Advice for TT

[Bucky's Mom]

Originally Posted by damp

No offence…we are all more or less “owner blind” but what is your “owner blind” evaluation of his reaction ???
I don't care if you were scared .... but how would you describe to the letter your dogs reaction????

He "startled" but recovered quickly and showed a neutral interest in the guy holding the umbrella - he did not try to get away nor did he refuse to approach the man with the umbrella.

[damp]

Originally Posted by Bucky's Mom

He "startled" but recovered quickly and showed a neutral interest in the guy holding the umbrella - he did not try to get away nor did he refuse to approach the man with the umbrella.

I would be happy to get such a description for my untrained dog from a Judge!!!
I am not saying Bucky not did good....

but you were able to see all the reactions, even jumping back yourself and with focus on the umbrella

[CanadianRotts]

Hi all

I have some excellent pictures of a recent TT. If anyone would like to see them, just drop me an email. Or perhaps I could post them here.

Funny recent anecdote of my first TT last fall. TT's are so hard to find in Canada so I ended up driving about 1.5 hrs to it but was glad that I did.

Anyhow .. I knew my home bred boy would be fine with the test ... but was worried about the umbrella test. As he really has never seen an umbrella up close .. I don't use them and I don't have him out in the rain. Didn't train him for it b/c you are not supposed too .. and again .. I don't have an umbrella.

Anyhow .. absolutely no reaction when the umbrella popped open ... not even startled ... he just wanted to see the MAN behind the umbrella and what goodies he may have in his hand.

The gunshots had NO affect on him either ... there are cars backfiring louder than that in the city. Think of the Bronx of where I live. Italian bistros, loud muscle cars, Hummers, etc ... Neither with the footing b/c of all of subway/sewer grating in the downtown core of the city.

Good luck with your TT! I found my tests to be a blast .. and now I am hooked.

Dianna

[SaranBear]

It does say there is no preparation necessary for the test, but where does it say none ALLOWED? I don't want to be considered a "cheat", but I still fail to see how possibly helping him overcome an acquired trait would be cheating.

[frontierrots]

oh yeah, they are not supposed to KILL the umbrella either And while we truely did no real prep work before hand we DID work on NOT killing umbrellas. After the deaths of 3 we got that excitement in hand

[Bucky's Mom]

Originally Posted by damp

but you were able to see all the reactions, even jumping back yourself and with focus on the umbrella

You should have seen ME during thr gunshot - I am surprised at the end they didn't pull Bucky aside and warn HIM about his weak nerved owner (or maybe they did and I was too distracted to notice)

[Ilovemypuppy]

Originally Posted by Bucky's Mom

He "startled" but recovered quickly and showed a neutral interest in the guy holding the umbrella - he did not try to get away nor did he refuse to approach the man with the umbrella.

And for that Bucky would have gotten a perfect score. Most dogs tested for the TT will have encountered any or all of the elements involved and I see nothing wrong with some practice before testing.....otherwise every dog tested would have to come out of kennel existence to never have been exposed to some of the elements.

What is most important is recovery after startle.

Bailey got her TT...the menacing stranger, drew a side stance in front of me and a wait and see..something she had been trained for since she was a puppy..to wait for instructions and NOT at on her own. She would watch the stranger and look to me...got no instructions and stood her ground.

Since during our TT, I was NOT allowed to even make eye contact with her during the course and was to keep a loose leash at all times....she got no instructions and therefore stood her ground...exactly what I wanted and was appreciated by the judges.

[Bucky's Mom]

Originally Posted by Ilovemypuppy

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What is most important is recovery after startle.

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That is what I was told at the end of the exam - he just about got a perfect score for his TT - I think what points he lost were handler errors

[LynnS]

Originally Posted by Ilovemypuppy

And for that Bucky would have gotten a perfect score. Most dogs tested for the TT will have encountered any or all of the elements involved and I see nothing wrong with some practice before testing.....otherwise every dog tested would have to come out of kennel existence to never have been exposed to some of the elements.

What is most important is recovery after startle.

Bailey got her TT...the menacing stranger, drew a side stance in front of me and a wait and see..something she had been trained for since she was a puppy..to wait for instructions and NOT at on her own. She would watch the stranger and look to me...got no instructions and stood her ground.

Since during our TT, I was NOT allowed to even make eye contact with her during the course and was to keep a loose leash at all times....she got no instructions and therefore stood her ground...exactly what I wanted and was appreciated by the judges.

And then there was Bella (who is not reactive to people in the least) who thought wierd stranger meant game on! Bella had done a little bite work and I was actually taken off guard that she related that scenario to show me the sleeve. She only passed because I disclosed that she had done bitework. You have to know Bella to appreciate the irony in that..