my plan for training class tonight.

[debbiej]

I'm going to take Boris-by myself- to his class and just get in there, unless the instructor asks us not to. John has an obligation tonight, so it's a good opportunity. We'll keep our distance, and he will get my undivided attention. I got a smaller link prong on him, fitted tighter and he is quite a bit more attentive. I'll not let him get ahead of me even once. that's the plan. so wish me luck.

[RottiMomCT]

Good luck - remember not to be nervous or he'll pick up on it...

And have FUN!!!

[rottnkidd]

debbie - I'll be looking forward to hearing how your 'plan' worked! I'm hoping Boris will be on his best behavior tonight!
kathy

[flyballmom]

Fingers crossed all went well...Hopefully the changes you made in his collar, etc. helped.

[debbiej]

well, no miracles happened, but we did make some good progress. the trainer said, "lets not" when I asked if he could come in tonight, but she had the class move closer to the fence and we worked along with them closer than before. He did pretty well, for the most part. when we were all heeling down the field he did a sudden lunge but I was able to get some good correction in so that he started avoiding looking the way of the other dogs. toward the end of the 1st class, he was doing better. I think I did better too. but still he is just a huge handful.

John got there about half way through class, but I was doing ok, so kept working him. then John held him while Hilda had class.

it was interesting, tonight two dogs in class got snappy with each other. the instructor grabbed the instigator and showed the owner how to handle the behavior. giving hard corrections for looking. I couldn't believe how fast the dog shaped up. It is what we are doing with Boris, but no way is he as responsive and soft as that dog. after walking the lab past a few dogs, and giving hard corrections with a "don't look" this dog was plastered to the instructor's leg, looking up with whites of his eyes showing. fast and easy.

I guess it dosen't matter why he acts the way he does, but I still wonder if his being a loose stray and spending 3 months in the shelter have something to do with it.

He sure is a sweetie at home though. We had one seriously dog aggressive dog once. it became so much easier to never take him out, thus he never got any socialization, and got worse and worse. I can't make that mistake again.

[lblax]

Originally Posted by debbiej

the trainer said, "lets not" when I asked if he could come in tonight, but she had the class move closer to the fence and we worked along with them closer than before.
it was interesting, tonight two dogs in class got snappy with each other. the instructor grabbed the instigator and showed the owner how to handle the behavior. giving hard corrections for looking. I couldn't believe how fast the dog shaped up.

im glad it went better you will get there ... im assuming the smaller pinch helped out???? im not a big fan of working with a fence between like that i would have rather seen you inside but at a distance.. and while im not a big fan of a trainer taken someone elses lead but in the case of the lab it worked and it might have helped on boris( or he would have ate him lol) i'm starting to get the feeling that your instructor is maybe afraid of him dogs are smart your tense/others are leary / and the guy in charge is afraid..

[Judi W]

Or it might be that the instructor is not yet convinced that you can control Boris to the degree that it will be safe to have him in the group. If s/he has seen Boris taking you for a ride while acting up, you can understand the hesitation. The more you demonstrate that you can hang on to him and can work him, that will change.

[lblax]

debbie do yourself a favor and get one of these http://www.gripleash.com/
ive never used one but ive seen several people using them on the field and they swear by them

[MontanaRott]

Sounds like you are making progress to me Debbie, and Larry that is a great looking lead, I think I might have to look into that.

[debbiej]

I think she is a bit afraid of Boris and afraid of him really disrupting/slowing down class-or worse. As I get more control, I'm sure we can join a class, but probably next time. I am not afraid of him at all as far as correcting or getting right in his face, but he just is so hard to get through to. the smaller and tighter prong did really help, but sometimes he is just drives right through any correction.

I've taken classes from this woman for many years. for a while I quit because I didn't like some of her methods, but on the whole, I basically agree with her. She does do a lot of demos by taking other people's dogs and correcting them. the dogs are a little afraid of her. but I've noticed she doesn't take certain breeds to demo, and I do think she is afraid of Boris. There is kind of a taking sides among the dog people in town, some don't like her-call her too harsh. The other group, the dog obedience club would never work for him. Then there is another woman who advertises that she trains working dogs and even more people criticize her. I've called her several times to talk about some classes, but so far haven't reached her.

the woman we train with is going through some really tough personal times right now, and she is a friend. a lot of her bluster is gone, and I think she just doesn't have the energy right now to deal with her beginners and Boris. I understand and it's ok with me.

What I need is someone to watch me with him and tell me where and why my corrections are ineffective....to say "there--you should have corrected then" Last night I was really hard on him, correcting fairly harshly for even turning his head. it helped, but I missed a few times. when he lunged, I jerked him off his feet, then grabbed the sides of his face and shook him hard, and yelled right in his face. he was impressed, but not enough to last. Then John got there, and he has a terrible time keeping the lead loose, and I think Boris just gets worked up again. I wanted him to take Boris to class because the trainer will teach him the right way to hold the lead and correct.

sigh.

[debbiej]

Larry, the 'super gripper'? thanks for the link!

[lblax]

Originally Posted by debbiej

he is just drives right through any correction.

What I need is someone to watch me with him and tell me where and why my corrections are ineffective....to say "there--you should have corrected then"

sigh.

take john with you you hold the leash and do the corrections his job stay in front (far enough that he is not a distraction) and watch boris if he takes his eyes off you even if his head doesnt turn towards the other dogs even if he justs moves one eye he lets you know and you correct then..

[flyballmom]

Originally Posted by lblax

debbie do yourself a favor and get one of these http://www.gripleash.com/
ive never used one but ive seen several people using them on the field and they swear by them

I LOVE my gripper leash!!!

[Judi W]

Leash. I will always prefer a good leather leash.

In fairness to the instructor, she has an obligation to the other students and I'm sure as she sees you keep demonstrating that you can manage Boris, you'll be welcome to join the class. She is wise to be selective about which dogs she is going to help with a hands on correction. The idea of that is not to do a courage test of the instructor, but to speed things up a bit for those dogs that it will make a difference.

It is perfectly OK to be hard on Boris. He'll recover just fine thank you. Assume that any looking at another dog is precursor to bad intentions and correct it. He does not get a presumption of innocence on this. Once he learns that looking at other dogs makes his neck hurt, he'll figure out how to avoid it.

[debbiej]

I agree. I don't think some dogs would do well with being taken from the owner and corrected, and I'm glad she dosen't try. she never took my shar peis and has only taken Hilda once. after the demo, Hilda flopped against her and leaned. In the interest of keeping the class going smoothly she has to choose dogs that will respond to do that to. She is fair to all the dog breeds, but she has her favorites. She dosen't even give Boris a scratch when he comes up to her if we talk after class.