First go at instructing in dog obedience

[Jovial Monk]

At dog obedience club did my trialling class lesson, then had a go at the practice ring (next week mock trial, a trial pretty much he same as a formal trial but you can talk to the dog to encourage it and reward with food and the points awarded don't count for anything.

Then reported to head Instructor and 4 lucky Grade 2 dogs and handlers were taken out their class and handed over to the tender mercies of two trainee instructors

About 10 minutes to do a couple exercises the HI wants to introduce and then we were let loose

So I took my two handlers and dogs to a nice shady spot and introduced myself to the two and fourlegged members (a labradoodle and a miniature schnauzer)
then, hmmmmm circle or walk them up and down in a line? Two people make a crap circle and by walking in a straight line they could walk more briskly--believe you me your dog will find plenty of distractions and ways of getting in trouble at all times but if you dawdle along with a dog on 'heel' you are handing the dog chances to misbehave on a platter!

So "Tell them they are working" and I noticed both handlers were less than firm in this, one practically ASKING the fucking dog! Didn't say anything, we walked (heeled) up to one end of the field (separated by a mound of earth from the main practice field) and back, me and Demi trailing behind and I saw them looking a lot at their dogs and consequently walking diagonally instead of straight forward. Hmmm so heel back to the shady end of the field and gave a little lecture: dog is a social and hierarchical animal, not a loner and they work out where each dog stands in the pack with the most dominant dog as the leader and that the handler must be the pack leader that TELLS not ASKS the other dogs what to do. Further, the pack leader is the one that finds food and water for the pack so make a fuss when giving the dog even just fresh water and that the dog must eat after the handler and family do (if it is an inside dog.) Also told them that I would tell them if their dog misbehaved and to look at some object in the distance and walk straight towards that. Mentioned that at times in class people not doing this walked directly across right in front me and Demi which was annoying.

So "TELL your dog 'working!'" and lo and behold commands were firmer and the dogs behaved better. I also made sure to ask a few questions e.g. where they were having trouble and we spent a bit of time doing drop and sit stays. One handler overjoyed her dog actually dropped so I reinforced 'your dog wants to know where it stands in the pack and so by being firm and showing you are the leader the dog is really happy to do what you tell it to do.' They also walked a lot straighter and I could tell they weren't looking at their dog

Both handlers thanked me and neither dog bit me so must have done OK

[Hebe]

Onya JM. Those heeling instructions are good - wish my instructors had done that. As it was, my dog used to get bored and bite my hand after a while (she was from the Dogs' Home, one when I got her, and recognised as a "problem dog" - but the best best dog I ever had).

Eventually we worked out our own programme, but she was never a conformist. It must be satisfying doing that.

[Jovial Monk]

It always feels good when you can really help someone. God knows I got help from instructors, including some painfully detailed advice on where I was going wrong

[Hebe]

I used to love it when they said it was never the dog, it was always the owner. We practised morning and night, even in the dark. Never did any good.

[Jovial Monk]

hehehehe

Well, they were mostly right. The dogs learn the stuff pretty quickly, much faster than you think but they may not always want to do it and it does often take the handler longer to give clear and proper signals--I am still learning, trying to unlearn bad behavior esp the drop signal as the way I do it is accepted in CCD but not beyond that.

[mantra.]

Congratulations Monk - great work.

All the dogs I've had since puppies have been naturally obedient. The only important instructions, in my opinion are "stay", "no" and to come when they're called. I had one dog given to me when it was about 5 as a favour for a friend. The dog had had no training, always escaped by climbing 2 metre fences like a human and sometimes I'd be driving along the main road and I'd see Gypsy running along beside the car. He chased and bit two old men and a little boy and I had to get him put down. It was impossible to teach him anything. I wouldn't get a dog again that was older than 2 months - it's too difficult to change their bad behaviour.

[Jovial Monk]

Heel, sit and stand are equally important. A dog needs exercise, the bigger the dog the more they need and proper heeling makes that a pleasure rather than an arm-being-pulled-out-its-socket pain. Dogs need to be socialised with other dogs and people too. You dog may have been not abused but mistreated (owners being to soft to the dog and giving in to it, i.e. dog being the pack leader instead of the handler.

[Hebe]

The only instruction my dog knew was "go away". It was very sad. But she lived to be 17, was greatly beloved and is buried in the garden with headstone.

But you really are up against it when they're that old when you get them. Fortunately she was so loving and gregarious (God knows why when she had such a terrible puppyhood) that she never hurt anyone. She was just very hard to control - until I discovered her love for cheese.

[Jovial Monk]

Heh, I bought Kraft singles and cut a few up as treats for Demi in the lessons. But they are greasy and I use dried liver treats and more recently 'schmackos'

[Hebe]

I don't think they were invented then