Bella I think does not like run of the mill training methods. Walking around a square with other dogs does not appeal to her. She's the only one who throws herself on the floor and refuses to walk, picks up the cones as we walk past them and generally doesn't like conventional training. She doesn't fetch sticks, run after balls or have a favourite toy. I have however read total recall and she responds to the whistle very well, unless a dog is present that is, haven't got that far yet. I would love her to have a purpose in life. Any suggestions?she is 8 months old and is from show line.
Re: Any suggestions I'm not too sure I know what you mean by "conventional training". Do you mean you it's boring? In which case, lots of dogs would have problems. If she is throwing herself on the floor from the off though, rather than after too many drills, you might want to do more rather than less! ;D ;D ;D Charlie views nicking a training cone as a challenge in the same way as a fresher that's had too much to drink looks at a traffic cone on the way home, so I wouldn't worry about that too much. Try finding something based around play? There is a book I'm enthusiastic about at the moment - "learning games" which I'm finding fun. I don't like tricks (I've no motivation) but I have got motivation for games that teach a dog skills which are generally useful.
Re: Any suggestions By conventional training I mean walk around, sit stay walk stay etc. she seems to find it boring.yes after about two rounds shes on the floor. I will look for that book. Thank you. I know all about threshers week with a daughter just finishing uni. I was thinking of PAT dogs or something else as I'm at home all day and have lots of time on my hands. Did look at gun dog training but she is still obsessed with other dogs to much to start that, and being a show type rather than working I didn't know whether she would be any good.
Re: Any suggestions hmm...well, my dog is a show line chocolate and we go to gundog training. He's not very good but - *shush* - loads of working line dogs are pretty rubbish too as far as I can see and really, in a class of beginners with every other dog from working lines, our faults (although many) don't hugely make us stand out. To be honest, at "pet gundog" level, just for the fun and the general helpful training, it seems more to do with the skill of the trainer than the dog's natural abilities. I wouldn't let having a show line dog put you off gundog training if you fancy it - that's a bit like saying you are not going to take a diving class because you've no chance of being the next Tom Daley. ;D The obsession with other dogs thing can be overcome with a structured programme and a lot of effort (not that I'm a huge success story, you understand, but we are getting there). Staying away from other dogs doesn't help though, you have to tackle it. Dogs do need to learn to walk properly, sit, stay and so on. But doing it in endless drills can be terribly boring. You don't have to do it like that - maybe find a different class? Or some 121s?
Re: Any suggestions My dog's an absolute horror for other dogs but without going to training I'd be absolutely nowhere near dealing with it. He has learnt to focus amongst other dogs and do as asked with them working nearby. I had a real problem finding opportunities that fitted between dogs on lead and completely out of control dogs out and about. Retrieving has helped me fill that gap. It hasn't always been plain sailing, we had to take a break from class when he became obsessed with a particular dog but we've kept at it and we're definitely getting better ;D
Re: Any suggestions All I get out of training is Bella gets to play at the end of training. she doesn't care for anything else.i can't leave without dragging her away, which isn't a pleasant sight.i have tried very hard with all the distractions with none working.
Re: Any suggestions This isn't unusual - you've just got to work out a plan to deal with it. To be honest, it is pretty unlikely that you have a dog that can't be trained, or is somehow impossible. I couldn't join a class at first. My dog was just too crazy around other dogs. So I did 121s, then the trainer sat a perfectly behaved dog in the field and I walked up and down, and struggled and got some control. Then that dog off lead. Then a different dog. Then a different one again. Then a puppy. Then two dogs...you get the idea. You've just got to boil it down to the very first step your dog can cope with, and go from there. It does work, but you have to be organised, and a bit determined. I recommend a book called "when pigs fly - training success with impossible dogs". My trainer told me to read it (I very much hoped she wasn't saying my dog was impossible! It did help me though).
Re: Any suggestions Does Bella throw herself on all surfaces? Molly just loves to throw herself full length on grass.
Re: Any suggestions Usually just the training class which is outside, I think she's just waiting for a dog to pounce on. When she sees a dog along the street she sits and will not move until she can't see it. I'm going to start some 1 2 1 training next week. I'll keep you posted.
