Me not the dogs !!!!! Before I joined the forum I trained my dogs the 'traditional' way. The only way I knew. Since joining I now clicker train my dogs which I've found to be much more successful. Don't get me wrong if naughty they'd still get told off, I can't change that much, but I've definitely seen a difference in their behaviour and have to tell them off a lot less. These last few days though I seem to find myself shouting at them more. They seem to be ignoring me more and destracted. Scott actually walk passed me sniffing as I was saying his name for the third time!!! This is inside as well as out and drives men nuts so I end up telling him off. They are actually better outside training. If something does distract them, like a pigeon flying over, Scott has taken to running after them, I recall and they will come running back, so although what we were doing they got interrupted I figure it's good recall practise. : It's probably springitis all those smells coming out of the ground but I don't want to go back to shouting and getting frustrated with them. That's no fun for any of us.
Re: Slipping back to old ways! You know when super nanny goes into homes where the children are misbehaving and she starts telling the parents off first, that's what this reminded me of. Don't beat yourself up about it, we all have days where the dogs drive us to insanity. I walked Chip on Tuesday and it was like he'd been taken over by the devil, running all over, giddy and not listening to my recall in the slightest. Spring is springing! I get more from him if I keep my cool and stick to what I know, shouting his name gets me nowhere. Have a cuppa, give them a cuddle then when you're all friends again, you can go back out with a more positive outlook.
Re: Slipping back to old ways! Jen, when you first mentioned your dogs' names I wondered if they could differentiate between Scott and Scout because both names sound so similar. When I have all four dogs out together I can send them for a retrieve by name. It shows that they all understand their own name. I know that dogs can and will switch off when they don't fully understand what we want from them. Just a thought.
Re: Slipping back to old ways! Jen, it's so easy to slip back because it's such a lot of hard work. As you always advise me - take a break, re-group and start afresh. Please don't beat yourself up, believe me I do all the time but it doesn't help with training. Keep going you have been making some excellent progress xx
Re: Slipping back to old ways! Thank you all. I know what you mean Heidrun about their names but I'm sure they do know the difference. I can send them for a retrieve individually by name or if I've sat them in a wait I can tell Scott wait scout come or vice versa so I think they understand. Perhaps it could be a problem though when I'm trying to get their attention from something they are finding interesting. ??? They have made such a lot of progress over the last few months I think I worry they've forgotten what to do, which when I think logically is stupid. When they play up they're being dogs, young dogs, trained by me so it's to be expected. :. The other thing I worry about is if I don't correct them they will think it's ok and we will start going backwards. Right positive attitude this afternoon and I'll remember what I've said to you Helen. It doesn't matter how long it takes and training should be fun. It can be very frustrating though.
