Re: Charlie's July/August training Thanks Karen (and Jen, Tillydyes, Stacia, Kath, Lauren - the input is so much appreciated - I'm lucky to have you all take the time, it does help). Yes, I'm sitting down tonight to plot and plan - I have a session with the trainer tomorrow, so I can discuss it with her too. [quote author=Karen link=topic=7009.msg96905#msg96905 date=1406224895] And if you find what makes a hyped up dog walk to heel when a trainer is throwing a dummy - please let me know. : [/quote] Ummm......still on a friend bouncing a ball off the wall 10m away I'm afraid.... :-[
Re: Charlie's July/August training Yesterday I had another session with the trainer, and a golden retriever called Poppy. We did quite well, although Charlie was very excited at first he settled down well enough. Poppy is a rescue dog the trainer has taken on, and so not quite as perfectly behaved as her gundogs. So made for a more "realistic" session, with the other dog doing more things that a dog I'm more likely to meet would. Charlie found Poppy very exciting. We still managed good on lead work around her being off lead and bouncing tennis balls - at the same time. We did some proofing of his recall away from Poppy, which I had to work very hard at, Charlie was super distracted as naughty Poppy took him to show him where the rabbits live in the next field. I managed in the end though. I talked over the use of toys on lead with the trainer. She wasn't keen. She thought it would interfere with Charlie's steadiness training. We can't ask him to both ignore, and be excited, about bouncing balls and toys on lead. She also wants a "no chase" rule in place completely. Which isn't that hard, because he isn't allowed to go charging about chasing balls anyway (because we've the final month of the rehab exercise programme to do). The only thing that would have to change is chasing a ball into water for his swimming. I'll have to think about how I bring that about. I guess I'll have to have him steady around water but I'll have to bring that in gradually, because I've also got to do the swimming for his leg. Which brings me to the river walk this morning - it went super well. He was very good on his lead, even when we got out of the car and there was a lady with a dog and a tennis ball flinger playing. He did one little squeek, and walked on. I let him off lead, and rewarded off lead heel by releasing him and giving him his football on a string to carry. When I say "carry" I'm afraid that's not trotting along calmly, as I had hoped, what he actually did is gallop around like a mad thing killing it (so no use on lead) but I thought it worked well, but perhaps not in the spirit of what the trainer thought I should do. So will have to think it over. When we got to the swimming place, there were two collies chasing toys in the water. He did fuss then, nearly had a bark. So we walked away until he was calm and could do a sit-wait off lead. Then he was released. He said hello to the Collies, but came away to play with his football in the water. He ran back to them time to time, but recalled fine. I wish I could have stopped him running to them though, but no hope of that right now so I didn't try. I don't think he was too annoying anyway. Right. Off to beginner's obedience now to be calm in a room with 4 other dogs - so we'll see how we do at that today.
Re: Charlie's July/August training Well, sounds like he's doing pretty good, from what you have described here. He's starting to get it, I think! I see what the trainer means about using toys for rewards, though. It might be difficult to flip that switch when you are trying to train steadiness. Hmm. Can't wait to hear how the obedience lesson goes! I bet he'll surprise you (in a good way)!
Re: Charlie's July/August training Actually he did very much surprise me in a good way. He was really good. Apart from retrieving all the cones (used for walking round in heel work exercises). Several times. : At least he delivered them nicely. Only the other labrador was the same dog as last week - and she was looking a lot less nervous this week. There was a white terrier, a show spaniel (think it was a cocker) and a dog that looked like a husky but was very, very, big so might have been crossed with something else. Great, 3 new dogs. He was pretty much perfect. He did still want to go say hello, but all we had were one or two tugs on the lead. No whining, or fussing, and he did all his exercises perfectly. He even walked through the middle of the other dogs when they were barking at each other. At the end, the dogs got to meet and greet each other (not Charlie, we don't do that on lead) and it was chaotic with dogs barking and lunging and so on (it is a beginner's class) and we watched calmly before making a swift exit so as not to push our luck too much. That was the end of my classes that I have arranged before clicker camp the week after next so I'll have to invent things next week. But will be back in London, so won't be short of off lead dogs.
Re: Charlie's July/August training He's doing really well. Imagine a few weeks ago reporting only a few minor tugs on the lead....well done to you both.
Re: Charlie's July/August training [quote author=JulieT link=topic=7009.msg97264#msg97264 date=1406366440] She also wants a "no chase" rule in place completely. [/quote] That is probably what I need Julie. So how do you start with this? Not going to hi-jack you, so will put this in a new thread I think.
Re: Charlie's July/August training Sounds like charlie has had a very good day all round. Brilliant morning, brilliant afternoon. ;D
Re: Charlie's July/August training Great that you were able to work around some more new dogs,thenclass size sounds perfect too. I think our Chocolate Charlie is top of the class and you've done some great,successful preparation for your Clicker Course x
Re: Charlie's July/August training Sounds terrific Big husky-like dog may have been an Alaskan Malamute.
Re: Charlie's July/August training [quote author=Oberon link=topic=7009.msg97440#msg97440 date=1406408952] Big husky-like dog may have been an Alaskan Malamute. [/quote] Now I've googled that, I think it was, yes. It was a big, powerful dog. That pulled. And barked. And ignored all treats. Wow....
Re: Charlie's July/August training We did an off lead walk at Wimbledon Common today - in one way that's no big deal, in another it's a major milestone. I had to get to a place where I was comfortable enough with my recall again (as I listen to the A3 on one side of the wood, and the main road into Wimbledon on the other) before I did this. Plus the common is the most exciting place for Charlie - the animals (water birds, rabbits, squirrels, foxes, feral cats mainly) are closer and less cautious around people than in the country, and the smells from other dogs must be very strong. We went at 6.30am to avoid a lot of off lead dogs and it went very well. I thought we'd do the walk first without a lot of other dogs around and build up slowly. We still met two off lead dogs though which we managed ok. He broke his sit after a stop whistle when he was running to his favourite field, so we had to go back and do that again, but that was on the only thing he ignored. We'll go back later to walk round one of the fields on lead just to watch off lead dogs playing - the trainer said to keep him moving at first as he's better when he is moving. Then try to sit on a bench for a while. I hope that's going to go ok. I can leave if it's not I suppose. It's very likely that some off lead dogs will run up to him, in which case i want a quick sniff hello and then a walk away. Fingers crossed for that...
Re: Charlie's July/August training Sounds like it went very well,it's all confidence building for your too as well as great practice for Charlie....blimey you are nearly on my walk schedule timings! ;D does it feel like lunchtime already? [quote author=JulieT link=topic=7009.msg97745#msg97745 date= - the trainer said to keep him moving at first as he's better when he is moving. [/quote] Dexter is the same if we stop even with a good distance he starts leaning into his lead and getting bouncey.Now that I'm changing the length and style of my walks I think I'll try sitting on a bench and watching folks go by....it's a good opportunity to improve whilst it's really too hot to walk about.... Tell us how you get on tonight x
Re: Charlie's July/August training Wow Julie I'm impressed at everything you do on Wimbledon common. Off lead, on lead everything. The distractions must be amazing and Charlie followed all your instructions. I'm ignoring the little hiccup. Brilliant ;D
Re: Charlie's July/August training Thanks! But there was only us, the animals and the wombles this morning. We haven't tried it off lead (or even on lead and stayed sensible) when it's in full swing later in the day - not since he was 8 months old and we were able to fling tennis balls around. Although will try on lead today for a bit though.
Re: Charlie's July/August training We have had no opportunity to proof against Wombles. You are way ahead of everyone there, Julie. We are still working on ignoring dogs that Obi hasn't met. He is happy to ignore dogs he has met, but unmet dogs hold a powerful, magnetic attraction.....
