Dumbbell Success

[jazzking1971]

Finally I've got my little man doing the dumbbells. I did it using positive motivation. Question is... how do I increase the speed? He's fast enough but not bullet fast like he is with other stuff. My training buds say he runs it like a typical Rottie and I should be happy. I'm not. I want FAST AS HE CAN RUN. Is that only unachievable via an ecollar?

[IJF1]

Originally Posted by jazzking1971

Finally I've got my little man doing the dumbbells. I did it using positive motivation. Question is... how do I increase the speed? He's fast enough but not bullet fast like he is with other stuff. My training buds say he runs it like a typical Rottie and I should be happy. I'm not. I want FAST AS HE CAN RUN. Is that only unachievable via an ecollar?

There are many ways to increase speed, but not all work for all dogs and the speed may come at the expense of accuracy and consistency.

I like the videos at the og-schwabmuenchen.de site (look under unterordnung for the obedience stuff) - very good method for a highly motivated retrieve.

[Obelix]

[quote=jazzking1971;816629]Finally I've got my little man doing the dumbbells. I did it using positive motivation. Question is... how do I increase the speed? He's fast enough but not bullet fast like he is with other stuff. My training buds say he runs it like a typical Rottie and I should be happy. I'm not.

I want FAST AS HE CAN RUN. Is that only unachievable via an ecollar?[/

No;also by positive motivation.Start with only rewarding the fastest returns.He'll soon know that only the real fast one's gives the jackpot.

[jazzking1971]

[quote=Obelix;817983]

Originally Posted by jazzking1971

Finally I've got my little man doing the dumbbells. I did it using positive motivation. Question is... how do I increase the speed? He's fast enough but not bullet fast like he is with other stuff. My training buds say he runs it like a typical Rottie and I should be happy. I'm not.

No;also by positive motivation.Start with only rewarding the fastest returns.He'll soon know that only the real fast one's gives the jackpot.

Obelix, thank you, that's exactly what I have been doing. As of monday I know he definitely doesn't have an issue with going over things to get the dumbbell. I was tossing it in the front yard when it hit incorrectly and rolled out into the street and behind my civic. Instead of running forward and then making a turn to get the dumbbell he jumped up, onto and over my civic and then came back the same way. I almost bust a gut, laughing but the wife is psst. It's just a civic...geez

(btw- there are only three houses on my street and no traffic so it was safe to let him run out there.)

[Obelix]

Teach him a word to let him know his performance was not what you expected.(e.g wrong,try again,sorry)Restart the exercise.Teach also a word to mark the good performances,and after a split second reward .

[jazzking1971]

Originally Posted by Obelix

Teach him a word to let him know his performance was not what you expected.(e.g wrong,try again,sorry)Restart the exercise.Teach also a word to mark the good performances,and after a split second reward .

Uh Uh is my bridge. At the moment I am only rewarding for acceptable speed but he gets the uh uh for chewing. When he's totally solid on that then I plan to give him the uh uh for not being fast enough.

I still some clean up to do and want to avoid confusing him. He was over shooting the dumb bell so I started throwing it towards a wall or in the case of the other day, the car.

Right now he goes out and comes back with the same speed. I shouldn't lose points for that. I will lose something for the chewiness which isn't even there most of the time. I can't get past three sessions without seeing some chewing, so to me, he's not totally solid with it.

[Obelix]

It is very important to give your dog a word that marks a (very) good performance.So you can tell him(and let him know) the performance he gave is just that what you want(and will reward him for).You will be amazed how quick he 'll get the picture.Be patient and consistent,the reward is immense.

[jazzking1971]

Originally Posted by Obelix

It is very important to give your dog a word that marks a (very) good performance.So you can tell him(and let him know) the performance he gave is just that what you want(and will reward him for).You will be amazed how quick he 'll get the picture.Be patient and consistent,the reward is immense.

This is how I train OB.

Command - negative/positive bridge(good/uh uh) and then release (yes/no)

I also have other slilent correction ie; a dog break a long down and then comes running to me. UH UH - then I will grab him by the collar and walk him back on my RIGHT side and put him back in the same spot. Let him be there for a few seconds then I say YES and we play...

This is what you mean correct?

[Obelix]

Yes,that's what I mean and what I achieved amazing results with.The one I am working with now is 3 years old and would do anything to hear the word"good",after training and teaching since he was a pup.Two weeks ago we ended 3th in an OB trial.32 dogs were in trial.Not bad at all for a Rottweiler(male,intact) amongst all Mals,GS and border collie's(or mixes of them).the public really loved him(and his performance)

[jazzking1971]

That's awesome Obelix!!!

Lots of people say my dog's OB is more like a Mal than any Rottie they've seen. A new person to the club just remarked, how do you get him to fuss like a Malinois? Answer: Because I pretend that he's a malinois.

As for my issues with his retrieve... I need him to be complete solid in other areas before I work on speed. I don't want any conflict in OB.