Mabel's training log

Discussion in 'Your Training Logs' started by Pilatelover, Apr 10, 2015.

  1. Joy

    Joy Registered Users

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    Re: Mabel's training log

    It sounds to me as if you did exactly the right thing each time. Although of course you didn't want Mabel to run back to the poodle, at least you know she wasn't frightened by the rough play. I'm sure you'll see continued improvement with all your hard work.
     
  2. Pilatelover

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    Re: Mabel's training log

    [quote author=Naya link=topic=10518.msg158130#msg158130 date=1429648518]
    Training is always ongoing. Until Harley was about 12 months old she could be hit and miss some days, especially with distractions. It took a lot of training and a lot of patience (actually, I'm still proofing it on a regular basis). Keep going x
    [/quote]



    Thank you for your comments they have really helped. We have arrived in Cornwall. First holiday ever with a puppy. Husband a bit weary he's never lived in a house with a puppy before .


    RECALL
    We went on the beach early as Mabel had never seen the sea. She was in her element. She was fabulous came back on the whistle at short distances. Brilliant. This afternoon she was a lot braver and ran across the beach to play with another dog. No recall what so ever. I tried the whistle no such luck, wish I hadn't now I'm worried that my precious recall will be damaged.
    LEAD WALKING
    An awful lot of pulling. Especially in Padstow. She was in sensory over load. Seagulls, children, fish and chips, dogs, dogs and more dogs. She just doesn't do much on the lead walking. On the way back to the car greatly improved. Perseverance is the key. A lot of watch me, nicely when greeting other dogs. Lunging at other dogs and some people can be an issue at times. But definitely an improvement. Meet some lovely people funnily enough they tend to be other Labrador owners. Also some not so nice people. Oh well not everyone's cup of tea a 5 month old puppy.
    I was just so glad I put in so much hard work with socialisation she wasn't fazed by anything today. Pushchairs, cyclists wheelchairs no problem.


    This week I'll continue to work on recall and walking on a loose lead and try and chill out a bit and not get too anxious when things aren't perfect. I love my super friendly bouncy happy girl.
     
  3. Pilatelover

    Pilatelover Registered Users

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    Re: Mabel's training log

    Started a four week clicker course yesterday. Really enjoyed it and got so much out of the class. As there are only two of us we are getting the best tuition ever. Mabel responded well. I can see it being so useful she got very excited this morning when she saw my clicker. So to speak . On her walk she was offering a nice loose lead, walking to heel. Very pleased. I used a very loud excited barking spring spaniel locked in a works van (people can be so cruel) as a training aid. Mabel walked passed on the opposite side of the road calmly, loose lead taking no notice. Plenty of clicks and treats. Very good girl it was a first. Very proud.
    Recall improving out of very shallow water, this is so difficult for my girl pleased with progress. Quick response yesterday for the first time.
    Beginning to recall from other dogs and people although this is very hit and miss I only use the whistle when I'm pretty certain I get the correct response. Big disaster yesterday used the whistle in the woods as she ran off with another spaniel and owner. No response then I realised I hadn't proofed in the woods yet.
    Proofing is just so long winded we will get there in the end. Or so I've been told.
     
  4. Pilatelover

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    Clicker training going well, certainly helps immensely with training. Mabel is very slow to realise what is expected so I have been doing very short training sessions. It's worked today she did spin twice. Clever girl . We have just started using the clicker for shaping behaviour. Our homework is to get Mabel to sit on her blanket with a cue. Yesterday was a disaster I was beginning to think this will never work. Today as soon as she spotted her blanket she ran and sat on it waiting for a treat. Now proofing in different rooms. Wouldn't things be easy if dogs could generalise!
    Pulling towards other dogs and people were real issue today. Super excited. Still doing the turn about walk. Watch me, sit when people approach it is improving unless they are too close especially if we are on a public footpath rather than the roadside. Although some lovely heal work at times. We will get there in the end.
    Greets all dogs she meets beautifully, fascinating to watch how she has learnt to interact differently with different breeds and ages. All the socialisation is paying off nicely.
    Recall, consistent away from water now, long may that continue. Recall away from other dogs not bad providing I'm no more than 10-15 feet away. Definitely improving. If she sees a dog at a distance she's off to say hello. I try and distract her with a little training not always successful. The distance is getting shorter she will now ignore some dogs further away. Possibly more than 200 yards.
     
  5. drjs@5

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    You are doing really really well.
    Clicker seems to have been a great success for you.
    Well done both of you - lovely to hear updates!
     
  6. Pilatelover

    Pilatelover Registered Users

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    Thank you, nice comments are so appreciated. X
     
  7. Pilatelover

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    Training had become a bit, well actually rather a lot lax after Mabel's illness, so relieved she was better and galloping about didn't want to spoil her fun. Trouble was too much self rewarding and being everybody's best friend whether they like it or not. In fact the more they don't like it the harder she tries to win them over. Bless her! With also this in mind went back to original strict plan. Had two really good days. Good recall at a distance while heading off to another dog. Bit of a miracle. I've decided to shout her name and come, only blowing the whistle as she's running towards me just a little worried the whistle command was beginning to mean "run as fast as you can in the opposite direction". Rest of walk with local dog walker and 6 dogs of various breeds all large. Great fun. Practising recall in group scenario worked well. The one thing I have learnt is when a situation presents itself always use as a training recourse.
    Attempting our Bronze on Sunday apparently the trainer seems to think she is capable of passing. We have just mastered the minute stay. The no jumping all over the examiner is possibly a non starter unless she is wearing grey and moves very very slowly. No pressure all good fun.
    Mabel has decided to chase cars! Realised she very rarely walks near traffic. Will be practicing this week.
     
  8. Pilatelover

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    Our morning walk in the pouring rain left a lot to be desired. I decided to practice walking along by traffic. Wednesday's attempt went brilliantly. Not today, lunging as cars and buses went by. Pulling unbearable on the lead. Absolutely ridiculous, I'm using my clicker and some high value treats as this really is a challenge for Mabel and me. I feel so deflated. I'd socialised her so well in the high street she wasn't afraid of anything. I'm doing a 10 minute practice every week day until she shows a consistent improvement and then twice a week I'll incorporate it in our daily walk. It's just so boring. I'm now thinking do I have to walk passed the local infant schools again, although she always seems fine when she sees little children. We will have the summer holidays before too long, plenty of training opportunities ahead anyway.
     
  9. JulieT

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    Sorry to hear that you are having trouble with cars! That's so annoying. I think dogs do need regular exposure to things, in order for them to stay being ok after the early days socialisation is over.

    i hope you see some progress soon.
     
  10. Pilatelover

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    We had clicker training this morning which went really well, it's great to find someone on the same wave length. Mabel did really well with cars today. I was so much more relaxed it really helped, yesterday I wanted it to be right straight away. Trouble is this training malarkey takes a long time. Mabel was playing with a 7 month chocolate lab this afternoon who has no training what so ever, how pleased am I that I continue to train the difference was unbelievable. Pat on the back for me and my girl.
     
  11. JulieT

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    Well done. :)
     
  12. Pilatelover

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    We passed our KC Bronze yesterday. Thrilled Mabel did the minute stay no problem when the examiner said minute up back to your seats Mabel would not move and stayed relaxed in the down. It took ages to persuade her. Moving on to Silver. Yippee
     
  13. drjs@5

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    Well done!
    Mabel you rock! 8)
     
  14. Pilatelover

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    Thanks forgot to mention the examiner said, what a very good kind thoughtful handler I was. Gold star for me.
     
  15. Karen

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    Oh well done to you both! :)
     
  16. Merla

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    That's fantastic- well done you!
     
  17. Joy

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    Well done to you both.
     
  18. Pilatelover

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    This mornings walk was very successful decided to tackle the chasing cars problem. What a splendid girl. So much better love using the clicker. I am allowing her to sniff the hedges etc to her hearts content as the cars go past. No chasing today at all. When we reach the traffic lights close heal work. Glancing at cars but offering heal and focusing on me more times than not. If a bus or van approaches I put Mabel in a sit. Definitely slow progress which appears to be paying off. It's a really awful feeling when your puppy is frightened.
    Recall doing well just one gap. If she sees a dog anything up to a 100 yards away it is absolutely impossible to distract her or get her to change direction she is just off to say hello. Once she's introduced herself had a sniff and play or just acted silly if they won't play. I call again and she races to my side. Most people are absolutely fine commenting on gorgeous puppy etc. I've just had one or two people not happy! One guy told me his dog was completely trained at 6 months and he's never had to do anything further since. Lucky him I'm thinking maybe I've damaged my recall in that particular situation. I'll have another read Total Recall although any experiences, tips would be most welcome.
     
  19. Pilatelover

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    I thought I'd better take a look at how the training is going as training has taken a back seat recently. I'm really pleased with the recall its coming along nicely. It's the one thing I want to do well, especially like most Labrador puppies she thinks everything is her new best friend. I was moaning about it in the park the other day, one of the group who had a Collie said that's actually the best problem to have. Maybe! I've started to call her to me while she is playing with other dogs. Big reward of fish skins when she comes back (I'm not using my whistle just yet until it's more reliable) I've now introduced a new cue of go play as she runs back to play. I don't want her to think oh no mums calling fun is over. I have noticed a big difference in the last couple of days, she is more adventurous, previously she would just poke her head in a hedge and never follow another dog. Not anymore she will disappear with other dogs, little heart in mouth moment when I couldn't see her as she was in the under growth. Called her and she came running a little slow but it was okay. Big cuddles and treats.
    We are working on our Silver, doing well. Started teaching the stop cue. She got it after 3 attempts, next proofing so necessary but long winded. The other dogs in the class are around about 2 years old, not bad going for my girl.
    Still working on paw to target, two minutes stay and out of sight wait. Making slow progress which is fine. Thrilled with my girl, she's so keen to learn and then has those lovely silly chocolate moments that melt my heart.
     
  20. Pilatelover

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    I do feel we are back to square one after Mabel's surgery although it's highly unlikely. I have no idea at the moment when she can return to training classes. Luckily I have an excellent trainer and although she is working towards her KC silver I'll probably go back to the bronze class for a few weeks when the time comes.
    Things to work on.
    Not bouncing over everyone-this had stopped
    Leave it command. I've been lazy with this (will do better )
    2 minutes stay.
    Off lead heal in the garden only at the moment.
    Getting in and out the car in a controlled manner (very very challenging this is proving to be).
    The one thing I adore about my chocolate little girl is her passion for getting amongst the action.
     

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