What to do......

[super D]

Yes, i know what you mean, shropshire is quite crap for stuff, too rural really, nice for walking the dogs but not for much else lol

xx

Originally Posted by super D

Ok I'll try and make this as brief as possible,
Dalton has been trained from 8 weeks, how to do his business on command and all the basics, we did the puppy foundation course from the kennel club which he passed at about 17 weeks if i remember correctly, Any how the trainer then was nice but more into collies ans smaller breeds.


Anyway after lots of crying, and thinking that i had more dog than i could handle, btten off much more than i could chew, I searched and got Dalton toy motivated, in weeks that followed he started to correct behaviour, it worked brilliantly and will do anything you ask with his toy, and lately doesnt need the toy very much at all, he will do a bootiful recall, leaveit etc without any pay off other than "yes" and a good boy etc.
We are working on distance command, which he is doing really well, his prey drive is controllable, and has done a complete 360 in terms of behaviour, you couldnt ask for a better behaved 10 month old.
Anyway waffle over, my dilemma now is after searching within a set distance of home, i cant find a trainer with equipment, or is willing to look at the way we work, having there own ideas, which i respect, But Dalton wont react to a bit of cheese, the pay off has to be huge, food isnt big enough, so.......do i go back to this old trainer and just adapt things to my wa of working, or just keep training on my own, Dalton is a worker, need the stimulation otherwise he is a demon lol. I guess, its all about wanting to make sure Im doing stuff right with him, that he is on the right track, I dunno im confused
What do ya reckon

xx

Hi there!

I have just come back after being away for a few days and seen this. I just wanted to add my few pennies worth!! If you were considering training other peoples dogs I would be first in the queue! My dogs have never been treat orientated and sometimes its difficult to get them interested in their toy (which they love) especially if something else is cracking off which to them is more interesting! I have long looked and searched for something that they will pay attention to! Please could you write all your tips in a book and I for one will buy it!! Sounds to me like you don't need no trainers! But seriously, I do understand wanting company. Let me know when you have written all your tactics down!!! (I'm serious!) Julia

[super D]

Ohhh dunno about righting a book, im not that clever.
I dont know much about other peoples dogs either sounds like hard work to me lol,
I basically watch Dalton, usually i know if he will react, and what he will do, we have done alot of watching lately lol, he is quite readable for a willfull little git, and today he has had a few brain farts,
Anyway the key I think to toy work is you choosing the toy, Make the toy interesting, but dont let them play with it, keep playing with your toy for days until the dog really really wants it, i mean desperate to get hold of it, Dalton wants any toy i have, bit like a kid, anyway after days of not giving them the toy, remember put it away when they want it. Then eventually give them the toy for a few mins, then take it away.
This toy then has power, take it with you when out, if your dog goes to run to another dog, get the toy make a big deal of it, they will come back because its you toy, let them play with it. this toy should only ever come out for training and if you need the power over them.
Dalton's special toys are small teething kongs with rope threaded threw, he will do anything for it.
Remember dont over use it as it looses its power and then will be useless , Dalton gets his when training, and if i need power.
You can also enpower the leave it with this special toy, play say leave it, the start play again.
We play alot i make a massive fuss when he get something right, so much so he constantly thinks what are we doing now mum, so if it comes to me and his kong, or a guy up the field playing with his dog and a frisbie, he will choose me.
May not work for everyone, but works for me.
I have basically made sure Dalton wants to be with me more than anything else in the world.
hope this helps

xx

[super D]

I forgot to add, i started toy training about 4 months ago, and lately a friend told me to control his prey drive by playing even more with him, we rag about again doing leave it, sits downs etc, get him really focused before walks, this way he is even more focused on me, and what i will do next, totally confuses him so he has to watch me carefully to try and anticipate my next move.
Plus now he isnt interested in any distraction 99% of the time, we walk on a regular collar and lead, and dont use any head collars at all, he doesnt get spooked as he is being too nosy at me
Dalton and I have so much to learn, we have done well together, but i feel there is always something else to get to grips with, its never ending and they have a habbit of suprising you all the time, Dalton is a learniong curve which has been stresfu; and exciting all in one go.
But there is always someone to help or give advice which i will always be truely grateful of
xx

Originally Posted by super D

I forgot to add, i started toy training about 4 months ago, and lately a friend told me to control his prey drive by playing even more with him, we rag about again doing leave it, sits downs etc, get him really focused before walks, this way he is even more focused on me, and what i will do next, totally confuses him so he has to watch me carefully to try and anticipate my next move.
Plus now he isnt interested in any distraction 99% of the time, we walk on a regular collar and lead, and dont use any head collars at all, he doesnt get spooked as he is being too nosy at me
Dalton and I have so much to learn, we have done well together, but i feel there is always something else to get to grips with, its never ending and they have a habbit of suprising you all the time, Dalton is a learniong curve which has been stresfu; and exciting all in one go.
But there is always someone to help or give advice which i will always be truely grateful of
xx

Thanks for your quick reply! I understand what you mean, I pick a toy (say a small ball on a rope) play with it infront of the dog but don't let them have it. Repeat this for several days til they are so nosey and jump up and down to get the toy and then eventually let them play with it for a couple of mins. Next step is to play in the garden, sits downs etc BEFORE going for a walk so they are looking to you to see what you are doing? Do you use your special toy to play in the garden before walk? Do you let them see you put the special toy in your pocket? I can't wait for the heatwave to go away so I can go out and practise this!!!

Thanks ever so, its been really helpful and look forward to your replies!!! Julia

[super D]

Yes we play with them in the garden before we walk to the field to do more training/playing, he actually looks where there kept to make sure i put them in my pocket, and looks to my pocket then to me while we walk.
Make sure that toy is like gold dust to them, and they will work for it, I taught him emergency downs this way too, I throw a kong, he goes to get it, on his way back I hold the other kong in the air, he stops because he thinks i am going to throw it, then you say "down" and use your hand signal whatever that maybe, he lays down, his reward is me throwing him the kong.;
I do hope all this makes sense as i explain better face to face

xx

[Beki]

LOL sarah i have mental images of you wanging a kong over ur head dancing doing hand signals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! lol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Loves ya!

x x x x x

[super D]

One word of warning,
Take the special toy off your dog if another dog appraoches, I made this mistake with Dalton He loves dogs as a rule, but not while he has his toy, he wil go for them, snarl, bark wrinkles his lips so you can see his teeth, and if they then approach further he will snap, not a very good quality, so i usually say Ok thats it, and take it off him and put it back in my pocket till its safe.
To him his toys are gold, touch it at your peril, so to be safe i take it when in company of dogs

xx

[super D]

Originally Posted by Beki

LOL sarah i have mental images of you wanging a kong over ur head dancing doing hand signals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! lol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Loves ya!

x x x x x

Beki if you could only see it, im sure the neighbour think i need sectioning, but i tell you he will come back straight away, even if he thinks im gonna take it out of my pocket, he will recall on a sixpence

xx

[Beki]

im too young to remember a sixpence but i imagine its a small coin????


**hides as walking on thin ice haha but has the devil in her like D**