Well thought I would start a training log, for both Casper and Benson, very different labradors, with very different training needs. Benson - 15 months old, (entire) show type lab, with a bit of working line thrown into the mix! Working well with basic cues in moderately proofed environments. Can trust him not to run off, very well socialised, a sensible, confident dog around people and other dogs, on or off lead. Good recall, heel work, focus, quite a thoughtful dog all told. Has recently developed a drive for retrieving, unfortunately this now includes other peoples footballs, and suddenly just want the tennis ball the other dog has got...sigh.. Bensons cues to date...release cue/stop (verbal and whistle) recall - whistle, casting - straight line..blind and memory retrieves. We had started working on directional cues but this needs revisiting as Caspers initial training did have an impact on Bensons training. Current training with Benson...proof, proof and more proofing of those basic cues before considering the next stage. Working through adolescents classes right now just to cover all bases, and help with excitability around other dogs. Training this week..has been all about exiting from the boot of the car, and developing a good hand touch. Exiting form the car - we are working with streaming treats and rewarding "no movement" when the boot is opened. Then a release cue so he knows he can jump out. We are doing this in tiny stages. and have the lead attached when I opened the boot, this is just to remove one step, as physically attaching the lead is exciting in itself, and could increase impulse to jump out of the car. So far working well despite the challenge with 2 dogs in the back! :The objective is to be able to open the boot, take a step back, bend down, in confidence that they will not jump out the back of the car. Hand touch - both dogs have picked this up really well, and is a really fun game! It really makes them think...if the "touch" is a bit stretching, I wait for a few seconds, and often they will work this out. Or I start again, with an easier hand touch position. Casper - 6 years old (well 6 years old next month ) A rescue labrador we adopted from Black retriever X. late September last year, initially as a foster home but formally adopted him in November. Casper is a gorgeous black lab,wonderful temperament, show line..and that's about all we know. We don't think he has been well socialised, as we do have a few little issues we are working through. The main one is his reactivity around other dogs, only when the other dog is on the lead...or he is on the lead. This behaviour presents as excited barking..it doesn't appear aggressive, but he is a big black dog and some people may possibly perceive this as threatening. Coupled with a habit of bombing off to say hello..stopping sharply in front, if the dog is off lead than there is no problem. Rushing in could unsettle less confident dogs so potentially there is a risk of an altercation if not careful..although thankfully this hasn't happened yet. Also working with the hand touch cue, predominately using this to lure him into a "turn around". The objective here is to be able to break his concentration when there is another on lead dog approaching. I keep a few "high value" treats so the association will be when another dog on lead approaches I get a super duper treat! This worked really well today, when we were approached early in the walk, had just gotten through the gate, and a lurcher on lead was headed towards us. I stepped into Caspers sightline...and literally he twisted around to a hand cue followed by a HUGE chunk of home baked ham! Job done and we walked calmly off...Casper with eyes glued to me, hoping for more wonderful pieces of ham...
Re: Benson and Caspers Training Log Yey, another training log to read! We have a similar issue with Willow who leaps into our arms as soon as we open the car crate. Definitely something to work on. Shadow sometimes jumps out by himself while we're struggling with a face full of black Lab, which we also don't want at the moment because it's not good for his joints, so a joint approach at keeping them settled until we ask them to step out of the crate to be lifted down would be useful. I didn't realise Benson was so young!
Re: Benson and Caspers Training Log video clip...walking with Casper to heel and practising the handtouch with hand slightly behind.. and the treat coming from the other hand. There are 2 hand touches at the beginning..and one just after the other dog appears..can you spot them? Towards the end another dog joins us...unexpectedly...but no barking from Casper. Hubby uses the hand touch, and standing in Caspers sight line. A happy greeting then ensues...although at this point I admit to being a little stressed! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJcDlrxvy54
Re: Benson and Caspers Training Log It's great to read of the training log, I'm going to enjoy your log. I'm not quite sure what your OH is doing with the hand touch on lead though. Casper seems to be wandering round...and waiting for something...what's the exercise exactly? To bring him back to a certain position with touch? But he seems not to have a position...? Sorry if I've completely lost the point there! ;D
Re: Benson and Caspers Training Log I think it was the early days of teaching Caspar the heel position? I would have the food in my left pocket so that Caspar does not come forward and around the front. Looks promising.
Re: Benson and Caspers Training Log No, all we are doing is a hand touch...to turn his head away purely for when other dogs may come up unexpectedly. This works by breaking his concentration on the other dog. Marcus uses the cue "touch" with a hand to encourage Casper to turn towards the hand. The treat is delivered from the other hand. W
Re: Benson and Caspers Training Log Casper.. went to school yesterday at Widgets. He had a special one to one with the lovely Anna Who I think Casper is a little in love with! So the context of Caspers one to one, is really about understanding and helping Casper being able to greet other dogs, without charging up to to them, or getting stressed and barking/lunging when on the lead around other dogs. We used a large secure and fenced in field, a large black labrador sized stuffed dog had been strategically placed out of sight. We then just meandered, replicating a normal walk. Casper had been fitted with a perfect fit harness, with a D ring at the front, to use if we need a gentle twitch..more of a communicator if we needed it. So we made our way chatting around the field, Casper very aware of where he was, comfortable but curious. Then he spotted the weird black dog. Stood still, stiffened, alert stance...what I call "just about to bolt mode..." This is the point we need to capture and help Casper use his natural behaviours to relax. This was explained as sniffing the ground, glancing around...turning around..checking in with us. So...we worked out what was the distance form the stuffed dog, where Casper was able to exhibit these normal behaviours, and when he looked at us, glanced away...or sniffed the ground we rewarded verbally and treated. Then we worked a tiny bit closer, but never too close, close enough to notice the stuffed dog, but able to be calm and relaxed...plus we were positively rewarding the natural behaviours...there is probably a technical term for this, but can't remember! Basically Casper wants to come away...but his nervousness is preventing him. Interestingly it is completely different for Benson...he wants to say hello...and is completely confident around other dogs. One point was made, was that actually a nervous greeter can influence a second dog in the household, which I hadn't really considered. So, in summary things to work on for Casper...(first I need to invest in a perfect fit harness, and a softer long line! ) Getting to a safe distance on the long line from other dogs, and encouraging natural behaviours, rewarding when the occur. These behaviours are, sniffing the ground, glancing away..or at us..."check ins" which all occur spontaneously. I think that was it...all very encouraging and made perfect sense. We then finished with an off lead hoolie around the field, and a play in the hippos spa at the end. Harley joined us and Benson raced around for a bit. Casper played, and a breakthrough..for the first time he showed interest in a dummy, now normally on his own he will, but never with other dogs around. He proudly stole Harleys dummy (twice) and presented to OH. Harley being the lady that she is...didn't mind one bit!
Re: Benson and Caspers Training Log Lots of work with Casper this week. The hand touch works so well to distract Casper, and implementing everything we were taught has meant I can generally control Casper and prevent any excited barking on lead around 6/10 times, as long as I am prepared that is! For example Casper managed to ignore a staffie cross tonight, the owner looked nervous, and I think she was worried her dog was going to lunge/bark. So lots of hand touch with Casper, and we walked past without incident.... ....Only to walk straight into 2 older labradors!...with Casper still on lead, and the other dogs very close, and off lead he started barking. Luckily the owner was very calm, relaxed, and commented "don't worry, no problem, he is probably a bit surprised by the dogs and he is on lead" Felt quite relieved at his response, and quickly managed to move Benson and Casper into the common. I have also found it really useful to connect their two leads together, thus making a long line for Casper. It makes the lead 12 foot long, and very comfy on my hands. By walking in the middle of our local common, I can see other dogs approaching and manage just how far Casper gets to them, whilst enabling Casper to feel "off lead". Rewarding any sniffing the ground and especially if he looks at the other dog, and glances back/returns to me If he doesn't look at me..I try and get into his sight-line, or give the tiniest of twitches on the lead. Whilst working on this at the same time, I work on "stay close" with Benson. It helps with the fact that if Casper is kept close on the longer lead, then this does not trigger Benson to follow Casper if he were to run off. So with the both of them I play "hide the treat", heel work, stop cue and on a short verbal "turnaround" recall cue. The "turnaround" recall cue, is something we were taught at adolescent classes. I deliberately give Benson a slight distraction..something to sniff for example. He has to be fairly close...about 6 - 10 foot away, and not facing me. I give a verbal recall cue...in an excited voice...and as soon as he turns around say "good boy!" and quickly give him a super high value treat. This reinforces the verbal cue, and encourages a faster, more unconscious response.
Re: Benson and Caspers Training Log Casper update...we had a great opportunity to work on his reactivity on lead, in particular with other on lead dogs. Today at Blaise whilst hubby was off trying to find Benson (won't go there... :) I decided to work a little with Casper, at least this way I could keep an eye on the carpark in case Benson materialised there. The group of toy dogs (about 50..) where all on lead, in a sort of semi circle close to the entrance to the park, so lots of activity and distractions for Casper. To make it easier for him, we started our walk some considerable distance from the pack of toy dogs, with Casper in a nice loose lead walking position on my left. Watching him carefully, what I was looking for was a reaction to the other dogs,followed by a look to me/look away/sniffing the ground. When Casper delivered any of those behaviours, I gave him positive reinforcement followed by a high value treat, lots of them! He did this at a distance really well, occasionally a glance at the dogs,( they were making such a racket..) then even better a glance at me . We then turned and walked back, a wee bit closer this time and repeated the same process. This time he was even less interested in the other dogs, now realising that if he looked at me he got a super high value treat! We got closer again, and the same thing. By this exercise I am hoping to reinforce a positive correlation with Casper that other dogs on leads are OK...and associates them with high value treats. Very early days still , and this does require careful engineering our our environment for Casper, but it all helps!
Re: Benson and Caspers Training Log That sounds great Kate, I am interested in reading about your training with Casper as Charlie can be lead reactive with certain dogs so this will help us enormously. Thank you xx
Re: Benson and Caspers Training Log Well done Casper! 50 toy dogs? Wow...Was it a toy dog convention!?! Maybe a club or something...
Re: Benson and Caspers Training Log [quote author=JulieT link=topic=9614.msg145181#msg145181 date=1424629114] Well done Casper! 50 toy dogs? Wow...Was it a toy dog convention!?! Maybe a club or something... [/quote] It was quite odd, must've been some sort of convention.. they were mostly dachshunds, all incredibly yappy I guess it helped Casper that they were small in stature....fifty German Shepherd dogs, or heaven forbid labradors may have been bit more of a challenge!
Re: Benson and Caspers Training Log Well done Casper! Following this with interest, Cuillin finds groups of dogs she doesnt know very scary, she' s a lot better than she was after much lurking in our busy park clicking and treating from afar and getting nearer, but she still struggles to not bark if they are all rushing about...to date her wee brother seems to have reached 3 unaffected by her reactivity and is generally fine with all dogs, mainly disinterested in them other than with his pals but its something I did watch out for and still make sure I get him amongst dogs on his own often.....
Re: Benson and Caspers Training Log [quote author=debsie link=topic=9614.msg145212#msg145212 date=1424635622] Following this with interest, Cuillin finds groups of dogs she doesnt know very scary [/quote] I would say Charlie is a confident dog with other dogs, and learning to be calm around them. But even then, groups of other dogs he thinks about. I think it depends on the nature of the group, which he seems very able to distinguish. If it's a group of strange dogs, that has randomly got together for a hoolie, he'll dive in happily and hoolie around too. If, however, it's a group of dogs that know each other (we come across dog walking groups of up to 10 dogs quite often), he is much more careful about approaching them, or them approaching him. He usually handles himself very well these days, and mainly stays out of trouble but I don't think it's easy at all. I think the dynamics of these groups are such that they can decide to bully an individual dog they come across very easily indeed. I find it very interesting. I love watching doggy interactions, they are pretty complex I think and I'm not at all surprised that a lot of dogs are either nervous or bullies in groups (which I reckon is a preemptive move through fear too). I'm also pretty defensive of Charlie, and I step in if it's not going well, I never take my eyes off him in these situations.
Re: Benson and Caspers Training Log Sounds like you're making great strides Really finding this interesting as Riley is always extremely distracted by other dogs. He goes very stiff too until he decides whether to rush them and be their best friend or lie down and pretend he doesn't exist. I really want to go to the Dog Communication place, it looks amazing and I think Riley and I would get a huge amount out of it. I think I sometimes mistake his body language on dog interaction.
Re: Benson and Caspers Training Log [quote author=bbrown link=topic=9614.msg145704#msg145704 date=1424860835] I really want to go to the Dog Communication place, it looks amazing and I think Riley and I would get a huge amount out of it. I think I sometimes mistake his body language on dog interaction. [/quote] It was good, but we don't go to the classes anymore. They weren't ok for Charlie when we reached the stage where he was overflowing with testosterone, and getting picked on - there wasn't a suitable group of dogs without neutered males. They have some lectures time to time though, which do look good...
Re: Benson and Caspers Training Log [quote author=JulieT link=topic=9614.msg145803#msg145803 date=1424877626] [quote author=bbrown link=topic=9614.msg145704#msg145704 date=1424860835] I really want to go to the Dog Communication place, it looks amazing and I think Riley and I would get a huge amount out of it. I think I sometimes mistake his body language on dog interaction. [/quote] It was good, but we don't go to the classes anymore. They weren't ok for Charlie when we reached the stage where he was overflowing with testosterone, and getting picked on - there wasn't a suitable group of dogs without neutered males. They have some lectures time to time though, which do look good... [/quote] good to know - thank you
