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Topic: Dog Training

Posted by: Christinap

Subject: Dog Training
Date: Jan 28 12

We have recntly taken on a young German Shepherd, Susie, in need of some training. Here is a quick synopsis of how it's going so far!

Week 1 - we have an appointment to see the behaviour consultant because Susie appears to have problems with strange men and other dogs. She promptly proves me a complete liar by laying down for the trainer to tickle her tummy and then flirting with every male dog in sight.

Later that class - she redeems my reputation by snarling at a completely inoffensive little terrier that gets in her way and offering to fight any dog who says she was in the wrong. Trainer takes her lead to show me how to correct her when she does this, she promptly pees all over his shoes.

Despite this we are allowed back next week.

Week 2. Trainer decides we will work the other side of the fence from the main class to get her used to working close to other dogs. After about 10 minutes of this Susie gets completely bored. As she is off the lead allegedly doing recall work she decides to jump the fence and join the main class. 20 minutes later we recapture her. At least two other dogs and their handlers are having quiet nervous breakdowns. Trainer decides she isn't quite ready for off the lead work yet.

Week 3 - It's raining, but a little rain doesn't stop us. Susie does exemplary heel work exercise. Does perfect sit and stay exercise. Does perfect recall. Is nice to the other dogs and people in the class. I feel this is too good to last. I am right. During second set of recall exercises she makes a break for it, finds the compost heap from the horses, rolls in it, comes back to the class and encourages all the other dogs to join her in a roll in the mud. Follows this up by coming to me when called and jumping at me joyfully. My jacket now covered in horse poo, straw, mud and gawd knows what else. Trainer points out that at least she came when called, which is an improvement.

Amazingly we are still allowed to attend classes.

Week 4 (this week). Trainer has decided that Susie gets too bored in a one hour class and she is better of with two half hours. Strangely the rest of the class seem to agree with this. For twenty minutes of the half hour she acts like a well trained dog before deciding that the agility equipment looks like fun. She fits through the tyre that she makes a run for, I don't. Trainer finally stops laughing long enough to suggest some tips on how to stop her suddenly making a break for it with me on the other end of the lead. I pick myself up out of the mud (it's raining again), thank him and say we'll see him again next week (twice) That wipes the smile off his face.



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168 replies. On page 6 of 9 pages. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Christinap

Life has beena bit restricted by the weather recently and Susie definitely has some excess energy. This morning, it actually being dry, we went for a walk. Alongside the bridleway is a brook. The recent rain meant this had come over the banks and into the verge, which I hadn't realisd. We were wandering along happily, nothing and no-one in sight so Susie was wandering happily on the long lead. She pranced up onto the verge for a sniff round, and jumped when she found the water. This sent up a shower, so she jumped again, on purpose this time, bigger shower. One massive leap, followed by roll - water water everywhere, one soaking wet dog. Only thing to do when you're a soaking wet dog is shake, all over Mum. The natural thing to do then is jump back in for another splash and roll. This is so much fun that you want to tell Mum how happy you are so you jump up to her for a big cuddle. Mum is now as wet as you, but doesn't have the facility to shake herself. It starts to rain, not that it matters as we're both so wet a bit more doesn't matter, and at least rain isn't muddy.

We squelch home. Enter kitche, MOH standing there with big towel at the ready. Oh poor little thing, you are wet, he says to Susie as he wraps her in the towel and starts drying her off. I stand there dripping. You'd better change, he says to me, don't stand around in those wet clothes. Priorities are everything.

Reply #101. May 02 12, 5:33 PM

Christinap

Over the last few weeks we hae, in between downpours, been working on a secure outside enclosure for Susie where she can let off steam safely. The main focus has been on making it escape proof. Well, yesterday afternoon it was finished and this morning it had it's inaugural run.

She went into it very happily, had a good investigate round, I stayed with her for about 15 minutes and played with her so she felt quite happy and then left her to it and got on with some gardening. As I was going up and down with the mower I noticed she was taking the large football we had in there, throwing it up and then heading it. Each time it hit the perimeter fence. It took her about 10 minutes to get it just right, and the football came flying over the top. I threw it back. Seconds later it was out again - new game has been invented. If I didn't throw it back she stood there barking at me until I did. Eventually she got tired of that, investiated her water bowl. Tipped it over,rolled in the water. Chased the ball up and down for several minutes than I noted she was investigating the door handle. Didn't take her long to work out how it works, she had the latch in her mouth in no time - fortunately we insisted on it having a lock, so no escape route there. She had a wonderful hour and a half out there with me, to the extent that she came in, had her dinner, wanted to go out to do the necessary and went charging up to the door to go back in it again. I think we can call it a success. She is now completely flat out without having had a walk today yet. Also means I don't have to worry when I'm gardening about her getting hold of any wires, or sharp implements etc. she can be there in complete safety running up and down, barking at everything going up and down the road, watching the birds etc. We weren't sure how she would take to it but at the moment it looks like a good investment and with summer coming on (hopeully) it should get a lot of use.

Reply #102. May 11 12, 7:04 AM

Christinap

Well, susies outside run is proving to be a great succes. Almost too much so. She was out there this morning while I was gardening, happy as anything. When the time came to go back in she didn't want to go. Now, you would think that putting a lead on a big dog in a 5m by 2m enclosed space would be easy. Oh no. She ran round me in circles, ran between my legs, let me get near enough to almost grab her collar and then jinked off to one side. Twenty minutes later I am reduced to a red faced sweating mess, she on the other hand is fresh as a daisy and bouncing around looking to continue this really really good game. Eventually she consented to be caught and have her lead put on, but I can see this is a game she may well want to repeat in the days ahead. Still, they say exercise is good for you, mind you, they probably never tried to catch a dog who didn't want to be caught.

Reply #103. May 13 12, 7:13 AM

Christinap

Overall Susie has been pretty well behaved recently. Training has been going well now the fields are no longer flooded and we can go again. Today we tried something different. Our trainer has recently dog proofed a large field, so we decided to see how she reacted to other dogs when not on a lead. Into the field she went. Into the field went Fred, her rottie friend and Rupert, a shepherd husky mix. We stood back and waited. It didn't take long for the action to start. If anyone had been there that didn't know dogs they would have thought they were killing each other, the growls and barks and howls were blood curdling. The chased round, knocked each other over, took toys away from each other, and generally had a wonderful time. What it has proved is that it is not agression with other dogs, she wants to play but plays rough. Two big boys and she ended up bossing both of them!

Then of course came the fun of getting them back. Fred and Rupert (terrible name for a person, even worse on a dog) came when called. Susie, no way. We tried treats, not interested, toys, not interested. Walking away from her, that worked, she came running and knocked me flat on my face, and of course picked the only spot of mud in the whole field to do it in! Then she sat on me. Trainer tried to grab her, off she went again, flattened the trainer by running in between her legs and quickly turning and coming back the other way. Flattend Rupert's owner with a quick jump that took her out at the back of the knees. Sat on trainer, sat on Rupert's owner. This time I managed to grab her collar before she was off again, and the trainer managed to get the lead on her. She took off again and dragged me through the only patch of stinging nettles in the field. Antihstamine cream is a wonderful thing, must add it to contents of pockets. We've decided that more recall work is needed, however she had a wonderful time and completely flaked out when we got home. Jacket is in the wash again - miracle it's still surviving really. As MOH said, where else can I geta good run round a field, get knocked down in mud and sat on by her, dragged through stinging nettles, and pay someone for the privilege.

Reply #104. May 18 12, 5:46 PM

Christinap

Susie and I had a fablous walk this morning. It's warm and sunny with a gentle breeze. The bridleway is covered with flowers anin places where it is quite enclosed the perfume from the hawthorn trees is wonderful. Cow parsley is taller than her now. As we were walking along a little family of one cock and three hen pheasants were walking down the bridleway in front front of us, and she kindly declined to chase them! They disappeared into the long grass at the side so I kept her to heel until we were past where they went in. We came across a man out for a walk and she heeled nicely past him, had a look but no barking or lunging which is a great improvement. When we got back I noticed that from the knee down my jeans were yellow with pollen from all the plants and her head and nose were covered in pollen as well. It really couldn't have been a nicer hour in all honesty.

Reply #105. May 22 12, 7:21 AM

C30 Now when I read your entertaining (as always) account of Susie's latest escapades, the "nit-picking" thought came to me:-

Surely it is "SHEEPS Parsley" and "COW Mumble"..........so I Googled it.

OK........must be my Suffolk origins, as is listed as a Suffolk term, Essex side of the River Stour it is, as you put, COW Parsley! Let it never be said that FT is anything but educational!

Reply #106. May 22 12, 8:12 AM

Christinap

Now I never knew about Sheep's parsley, to me it's always been cow parsley. Wonder if it has anything to do with Suffolk being big on sheep and the wool trade and Essex more into cattle. So, it grew in the fields or by the fields and was referred to by the name of whatever animal was grazing there.

Reply #107. May 22 12, 11:31 AM

C30 Trouble is, my family could never make up their mind which side of the Stour to live! As I may have said, I spent from age 7 to 13 at mighty metropolis of Little Horkesley, 7 miles from Colchester, but only about 3 miles into Essex. We also lived Newton Green, 3 miles from Sudbury and about 5 miles Suffolk side of border!
To cap it all, my parents retired to Wixoe, 3 miles from Haverhill and 50 yards Suffolk side of river!

Nothing to do with thread of course..........and as to Cow Parsley........whatever.......your theory may well be right.
Incidently, I always though "Sheep's Parsley and Cow Mumble were two different wild plants. It seems not!

Reply #108. May 22 12, 3:00 PM

Christinap

I grew up in Dorset and there it is Cow Parsley or Queen Anne's Lace. Whatever you call it though a hedgerow or roadside full of it in full flower is a lovely sight.

Reply #109. May 22 12, 3:41 PM

Christinap

You see our trainer had this brilliant idea and doing some very basic agility would be good for Susie. She seems to work better when she has to really think about what she' doing. We started off with weave poles, and she got the hang of those pretty quickly and we've now got them about as close together as we can for a dog her size. Today the trainer had the brilliant idea of trying the see saw.

So, trainer one side, me the other side, Susie was persuaded to walk up the seesaw, stand nicely in the middle, we tipped it down and she walked down. Walked up again, stood, edged forward gently on her own, tipped it, walked down. Tail wagging away, something new, fun. Then however an idea popped into her little doggy head. How much easier it would be, she though, if I cut out all this walking rubbish and just jumped onto the middle bit making it tip really quickly. With her the thought and the execution are almost simultaneous, a quick jump, see saw tipped. She charged down the other side. Brilliant, she thought, that worked. Only one minor problem. Trainer's foot was under the down side of the seesaw when she tipped it. Hot day, sandals. Lots of very bad language. Time out for recovery.

We called it a day on the seesaw and went onto some jumps. Now having jumped up about two feet to tip the seesaw you would think that would be easy. Oh no, first couple of times she just walked over them with complete disdain. We put them a bit higher, she walked through them. I demonstrated. She sat there watching me and I swear she was laughing at me. One absolutely perfect jump to prove she could do it if she wanted to, then back to walking straight through them. Next week we're going to have another go at the seesaw and also the scramble wall - hope I'm not called on to demonstrate that one!

Reply #110. May 23 12, 5:03 PM

postal315

First I got the giggles at Susie in the field with "the big boys".

Then on to the Agility training, of which I used to be quite the expert. However, my dog was a small Sheltie, so I didn't have quite the same problem areas.

Great that Susie picked up the weave poles so quickly. Not one of the easier obstacles for most dogs. Have you got access to a tire jump? Seems some larger dogs get the idea to lift their feet when they learn that one.

My dog saw no reason to jump over the broad jump, it was right there for the walking after all.

I really enjoy hearing about Susies Adventures, there might be an amusing book on the subject someday.

Reply #111. May 24 12, 12:51 PM

Christinap

There is a tire jump at the trainers yes, and she can do it, as she once demonstrated, trouble was I was on the other end of the lead at the time!. She's just being lazy over the jumping. She jumps our settee all the time, quicker than walking round it, and that's much higher than the jumps at training.

On the weave poles, she'd been watching a spaniel in the next field doing them really really well, and there were half a dozen set up in our field, but further apart, and she just sort of walked over to them and sat there looking at them, so we decided to try her. I think it took two walk throughs before you could see the "click" in her brain, and from then on it was just a question of how many and how close could we get them. Now we're working on the speed. She adores them. It's the fun part of training for her. She'll do the heel work, sit, stay, all of that, for the reward of weave poles, and hopefully some of the other agility stuff as well. It's only for fun, but it does make her brain work and with her whether it is walks, training whatever, if it has satisfied her mentally that is more important to her than physical exercise.

Reply #112. May 24 12, 4:24 PM

postal315

My little Champion just loved the tunnels. Often a tunnel is curved around the A-frame, with the A-frame being the next to take, but she would get sucked into the tunnel anyways.

The A-frame took more energy to climb up, but she always hit the safety on the way down, it was too far to fly off.

Reply #113. May 25 12, 3:17 PM

Christinap

We havn't tried tunnels yet - the chaos of her deciding to stop in it and us trying to get her out is a joy to come!
We're trying the A frame next week, as well as continuing with the see-saw.

Reply #114. May 25 12, 4:20 PM

ga_jam831

Susie is quite a character. I have enjoyed reading antidotes. They are amusing and witty. Thanks.

Reply #115. May 25 12, 4:24 PM

postal315

The scariest thing about the collapsed tunnel is when a large dog panics and gets twisted in it. Or, jumps in the middle and scares themselves.

I always held the tunnel very open and straight and let the dog see me at the end, and had a big romp after. I miss the Agility days. After my dog passed, I just couldn't get interested with another one.

Reply #116. May 25 12, 11:41 PM

Christinap

Who says animals are dumb? Where it has been so hot lately I've had a portable fan/air con unit in the bedroom. Woke up in the wee small hours last night hot as anything. Could see it was working. Put the light on. Susie laying beside the bed had moved the fan vents so it was blowing down onto her instead of onto me. She'd obviously seen me adjust it a couple of times and worked out how to use it to her advantage.

Reply #117. May 29 12, 5:18 PM

Christinap

As I have mentioned before Susie adores her outside run, which is under trees so she gets shade. Yesterday morning we were both working in the garden, she was in the run, jumping around, playing with her toys, usual stuff. I had my back to her and I heard a sort of half woof come from her, not her usual bark at all. I turned round. On the base of her run were half a dozen baby blue tits, just sat there looking at her. She looked at them, and very slowly came closer to them. She laid down, birds didn't move, just sat there looking at this big thing in front of them. She put a paw out, one of the babies hopped on to it. She put her head forward - I'm now debating my chances of getting in there and removing a bird from her mouth, and it's chances of survival. She sniffed it, very gently. It tweeted at her. The other babies decided to get bold. Another two on her paw, one on her back, two on her head. Mummy blue tit is going absolutely mad in the trees calling the babies back. They are far too interested in this new discovery to listen to her. She is looking at them, doesn't know what to make of them at all. For about five minutes they hopped all over her, and she didn't move a muscle, just laid there, completely relaxed, and let them investigate. I hardly dared move, didn't want to make her jump. She looked at me a couple of times with a sort of how on earth did this happen look on her face. Mum blue tit got brave enough to come into the run as well, scolding away at the babies, and then they all just popped back into the trees. I yearned for a camera but didn't dare leave to go in to get one in case she jumped up and hurt one of them. It was though a completely magical five minutes.

Reply #118. Jun 11 12, 4:26 PM

supersal1

That's amazing. Our closest encounter with a baby bird was with a house martin that had fallen from it's nest onto the drive. Darcy just picked it up in his mouth as a reflex action:(

Reply #119. Jun 14 12, 4:07 PM

Christinap

For some reason the birds in the garden fascinate her. If she isn't actually out there she sits looking out of the window just watching them. When she is in the garden if one is close to her she just sits there looking at it. Given that she is normally happy to chase anything that moves, leaves, bees, butterflies, this fascination with birds is quite strange.

Reply #120. Jun 14 12, 4:49 PM

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