Just done our second agility show yesterday, the problem I'm having with my 2 year old yellow lab is he spent most of each classes obsessing where my husband was even when he stayed at the car. Harley did some really good work but this is stopping us progressing so any suggestions would be great.
Welcome to you and Barney from Hattie 8 years and our rescue boy Charlie 5 years. What does Harley do if your husband isn't with you at the agility classes? x
When I go training on my own he works well, just needs to improve contacts. But if my husband comes training or we go to shows he just gets himself worked up and even howls when we are waiting
Hi and welcome to the forum. As Helen says how is Harley if your husband hasn't travelled to the show? How is she normally with your husband? Does she fuss for instance if you're out and he goes in a shop while you wait outside?
Harley is naturally highly strung, and suffers seperation anxiety which got worse when we lost our oldest lab in October who was his best buddy. He does tend to suck my husband in although I feed and do most of the exercise and the training
Is it your husband that takes Harley out for walks, feeds him etc.? I do pretty much everything for Hattie and she would go to the ends of the earth for me, my husband walks Charlie and he cries and whines when my OH goes out. Sometimes dogs can favour one owner over the other. If I were you I would go to agility classes on my own if I wanted to progress or could your husband do the course with Harley whilst you watch?
Oops sorry you just answered my question whilst I was typing - sorry I'm so sorry you lost your oldest labrador which is obviously tough on Harley x
Unfortunately my husband still recovering after ankle op so be a while yet but I'm sure Harley can learn to focus
The sad loss of your older lab has obviously affected Harley and the anxiety appears to being heightened when you're husband is out of sight. Does he do the same in the house? It may be worth consulting a behaviourist to help Harley to overcome his anxiety so he becomes a happier more relaxed dog.
I think over time Harley will learn to enjoy the agility and be less anxious and it's only his second time, it takes some dogs longer to learn to focus, but I'm sure a favourite toy and some good treats will help. I hope your OH's ankle heals soon and then he can join in.
That's why my husband was made to stay home for our trials. And my Mum. Jet was fine if they were not there. It was worse if they were ringside but if Jet knew they were there at all, even if they stayed in the car, she wanted to go see them. It was a hard thing to proof as neither could come regularly to class, just the odd time to see how the dog was doing.
When we did agility with Lilly, there were a couple of folk who used a tennis ball as the reward for the end of a round. Are you not able to do this, or have I missed something vital in the thread my eye has skipped?
