lack of concentration

[Judi W]

Carol,
We'll expect to hear from you Sunday night or Monday good, bad or indifferent. Regardless of what goes on at the trial, remember it is the same dog that goes home with you that you took into the ring.

[bettyboo]

well we went to the show, only came home with experience but it was brilliant, we where waiting outside the ring and a gentleman with a golden retriever was letting his dog eyeball merlin outside the ring, i could hear merlin starting to growl up the leader so, a quick check of the leash and an about turn and off we went to get his attention, when the lady in the ring had finished our turn we went straight in so he could not focus on the goldie, there where only two people around the ring so that was good for me then we set off, his head was everywhere exept where i wanted it, a couple of imes he got it correct , which i praised, then he did a lovely recall off lead and he came to me, then we had to do off lead and as we came around the end of the ring this guy with the goldie came and walked by merlin the same time we where moving and he let his goldie eyeball and heckle, merlin wavered from my leg and went to go under the ropes,but i said NO HEAR NOW, and he stopped and came back to heal position i was so proud of him, i know we dropped points etc but he came back to me off lead, what a break through couple of weeks ago he would of just headed off, the judge praised us both, and said you did correct with tone of voice to get him back and you did not touch him he came to you she said that proved he was listening and to call him off with a potentiol dangerous situation was very good told me to keep up the good work and she hoped to see me soon.
Oh and he did his sit stays, and broke his down stays the spaniel next to him got up and merlin jumped up to play so i got him and put him back in a down stay and walked around him, but i was pleased with both our performance today, he did not lunge at every single dog that passed us, he lay down and waited for next commands i am so proud of him, it may sound stupid to be proud for not winning anything, but when you have problems and you can start and see light at the end of the tunnel every little step is a landmark. we will keep up the training and he will not be getting away with anything as he can do it and i am on such a high at the moment will keep you updated with our performance, we don't have another obedience show till august , but we have two very important breed (conformation) shows comming up this month.
thank you for everything and all the info has been taken on board and used.
Carol

[Luvs]

Sounds like you two did a great job! The most important thing is that you are seeing improvements and you two had a good experience!

[moondog]

Originally Posted by bettyboo

i am so proud of him, it may sound stupid to be proud for not winning anything, but when you have problems and you can start and see light at the end of the tunnel every little step is a landmark.

Not stupid at all! You SHOULD be proud.....of him and of yourself!

Originally Posted by bettyboo

well we went to the show, only came home with experience but it was brilliant

There is not a thing in this world more brilliant than accepting the gift of experience. I believe everyone should reach for the moon and, just as importantly, understand what the moon IS for them and their dog at any given moment along the way. That means EVERYTHING, and not enough can be said for your recognition of what it means to truly be a winner...... Congratulations!

[Jaegergirl]

sounds like you guys did rather well. good for you!

[Judi W]

Good job. Just a little dollop of handler attitude can make such a big difference.

[Rottlva]

Have you tried jack potting? If a reward is expected after each and every behavior, then moving to random treating, then jackpotting ( rewarding with a large amount of food) can help up the ante.

I was once told constant rewarding is like you putting a dollar in the coke machine, getting your coke and expecting that coke...each and every time. If you don't get a soda, you are upset.

But, when you put a dollar in the slot machine.... you may get a million bucks, you may not. But the possibility of it is there, so your attitude is more excitable, interested ect....

So, in esence think of yourself as a slot machine. At any time you could throw out the big one.... Something to really get your dog excited and working for you.

Just a thought....

[Judi W]

she's ready to trial and a dog that needs a reward after each and every behavior will never be able to trial. Now he needs to learn work ethic and to be seasoned a bit. He knows the work, but is still green.

[bettyboo]

we where in a very strong class for young males today and we came away with a 4th i was very very pleased with him, as he stood rock still when told and only once did his attention waver and i saw the eyes start to wander to look for something else, i quickly checked him and moved him in a very tight circle around me put him back in the stand and command wait and he did, when we went around the ring, he was flowing instead of head all over looking for other dogs, it was a pleasure to be out with him over the last two days,
he is asleep at my feet at the moment as it is to warm, but tonight when cooler we are going to do more obedience training and a friend is bringing her dogs along for distractions,
But this weekend i have been so pleased with, I have our very first championship conformation show at the end of june and i am really looking forward to it.
Carol

[Judi W]

Carol. I am delighted. Your dog didn't realize it was important until you let him know!!!! There will still be lapses now and then but they will become fewer and far between and the pleasure of working with him will increase even more.

[LynnS]

I have followed this thread but not posted and I just wanted to say congratulations to you both!

Ditto what Moondog said re: accepting the gift of experience.

[fbkeays]

I have a three year old intact male that I am doing performance with. Recently we have started agility. There are a few "little white fluffies" in class. Ugh! During the "down times", I have pulled out the clicker and worked on tricks. It keeps his attention on me, plus keeps his brain occupied.

[kiwirottie]

Hi BettyBoo, I too have been following your thread and just wanted to say its great to hear your boy doing so well
I bet you're so proud!! And its bizarre hearing how warm it is when its freezing down hear....we have the fire blazing!!

[bettyboo]

went to the champ conformation show today and we did not get any where but just to say, we where backed up onto a ring full of malamutes and the ring next to that where huskies, when i saw this i thought oh god no, i will never get his attention, i really thought about pulling out, but i thought no i paid the £20.00 to enter i am going in that ring with him , and i am so glad i did he really worked his little socks off, he looked at the mals and when i said watch me, he looked straight into my eyes, and he moved like a dream, i never had to reprimand him or hang on to him, when it was our turn to wait, i just made him sit or down, go around me in a circle anything to keep his attention back on me, i don't care we got thrown out to me he was the best, and a couple of people spoke to me and said they thought it was a different dog i had taken in, i am so proud of us both.
i will still keep working on him and not give him an inch he is such a different dog now.
thanks to everyone for wise words.
Carol

[Luvs]

Carol it sounds like he is doing very well! GOOD JOB!!! You should be very proud of how well he is doing