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Location: South East UK
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 27,437
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Originally Posted by
Moobli
I agree with dropping out of the training class if you are not happy with the way Zena reacts there, or to the instructor's approach. Keep on training her yourself, as you have been doing, and you will do fine
Yogi is learning to track (for fun) and he absolutely loves it, and I love watching him. I am sure Zena would love using her nose too. I am really lucky in that I have the help, assistance and experience of an ex MOD dog handler and a police dog handler both fairly locally who are happy to help me train him. In fact, I was out with the MOD handler tonight, and we did three different tracks and Yogi loved it - as did I
He is now crashed out in the garden fast asleep
It would definitely be worth looking into - if you can find someone locally to help you.
Also, would you consider agility training in the future (when she is over 12 months old?) as I am sure she would love it.
Oh Lucky you Kirsty, I'm jealous yet again!!!
Agility would suit her down to the ground, but for me, she'd have to be over 18 months to consider it I'm afraid, but yes, in fact, I have a woman who trains shepherds in this field comes to our village every Sunday morning and uses one of the horse's fields over the road, so I might just pop over there on a Sunday morning and have a chat with her. For the moment, I'm looking for something just like Skilaki is doing with Cox, Zena would love it, and I'd love watching her with that tail going like mad coz she does that when I've thrown her ball into the long grass and tell her to find it, she loves my "find it" and she always does and she's always so pleased with herself, that I know if I can find something where she uses that sharp nose of hers, she'll have a whale of a time, and so will I!
Originally Posted by
Wysiwyg
Working trials is great but for competing you do really need to be quite dedicated to the training.
I opted out in the end as I did not enjoy the 6ft scale but
I loved the training for the search square (got full marks for our first and only trial comp. search square ) and learning about tracking and so on.
IMO you can learn the exercises and train them and enjoy that but don't need to compete unless you want to.
Some WTs clubs are rather traditional in their approach and will use punishment but it varies really with individual trainers, some are now very positive in their methods because they are getting good results.
Lots of luck anyway whatever you decide to do
Wys
x
Oh so will I, and that's exactly the kind of thing I want to do, not all this sit, down, stay etc. coz I can do that any old place can't I Well done to you for getting those full marks at that!!
I'm going to be busy on Google finding something local that's not only fun but a lot more interesting for both of us. I was enjoying my training at this club, and I do like that trainer, but there really is no point carrying on with a stressed out dog, and yes, I know I can get round it, and MAKE her settle in that hall with that trainer, ignore her trembling and backing up against the wall, but quite honestly, why would I want to do that when she's such a young impressionable dog and we were doing just fine up until that time, plus all of that undoing I have been doing over the past couple of weeks, I just couldn't risk it walking in that door last night, I would never have forgiven myself if we went back to 2 weeks ago. I always listen when my dog is telling me something, she she couldn't have said it any clearer really could she
No, I want to keep the relaxed, happy, BOLD puppy that I have, I have never done the timid gsd before, and I certainly don't want Zena to be turned into one either!
A strange thing. I met a friend of mine up on the green yesterday lunchtime who used to have shepherds and he asked me where I did my training. When I told him, he was quite concerned, and told me that he used to actually train for them, but he left because he didn't like their training methods (he even mentioned the exact name of MY trainer for Zena's class!
) He told me to leave there and find somewhere else, and that's what originally got me um'ing and arr'ing about going last night, and now I'm glad I didn't!
I've e-mailed them yesterday and thanked them profusely for all their help, but due to some personal circumstances I can no longer attend classes, so at least they can fill my space now with somebody who is waiting.