Feeling a bit deflated after puppy class. We had to walk up and down the room with our dogs on the lead and the 'trainer' watching. Max sniffed the floor. Apparently I was holding the lead too tight (anybody can hold a lead tight apparently, it has to be loose) and Max wasn't looking at me. To be fair, we haven't done much lead walking as we've been going to quiet places to work through the 'Total Recall' exercises. He has started to pull abit so when we have been out, I've been stopping and 'making like a tree' until he stops pulling, or turning in the opposite direction. I haven't paid any attention to him sniffing as he doesn't stop whilst he does it. Now I'm thinking does that mean I'm doing it all wrong? I also got 'told off' for taking Max to quiet fields when I should be taking him to busy parks to socialise with other dogs. Max has had a few play dates with older, steadier dogs but it's true I have avoided bouncier dogs hoping he would find his confidence quicker. I guess he was right about this and I should just get Max in the thick of it asap? Bit deflated to be honest.
Re: Puppy classes - lead training Awww - don't think of it as being told off - think of it as a learning experience. It feels like school at first, I know. But we all have lots to learn and all our pooches are different. We are learning the 'let other people look in your ears and mouth' thing. Some of the dogs are great at it, some super nervous and cower down. Tatze is useless at it as she just wants to lick and fuss the person. We will get there, but it's going to take small steps. They are all different and your pup will excel at some things too. (Tatze is super-brilliant at the 'waits' - not so good at the weaving. I am useless at anything which involves having the treat in my left hand!)
Re: Puppy classes - lead training Don't be down about this just carry on with the stopping, changing direction etc. and try to keep the lead slack as Max will want to pull into the lead. I am sure he will get the message eventually but it does take time. I have to agree with the trainer that taking Max to places where there are other dogs, town etc. is very important for his socialisation, he will be fine and will learn his doggie manners and be a confident adult. You can still do your Total Recall training in quieter places too. You haven't done it all wrong you are still learning as we all are. Keep smiling you WILL get there xx
Re: Puppy classes - lead training Good advice above. It's just a learning process. [quote author=Fluff link=topic=5594.msg70847#msg70847 date=1398411832] . I haven't paid any attention to him sniffing as he doesn't stop whilst he does it. [/quote] I let Charlie sniff on lead. I think there are pros and cons. The advantage is (I think) that the dog gets to be a dog, which is important if he is on lead a lot. The disadvantage is that the dogs's attention is elsewhere, and my boy can start trying to follow trails (rabbits etc) on lead which leads to pulling and a bit of a tussle time to time - so it makes learning to walk on a lead harder. But we are still getting there...I think the important thing is to decide what you want to allow, then be really clear and consistent about the boundaries. For example, if I shorten the lead, Charlie now knows that means "quick march, no sniffing" but if I hold the lead at the end, he is allowed to sniff around for the length of it (but no pulling). This is more complex, and I think it has definitely drawn out the time it has taken for us to get walking nicely. I think it's worth it (given my boy has been on lead walks for months, and still has loads of time to go before we're off lead).
Re: Puppy classes - lead training I think you have been doing really well and are now likely to be in a good position to branch out a bit and take on the suggestion of going to busier places. A training class is one of the most distracting environments on Earth for a pup. Don't expect too much of yourself or Max in this environment. Two things that really help are having the best possible treats you can muster (not much tops roast chicken) and a willingness to act like a clown in class to get your dog's attention. Another thing that helps is remembering that the class is really for the humans to learn, not the dogs. The doggie learning happens outside class. So don't be worried if Max doesn't behave like an obedience champion in class (my dog is 2 and he definitely doesn't ;D ..in fact I regularly get told off for barking....and last week during our down stay Obi decided to jump up and have a bounce around with the Toy Poodle next to him : .....). Perhaps some aspects of the class are a bit more formal and less carefree than we might hope for but just see it as a great opportunity to practice some steadiness and to do a bit of proofing around other dogs Take every opportunity for rewarding Max for looking at you (mark and reward every glance in your direction) and also take every chance for rewarding calm, friendly and relaxed behaviour in class and when near the other pups. I'm certain you will see him improve over time
Re: Puppy classes - lead training I think most people struggle a bit in puppy classes. See it as a learning curve . You have been doing so well and recall is really important socialisation is important too and I'm sure you will get there soon x
Re: Puppy classes - lead training If we were perfect we wouldn't need training classes ;D Don't be deflated, you are there to train your dog, not to test Max
Re: Puppy classes - lead training Thanks everybody. You've all made me feel so much better. I took Max out for a lead walk today just up the road to the a nearby common. He was very well behaved, hardly pulled at all. There were a few dogs around and I let him off the lead and we kind of circled them so that Max could see them and if he wanted to, could have gone and say hello but didn't have to. He only started to pull on his lead when he knew he was almost home. I didn't give in and kept making like a tree and he did choke abit but all in all, am happy
Re: Puppy classes - lead training Don't let it knock your confidence. You probably didn't notice when other members of the class were 'told off'. Know what? They think they are the only one to get it wrong too. It's human nature. Puppies rarely read dog training manuals so are basically not very good at it
Re: Puppy classes - lead training The mistake we all may make when walking our dog on the lead is whilst trying to train them to walk to heel or walk with a loose lead is we give them the full length of the lead . We have had our rescue Fox Red Lab for 5 months now and are still trying to get him to walk to heel the only thing that is working is only giving him about 6" of lead so he can be corrected almost instantly without lunging or pulling towards scents ie lamp posts and gates . Just a gentle tug on the lead to correct when he wants to go in a direction he wants rather than by our side along with plenty of praise when he is walking well , Make sure when you start your walk out of the house it starts right and that He/She sits and is calm and then walks to heel for the a few mins . Then allow them to have a wee when you allow them it is important to get the walk to heel when starting and finishing the walk as you will have a roller coaster walk as it takes time , Keep your dog close as possible and when you let them off the lead for a run about get them to sit give them lots of praise if they have done well then they can do what they want for a while . After 3-4 weeks of using this method Jake has improved vastly but he has his moments we do a circuit through the town centre with him walking to heel we also put him on the lead when out in fields and do a few minutes training every so often so he is always kept guessing . A really good Gundog Trainer will teach you far more in 2 hours than spending hours in puppy classes and spending money you dont have to if you are confident and competent to carry out recall then you should do really well with heel training . Mike
Re: Puppy classes - lead training Just wanted to say how much I sympathise. I was really looking forward to our first class (five weeks ago) - I think I had an image of happy dogs playing together. I absolutely hated it. It was a half hour (felt like six) of just strangling my lovely puppy as he tried to run to every other dog in the room, and going through about two tons of treats to keep his attention and keep him quiet while the trainer was talking and talking and talking which of course meant I didn't hear a word she said. Second class wasn't a lot better. Third class slight improvement. We all had to demonstrate 'sit and stay' and he did very, very well. Proud mother. Fourth class (last week) complete nightmare, and made worse because trainer ends the class with 'now by next week I expect to see you all with your dogs walking nicely to heel'. Absolutely not a snowball's chance. I'm really tempted to give up on it (although I hope that by the time Wednesday evening rolls around I'll be telling myself it is for his good and I owe him it, and drag myself out there with him). So not much help or advice from me I'm afraid - but I really do send sympathy! Rosie
Re: Puppy classes - lead training Thanks Rosie, Yes, have to agree. The only reason I'm still going is to socialise Max a bit more although after speaking to Geoff I'm not so bothered about that now. As long as Max doesn't bolt when he sees another dog it's probably better that he doesn't realise that other dogs are more fun than me and he keeps his attention on me when we're out. He'll find his own level where other dogs are concerned no doubt. So now it's just a matter that I've paid for the classes so I'm going to them and maybe I'll pick up some useful info along the way
Re: Puppy classes - lead training Hi Fluff, Don't get too down about it ,Rachael is right ,it's such a distracting environment for a puppy ..my first lot of classes felt like a waste of time ....but I went away and practiced what I'd learned and then I went back to a different trainer at a different establishment when he was about 9 months to proof around other dogs.we were much more successful that time round but only because I'd kept at it from the first set..... I feel such a div at the classes and I get really self conscious so it wasn't the best of places for either Dexter or I ;D x
Re: Puppy classes - lead training Fluff I really wouldn't worry about it. ..I gave up on puppy classes, just didn't seem right for Benson. The main aim seemed to be about socialisation and that meant letting our puppy run riot in village hall with other puppies all seemed a bit too chaotic for me, I guess labradors are pretty sociable anyhow. I think we managed the socialisation bit OK ourselves, making sure we met all our friends with dogs, took Benson to the train station, so he could experience lots of different sounds and smells, took him to lots of different environments and from 10 weeks old walked mostly off lead. Now it is a more of a mixture of on and off lead, with the aim to be able to walk a close heel off lead down the middle of a field. Once we have cracked that we can move on to other things. One of early learns from Geoff was to choose our battles wisely and not to expect too much from a young pup, keep the pups focus on you by using tone of voice, gestures and the right lures..some dummies for example are much more attractive than others! Work hard at close heel work and recall..but choose the time of day to do this...young pups get tired quickly... I have received a couple of lovely compliments over the last couple of days regarding how confident Benson is..and what a lovely temperament he has. All I want is to have a happy and confident dog, to bring the best out in him what ever that maybe, still not sure yet!
