They are a bunch of wonderful people who make everything fun...you never feel pressured if you're dog doesn't learn something right away. It's part of the reason I love training with this group!
-B
Anyway, since my last update Dash has completed beginner's obedience. Woohoo! Except for the mnior detail that he is still a pain in the rear. And only listens when he wants. But for now we all blame it on his boy hormones as he is nearing his first birthday and is still intact. But no worries, he already has an appointment with Dr. Whackemoff.
Our next step will be CGC...as much I dislike the AKC and what it promotes, I just want to prove to myself that I can get that certificate. For me it always seemed like such a faraway thing, something that only 'cool' dogs could achieve. But we're cool dammit, and we're going to get one!
We are still training for flyball and agility, and before I forget here is a link to a recent flyball tourney I attended:
Click here!
This is (hopefully!) the team Dash and I will be competing with. They are a bunch of wonderful people who make everything fun...you never feel pressured if you're dog doesn't learn something right away. It's part of the reason I love training with this group!
-B
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Halti Dependence.
We have a major flaw in our training and it's a major set back.
Dash relies on his halti to know when to behave.
I didn't use his halti on Monday night's obedience class and it was horrible! It was like a replay of the first obedience class...screaming, not listening to any commands, etc. In the back of my mind Susan Garrett just kept reminding me that he was overstimulated and couldn't comprehend my commands, not that he was ignoring me.
Since that class I have started reading "Shaping Success" by Susan Garrett all over again. This will be about my 3rd time reading it, but the first time that any of it really clicks with me as we are now starting actual 'hardcore' training.
At home and in mild stimulating enviroments, Dash is a wonderfully obedient dog who is fun to work with. Any more stimulating than 'mild' is when he goes beserck and just can't handle it. This is when he relies on his halti for help. It almost seems to keep him more grounded (he still gets all hyped up) but at what point do I take it off of him? We gotta start somewhere...
So why not start at this weekend's Flyball tournament? That's my great idea! Haha! I am bringing his halti for a Plan B, as I am thinking we will need all the help we can get.
Expect pictures and maybe some video this weekend from the tournament!
-B
Dash relies on his halti to know when to behave.
I didn't use his halti on Monday night's obedience class and it was horrible! It was like a replay of the first obedience class...screaming, not listening to any commands, etc. In the back of my mind Susan Garrett just kept reminding me that he was overstimulated and couldn't comprehend my commands, not that he was ignoring me.
Since that class I have started reading "Shaping Success" by Susan Garrett all over again. This will be about my 3rd time reading it, but the first time that any of it really clicks with me as we are now starting actual 'hardcore' training.
At home and in mild stimulating enviroments, Dash is a wonderfully obedient dog who is fun to work with. Any more stimulating than 'mild' is when he goes beserck and just can't handle it. This is when he relies on his halti for help. It almost seems to keep him more grounded (he still gets all hyped up) but at what point do I take it off of him? We gotta start somewhere...
So why not start at this weekend's Flyball tournament? That's my great idea! Haha! I am bringing his halti for a Plan B, as I am thinking we will need all the help we can get.
Expect pictures and maybe some video this weekend from the tournament!
-B
Monday, April 4, 2011
Flyball Practice #2.
Just a quick note: I am super lame at naming posts and I'm trying to get better at it! :)
Dash and I went out to our 2nd flyball practice yesterday, and he did even better than last practice. This was his first time running against another dog and although he popped out of the course a couple of times, he did get the hang of it eventually.
He raced against 2 other Border Collies and to say it nicely, he spanked them both! Haha! I am so proud of my dog and I get so excited just thinking about how well he is doing. We also did some box work which he got the ideas really quickly...now to teach him to love tennis balls...
If you want to see some video clips of Dash, just head over to my Youtube Channel: AgilityGurly
I plan to update the Youtube channel quite often as it will be a nice way to track our progress!
-B
Dash and I went out to our 2nd flyball practice yesterday, and he did even better than last practice. This was his first time running against another dog and although he popped out of the course a couple of times, he did get the hang of it eventually.
He raced against 2 other Border Collies and to say it nicely, he spanked them both! Haha! I am so proud of my dog and I get so excited just thinking about how well he is doing. We also did some box work which he got the ideas really quickly...now to teach him to love tennis balls...
If you want to see some video clips of Dash, just head over to my Youtube Channel: AgilityGurly
I plan to update the Youtube channel quite often as it will be a nice way to track our progress!
-B
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Class 2 & 3.
Phew! It has been quite awhile since I have blogged, but it's because I have been so busy!
We have now attended class 2 & 3 out of a total 6 obedience classes. Dash is doing fantastic and hasn't screamed during class. I think he now realizes that just because we are at the agility field doesn't mean that a trial is going on. Although Dash has been taught all basic obedience before we even signed up, this class has really reinforced the behaviors!
Dash's favorite game is when I put him in a Sit-Stay (or Down-Stay), walk a couple feet out and say "Readddddyyyy?" while dangling his tug, followed by "Get it!" He absolutely explodes out of his Stay to get his tug. I believe this game has really helped him to have an awesome drive towards me...and his first Flyball practice confirmed this.
Last Sunday we finally got the time to go out to Flyball (we've been trying for the past month). Of course, Dash didn't disappoint and SCREAMED as soon as we got there... The team captain got Dash in the restrained recall position while I ran out over 2 hurdles. I yelled "Readddddyyy" and then "Get It!" while running away from him. Boy did Dash explode out of that lady's arms and over those 2 hurdles...he wanted his tug! The captain just stared at him and said "Boy he's fast!"
We eventually did the entire course with him and he never went around a hurdle, he stayed right on course like a good boy. The only issue we have is that Dash has never played with a tennis ball. From the moment I got him at 13 weeks old, agility people told me "NO TENNIS BALLS" so Dash has only had tug toys. So over the past week I have taught that in order to get his tug he has to bring me his tennis ball. Luckily he picked this 'trick' up very quickly.
Sorry for such a long post, I just had so much to update!
-B
We have now attended class 2 & 3 out of a total 6 obedience classes. Dash is doing fantastic and hasn't screamed during class. I think he now realizes that just because we are at the agility field doesn't mean that a trial is going on. Although Dash has been taught all basic obedience before we even signed up, this class has really reinforced the behaviors!
Dash's favorite game is when I put him in a Sit-Stay (or Down-Stay), walk a couple feet out and say "Readddddyyyy?" while dangling his tug, followed by "Get it!" He absolutely explodes out of his Stay to get his tug. I believe this game has really helped him to have an awesome drive towards me...and his first Flyball practice confirmed this.
Last Sunday we finally got the time to go out to Flyball (we've been trying for the past month). Of course, Dash didn't disappoint and SCREAMED as soon as we got there... The team captain got Dash in the restrained recall position while I ran out over 2 hurdles. I yelled "Readddddyyy" and then "Get It!" while running away from him. Boy did Dash explode out of that lady's arms and over those 2 hurdles...he wanted his tug! The captain just stared at him and said "Boy he's fast!"
We eventually did the entire course with him and he never went around a hurdle, he stayed right on course like a good boy. The only issue we have is that Dash has never played with a tennis ball. From the moment I got him at 13 weeks old, agility people told me "NO TENNIS BALLS" so Dash has only had tug toys. So over the past week I have taught that in order to get his tug he has to bring me his tennis ball. Luckily he picked this 'trick' up very quickly.
Sorry for such a long post, I just had so much to update!
-B
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