That's exactly what I was thinking Kirsty, I know how much she'd love doing that, I've seen her doing her zig zags when we're out!! She's got a keen nose this one! I'll have to do some research on just how I go about this though, coz haven't got a clue!

All great advice mate...nothing much to add but just this.... she is still a baby and big girl but still a baby, you just carry on what your doing, you have got it right in the past haven't you so what's different with Zena? nothing!!

All those years must count for something.
the training sounds a bit military to me, I might be wrong and tell me if I am. But in Poppy's class we alldo the same thing at the same time. He never singles out anyone to do anything on their own. they only do that in the advanced class and I know this because we get there early and sit and watch them.

The only time we do anything on our own is walking round near the dogs, but this is just socialisation, it might work differently in a field rather than a hall. more natural you know

Keep up the good work, if it aint broke don't fix it
Your not stupid you know what your doing and your instincts are telling you this...so listen to them

Elaine xxxxx

dito, I would never avoid a fear my dog had, or any dog that comes into training, its best to slowly solve the fear by working it out.

Can I ask why the trainer took her from you?

I have a young gsd coming to training, now I do take him and do training with him, but im still building the bond/trust with him,
will try to get some photos tomorrow of him, hes a big fellar for his age,

Lol, or behind his cushions on his recliner chair, that's a good one too!

Awww, thanks Elaine, I just felt a bit disheartened, but only coz I am expecting far too much of my little girlie! Yes, military is spot on, but then this is such a big club, they do very advanced classes, VERY advanced, up to high obedience level, but whether or not this particular trainer does those classes I don't know, maybe she's a "wanna be" obedience person coz my breeder who IS on the obedience circuit has never heard of her or seen her dogs around! We just had a great walk, just me and Zena, we played on the green, she found the ball when I hid it, her tail was going like the clappers, she ran with me, she sat for 30 seconds staring at me whilst I had her ball, and I really don't care if her ball is her focus point either rather than a treat, if it works, so be it! Lol! They train the sniffer dogs like that don't they, their ball is their reward!

I'm going back Shona, but not until the week after next because of other committments, not because I want to avoid going, but IF she is a nervous wreck, no, I don't want her stressed out like that, why would I want to do that to her when it's not necessary? Afterall, I can always carry on with her basics, and then join the bigger class where I will have a different trainer for that and see how she is with them?

The trainer took her from me 2 weeks ago, when I told her I didn't understand the heelwork training bit, with the stopping and getting her back to my side, because she always just laid down in front of me. Soooo, as I stood up, Zena stood up, the trainer took hold of her lead and just went to go off with her to the middle of the hall to show everybody exactly what she meant, because her Leo wouldn't have done it, he's fed up with doing that, so we thought it a good idea to use Zena who I knew would just lay down in front of her. As she went to walk off with her, Zena threw a wobbly, lunging to get back to me, so the trainer wasn't going to have that little madam tantrum, I did nothing, I stood there, the trainer moved further away from me, made Zena sit, which she did...... eventually then she gave her a treat, and handed her straight back coz of the stress he had caused with her, but it was quite right imo that she made her sit and take a treat BEFORE handing her back perhaps??? Dunno!

Having said that though, at our other class, the puppy class, the young girl trainer there, took Zena on SEVERAL occassions, to do the heelwork, and Zena was a complete Star, she didn't worry about leaving me either, and yet even back then, she was just as focused on me and had just as good a recall, so the only reason I can think of this time is, she didn't like the trainer SHOUTING at her, and doing what she did this last time hey?

as said before, I tend to go the opposite way and face the fears, that said, I would be having a word with the trainer and ask her not to grab my dog and take it away from me.


................... im saying nothing....lol

why on earth did the trainer shout at her?

She didn't shout as loud as I would maybe shout at Georgie if he's been norty, but she certainly shouted louder than I have EVER needed or wanted to shout at Zena if you know what I mean? She used a very stern loud voice, just like she would have done with one of HER dogs perhaps, not a little baby girl That is probably what has stuck in Zena's mind, the shouting more than the actual event kind of thing. Many a time I've wanted to shout at her like that, but I've bitten my tongue, and got around it some other way, but it was just instinct I suppose from this trainer's point of view to have done that? Funny, coz she's been saying to me ever since that I have to be very quiet and calm around Zena because she's so sensitive, and it makes me wonder, whether she now realises exactly WHY Zena is being like she is perhaps? Why would she think I'm NOT quiet and calm around Zena, because I always am??? Maybe I'm not particularly SLOW around her, but I am quiet and calm, i.e. when I reach down to gently stroke her and tell her how good she is when lying nicely at my feet, I'm always calm and gentle and she's never, ever heard ME shout at her that's for sure!!! I can be a gruff person with my dogs when the need arises, but I also have self control over my little puppy because I know how it could effect her later on, whereas the older guys know how to deal with my gruff voice and they KNOW it's coz they've done something that displeases me big time!

GSDs are good to train with a toy ,as they are quite poscessive, you can utilise this in your training!

Yes Mich, I'm finding her much more focused when I have a ball in my hand than ANY high value treat, even liver cake tbh! The trainer has said this week that she will soon be wanting us to move on from treats to a high value toy, so I'll be ready for that when the time comes won't I

I have found food of little use with many gsd's

im using toys with young oz its working a treat, just a little play, then an about turn on the spot getting him to come round on my leg to get his toy..

once I have him happy with that, then I will start doing really basic healwork with him