Hi again. Soz I havent been on the last days. Been quite busy
Read your post and it sounds like we have similar dogs
Its good to know the strength and weaknesses. You need to know to be able to get on and correct what needs to be
The kean thing is so great and what I want in a dog. Its so much easier to teach them to calm down a bit than the other way around. And that they like the work is priceless.
But I must say I teach the retrieve another way. Varios ways work and the important thing is what works for you and your dog
The sqeaking is really bad and will cost you points in the trials
If continued you will never be able to get to the higher level of trials, but will be disqualified right away.
That has to be stopped asap. What way will work for you I cant say (I really need some videos
), but some are succesful with ignoring the dog and not carry on working til the dog has calmed down and are quiet. Others will punis the behavior right away - a stern "NO" or a tap on the nose might do the trick. Whatever you decide and think will work, you have to make it stop asap!
About the heel etc when excited? Well, I had a bouncing and jumping dog for some time
Not kidding, she would jump higher than my arm beside me. Constantly looking at me but who can take such dog seriosly
I stopped it by the minute she started the "deer walk" I simply turned around and walked away from the fun
Did not return before she had calmed down and walked where and the way I wanted her to.
Took some time to get her to understand but she did. And now she "only" shakes when excited
About your "4". You´re right about adjusting the exercise to what he can cope, but while it isnt your turn, its a great oppertunity to train "calm" with him.
Get him down stay beside you, or as Ally prefers it, in front of you. Nothings going to happen so he might aswell learn to relax and sleep, watch whatever he wants as long as he´s calm and stays.
Use the class to train what you cant on your own
After all, the class is both a test to see what you have worked on the past week is something he understands and are able to, and also a possibility to train what you cant do on your own.
Well done on your first exercise
We train the walk up by all walking in straight lines, and when the gun goes off all dogs are to be sitting and mark. We take turns to get the objects and all not working dogs most remain calm. But no one really knows when they´re up so you have to be on your toes all the time. Its really exciting
Your second exercise is what I would call a triple mark. Something you will be doing at the trials you soon will be ready for
The tough part in what you were supposed to do, is that your dog always will remember the last thrown
Therefore you need to be really certain that he knows and understands the send out and that your signals to him are
very very very clear.
Another great exercise is to throw distraction dummys.
Picture you have him beside you. You throw a dummy straight out as a normal and now easy send out. Before you send him, you throw a dummy in front of him to the left or the right. He needs to ignore that and go for the straight ahead.
You do that by make sure he´s focused on the one straight ahead. Make sure his eyes are on the one you want him to get. His body is pointing in the right direction and that your arm clearly is pointing out the one he should run for. Later, when he can do this, you throw harder and harder distractions dummys. And even later, you throw tons of them on his way in and he´ll ignore them
But easy now, thats for later. Just so you know, you´ll get this on trials too and I think thats why "the clock" is an excellent way to teach send outs.
After reading more and more of your replies, I strikes me that you might be a big part of your probs with him?
You descriebe yourself as very insecure, not trusting him, afraid you maybe wont be as good as the others in your class, convinced he will fail infront of others etc.
Correct me if i´m wrong but thats really how I read it
I think you could really use that you started trusting yourself and your dog more
Easier said than done I know, but you have a good dog. He´s willing to learn, eager to please and loves the work.
And you know what to do. What to work on and your goal. And it seems you work hard on it. You care about this and spends both time and energy on this and thinks about what and hopw to do it.
Maybe its time we made a "you can do it and you´re doing great" thread for you?
No seriosly, try put all those bad thoughts off. If you are convinced he will fail at classes - he will
Trust him and trust yourself