Hi all, Do any of you have the joy of a super excited puppy/dog when you go to training classes? I want to keep going to the classes because they help with Harvey's socialisation and they help me learn how to train him. However, anything that he learns at home during the week is a academic at the class because he seems to become so excited that his hearing has a complete meltdown and getting his attention is virtually impossible! : Any tips on calming (for Harvey, not me!)?
Re: Hyper excitement at training classes How many times have you been? You may want to take yourself off to the edge of the class so that he's less distracted and keep what you ask of him really, really simple and for very short durations. As he gets used to all the bustle and extra dogs you can bring him closer and get him up to the same standard as home. It's all part of the proofing process, we've definitely been there ;D
Re: Hyper excitement at training classes [quote author=bbrown link=topic=3898.msg44801#msg44801 date=1388931043] How many times have you been? [/quote] Hi Barbara, We finish the puppy foundation course this Thursday coming so I don't think it is a novelty thing. I do take him to the edge of class periodically just for him to calm down a little as sounds like a hospital-case desperately trying to suck oxygen through a face-mask attached to a gas cylinder ;D Don't get me wrong; we muddle through and he has done everything sufficiently well to get through the course (although I suspect it is a 'no fail' type of course to encourage people to keep training their dogs). I just think he may get more out of the classes if he was calm enough to focus.
Re: Hyper excitement at training classes Riley's mental for other dogs, they were (and are) our biggest distraction by a country mile. I found doing some focussed heelwork got him into a working mindset. I also tried some retrieving on our own but early on he'd still rather play. He's now much better in class than he is out on a walk when I haven't flicked the working switch. It took quite a while and quite a lot of patience coupled with some trial and error.
Re: Hyper excitement at training classes [quote author=UncleBob link=topic=3898.msg44798#msg44798 date=1388930814] Do any of you have the joy of a super excited puppy/dog when you go to training classes? [/quote] Charlie was just nuts at puppy class - we did the puppy programme twice, he was just more confident the second time! I used to look enviously at other breeds who felt safer staying with mum rather then playing with other puppies. I think lots of friendly, enthusiastic, labradors are the same. We eventually got him to focus on us for a bit, but asking him to concentrate for an hour in a room full of other puppies was just a bit hopeless. We did 121 classes after that, and worked on being calm around other dogs on the common. We're not training right now, and he doesn't have any contact with other dogs (we're resting from injury) he is a bit mad to get to other dogs again, so it's something I'll have to keep working on.
Re: Hyper excitement at training classes Keep working at it I say. Into our 3rd year at training, Lilly will sit in a line of maybe 6 dogs, and wait while we all disappear behind a tent 10-15 yards away, and stay sat until we are told to go back after a couple minutes sit/stay. This is all outside (rain wind snow or sun - only stops if the field is flooded) Sounds good, but if another dog breaks away, she is likely to go. At the beginning they would all just have a hooley, now they tend to run see what their mums and dads are up to behind the tend (or big sis in our case ;D ) Lilly used to be hyperexcited too, but some calmness comes with maturity, but we believe there is always room for improvement so don't see ourselves ever stopping training class. We do drop in and out though, rather than go EVERY week.
Re: Hyper excitement at training classes 4 weeks of puppy school for my first GSP zita. First 3 weeks a young malumute pup kept hassling her and playing rough. Week 4 zita put her paw on its neck and held it to the ground with zero aggression Daddy was proud and zita got a sneaky bit of cheese for that 8)
Re: Hyper excitement at training classes Yep, same old Labrador story here too! Merla (7 months now) just doesn't know where to look at training classes, it's all so exciting and there's so many potential friends to play with! It has got better with time and she won't try to mess with the other dogs now when they're all on leads. Is your class indoors or outdoors? We go to obedience indoors (advantage of very safe area and no weather distractions, and fewer good smells) and a gundog club outdoors (bit more space, but can be interesting when blowing a gale, or going over a rabbit trail). At Gundogs the retrievers and spaniels train separately in different bits of the field. On one occasion an errant spaniel went on the rampage, and did a 'fly past' behind Merla when I'd left her for a recall off lead and was walking away. The temptation was just too much and she raced after it, deaf to my frantic peeps! I had to go after her and bring her back hand in collar - the walk of shame! : To save our reputations though, she did a beautiful job of retrieving 10 mins later ;D The way I see it, Labs are so lovely in so many ways, if the 'fault' you have to put up with is over-friendliness, so be it- we love them anyway!
Re: Hyper excitement at training classes Yes I agree with everyone. Labs are just very friendly. Murphy is 7 months now, and is still so excited at puppy class. We started at one class and he was classed as the naughty one because all he wanted to do is play with the other dogs and seemed that I didn't exist. He has calmed down a little in the class we go to now but only if we stay out of the way and I have to work really hard to keep his attention. His recall is great when out and about as well unless there is another dog and then he is deaf to my calls lol. Have fun! X
Re: Hyper excitement at training classes Thanks for all the comments. As with many labs, Harvey is incredibly friendly and loves other people and dogs (and I wouldn't change this for anything) - I just wish sometimes that he could be friendly and calm at the same time
Re: Hyper excitement at training classes I see exactly the same problem looming on my horizon. Molly is like a toddler. When she gets tired she gets over excited and silly. At this point I put her to bed, cos that is what she needs. This point usually arrives about 6.30pm Molly's puppy classes start on Thursday at 6.45pm. So I think I'm going to have a lively old time. My main interest in going is her socialisation, so I won't be too disappointed if she is not an ideal pupil. Looking forward to driving down unlit country lanes (probably flooded) to park in a massive puddle outside a freezing Village Hall. The things we do for,our dogs
Re: Hyper excitement at training classes On the plus side, at least it should be warm(ish) being inside. Looking forward to hearing how you get on ;D
Re: Hyper excitement at training classes I definitely jinxed myself with my earlier post in this thread, saying that Murphy had got better in his classes! Tonight he was a complete hooligan and completely showed me up!
Re: Hyper excitement at training classes That's the job of a puppy Or a dog of any age, really.... The super-friendly factor is definitely part of the Labrador Challenge.....
Re: Hyper excitement at training classes [quote author=Oberon link=topic=3898.msg45367#msg45367 date=1389129658] That's the job of a puppy Or a dog of any age, really.... The super-friendly factor is definitely part of the Labrador Challenge..... [/quote] Yep ;D
Re: Hyper excitement at training classes Proud to report that Molly behaved really well at Puppy Classes. Hubby, not a dog person, came too and he was practically bristling with pride at her behaviour. You'd think it was him that had put the hours of training with her. He hasn't quite bought into the way I'm training her, believing in the old harsher country ways that the 'old boys' talk about down the pub. However, having heard the MALE trainer say the same stuff I've been saying he is now on board and is even trying to join in. I kept Molly quiet at the classes whilst the trainer was speaking with the following trick. I should start by saying I use hand signals and voice commands (my last dog was a Terrier cross with a mind of her own and a devil to train, so I was advised to use both) I give her the sit signal, then I give her the wait signal, toss a piece of kibble a short distance away from her and she is not allowed it until I give her the release signal. It works well. I practice this all the time with Molly. Sometimes in the sit, sometimes in lay, sometimes the kibble is quite close sometimes the other end of the room. It seems a bit like a party trick and really impresses people, but I think it is a) something for her to learn and enjoy practising b) it does have its practical applications.
Re: Hyper excitement at training classes Fabulous I have to do a lot of tricks with Obi during downtime in class. Sometimes we even leave the class for a little walk. Whatever it takes to keep your dog focused and quiet
Re: Hyper excitement at training classes Well done Tina . It does take time for most men to come round to a different way of training, but they usually get there in the end (apologies to any men on here!)
