more teenage trouble?

We're two weeks from Rusty supposedly taking his grade two gun dog test and while he is perfectly capable of all the exercises he doesn't seem to want to work. Last week he even tried very hard not to work for Tony the trainer (who he adores) I've tried different exercises to start with but I'm always marching him home almost immediately - he's trying to turn everything into a game - even the stop whistle! he's also gone through a fearful stage where sudden moves make him cower and my friend Rog who he adores made him pee in fright just by standing over him. Any suggestions? Do I just grit my teeth and hope that his hormones calm down soon? I'm trying all the things Tony tells me but he still playing about.

 

Re: more teenage trouble?

Hi Carole

Sorry, I missed this one!

It is horrible when things seem to take a backward turn. It can be two steps forward and one step back at times.

Tony knows Rusty quite well now, and is such a hugely experienced trainer that without seeing your dog, the best advice I can probably give you is to hang on to Tony's every word and keep pestering him for more ideas!

However, whenever you get a bit stuck in training, a good way to get back on course is to 'back up' to a point where you were succeeding, rather than pushing on with a situation where he is playing up. Even if it means giving your dog exercises that seem ridiculously easy.

There could be any number of reasons for Rusty's behaviour but whatever they are, if you give him some exercises that he can do standing on his head (hopefully not literally) you may find that helps you through a sticky patch and will enable you to move forwards again quite swiftly in a few days.

Hope that helps

Pippa

 

Re: more teenage trouble?

Pippa! the image of Rusty standing on his head gave me a real giggle - I'm sure not even Tony could get him to do that!
Since I posted this we had another lesson where Tony thinks he's so over sensitive something I'm doing to causing it but he has no idea what! he went extremely submissive to the point of being scared, so we tried me jogging with him heeling on the lead to "gee him up a bit" he quite liked this and did an ok retrieve afterwards. So I was told to "lighten up" which I did yesterday. (this was a first I'be been consistently told to firm up, mainly because i have a fairly pathetic girl voice) We did some (on lead) heel and some sit stay to steady him - all perfect. Then a go back retrieve where he hesitated to run out (he does that a lot) but brought it back ok so he got huge praise then practising the stop whistle when I was on my way back he suddenly leapt up and ran about in play mode and wouldn't come back. So we didn't get to finish on a high which was a shame. If I had time i'd go out several times a day and just do one exercise each time but that's not feasible. Don't hold out any confidence for Sunday but determined to get there eventually. I'll try this evening just a sit & stay so he can succeed - he's so good at that and see what happens tomorrow. thanks again for your reassurance.

 

Re: more teenage trouble?

These working bred labs can be hyper sensitive sometimes. On the one hand it makes them very biddable and keen to please, but on the other hand they can get a 'bee in their bonnet' about something and it can be difficult to work out what is upsetting them.

I had a weird situation with my Tess recently when she suddenly decided that if the other dogs came out of the kennel first, she would not come out herself. She would stay inside and I would have to go into the kennel, and reassure her in order to get her to leave the kennel with me. Which she was happy to do. I have no idea why she did this, none of the other dogs has been mean to her and neither have I, and she loves coming out to train or walk. But she simply would not come out on her own unless I called her out first. This went on for several days and then just stopped as suddenly as it had started without any further input from me.

There is a lot we don't understand.

Try not to worry about the test though, because ultimately it doesnt matter how well Rusty does on one day in his life. All that counts is that you are enjoying the process of working towards it, and that he is improving overall.

Pippa

 

Re: more teenage trouble?

Thanks Pippa - knowing that others have little weird times does help, one becomes so paranoid as a first timer! Rusty would never get in the car unless I sat on the back seat encouraged him to sit on my lap, then once he was in extricate myself. Even barney going first and biscuits didn't help. But I changed my car last week and he jumps in without thinking twice... they are bizarre sometimes

 

Re: more teenage trouble?

Thanks Sam, I know I was really concerned before grade one but at least then he was behaving for Tony! On the walk this morning he didn't come back on a basic recall which usually he's really hot on. When I took him out for "training" he did a beautiful 3 minute sit stay and perfect recall so I thought I'd do a really short go back retrieve so he'd be successful - he picked up the dummy and ran off and refused to come back! So I walked off until he followed me but it's very frustrating. He's now sulking in the kitchen because I've left him in there alone while Barney helps me tidy the office..

 

Re: more teenage trouble?

Well they're both brilliant at helping with the shredding! ;D

PS was very relieved the assessment got postponed, but genuinely hope the assessor gets better soon.

 

Re: more teenage trouble?

Not yet so I imagine we'll be into January now, he's now playing up even on basic recall - these are truly testing times - all I want for xmas is my obedient puppy back!

 

Re: more teenage trouble?

Maybe a refresher recall course over the holidays might help? Using lots of rewards, including some 'jackpots' like an occasional sardine or a big lump of chicken. Starting with indoors, calling him from room to room, then moving outside. You know the sort of thing. It can work wonders to just go right back to basics and treat the dog as though you never taught him anything, working your way back up to where you were before over the space of a couple of weeks.

 

Re: more teenage trouble?

thanks Pippa it's a good idea I'll let you know how it goes.