We had our first dog group today! It went really well. I brought Dottie and we were able to walk right past Kelly and Joel's dogs on the same bike path. I was proud.
Patricia McConnell is doing a blog post soon about "steps 2 through 25," basically why your dog can sit and be good in dog class but sucks everywhere else and what to do about it. I'm excited for it, because it's the middle steps that are most important but hardest and there's the least information about them.
Speaking of lack of information, I've come across a few new dog training topics that me and folks in the dog group are interested in. Is it possible to train your dog to play nicer? Is it possible to train your dog to be calmer in general? Is it possible to train your dog to meet other dogs nicely on leash? If so, how? These are all issues me and other people in the dog group are dealing with. Curious if anyone has any thoughts. I had never even entertained the idea of Dottie or Gustav actually meeting a dog on leash, because I just assume it would be a problem. Ditto for playing off leash. Dottie's reactivity has always been hard to deal with: what do you do with a well-trained dog who get's riled up super easily? It's hard to take her camping or other non-home places where she won't get constant attention, because she barks and won't just settle in. Hmmm.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Sooooo nice to meet others who have in the past or currently can share the pain and joyful moments of having a "special' furry friend. It's always a lot more fun to share!
ReplyDeleteDr. Patricia McConnell's one of my mentors. I also found if you haven't already read or heard of Leslie McDevitt (Control Unleashed) and or Susan Garrett (Crate Games dvd) they are also in my training tickle trunk :)
It will be great to see what you've been up to with Gustav!
To keep sane I call my dogs and fosters guru's...each of them have taught me such important life lessons on how important being compassionate and knowing there's ALWAYS a way to communicate and guide them through whatever challenges you both face, that load up your oxytocin levels with a little bit of honey and creative thinking (science based) it's amazing what one can accomplish!
Hi! I found your blog through Patricia McConnell's blog. I'm lucky to live in here in Madison where she is-I use the dog training company she founded for all my behaviorist needs, and occasionally get to go hear her speak. As a grad student in child development, I need someone who is science-oriented, which she always is. I totally respect people who learn in different ways, but I'm a skeptic and I need research to convince me.
ReplyDeleteI have read Control Unleashed but not Susan Garrett: I'll have to check it out! I have Scaredy Dog and Click to Calm, but it's Cautious Canine and Feisty Fido I go back to over and over. I like Patricia McConnell's ethos of "learn a few things, but master them." I get easily overwhelmed when books have a million little things you're supposed to teach your dog. I consider watch (their name), sit, stay, and come the most paramount, with a good down-stay and leave it a close second.
I love your idea of targeting as a tool for reactive/aggressive dogs. Dottie, my dog-reactive but people friendly dog, is a good targeter, but Gustav, well, he's a slow learner :) He's also much less reactive in general, he's the type to take it and take it until he won't take it anymore, doesn't give off lots of signals like Dottie. Stoic, I guess.
Have a nice day!
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteLUCKY DUCK!!!
ReplyDeleteFor the Love of A Dog AND Feeling Outnumbered are ALSO my all time bibles! Soooo much of what WE do makes or breaks what happens next.
I loved Susan Garrett's workshops I attended as well. She's all about the science (Bob Bailey graduate) and is funny to boot. I'm not into agility but certainly learned a lot from her. She can be a bit tough on the people if they aren't concentrating on what they're doing especially when it messes the dog up. Her workshop is all about shaping behaviours with treat, playing games using toys, and the biggie, is understanding the science behind what you're doing. Games boost emotional self control capacity into a place where dogs COULD finally deal with the triggers...agility dogs and their overly aroused brains...not unlike Feisty Fido dogs!
Keeps them in "thinking" mode rather than "reacting". She's not into using Lures but to be honest, I think the more flexible you are in knowing what your dog needs at any particular time in order to communicate something...I don't mind flip flopping. Bob Bailey even said so in one of her blog comments!
http://susangarrett.wordpress.com/2009/03/10/bob-baileys-reply/
As long as I'm not confusing the dog in the meantime. Whatever keeps my dogs in a happy, thinking space is my goal. My videos are so goofy, but shows that somehow, we now have a rhythm that works for us and we're grooving.
I also LOVED the fact that a "no' or grumpy voice could get someone kicked out of her workshop :)
The Crate Game dvd, was helpful to me in learning how to "transfer the value" using classical and operant conditioning. It has helped foster dogs tremendously increase their self control ie..from barking at other dogs is FUN... to sitting quietly beside me and minding your own business :P is even MORE FUN...
RE: nose and paw target are two cues that open the flood gate to so many tricks too!
I posted more detail on things that helped me out with Wags maybe some more ideas for you too on his blog.
I'm very excited to snoop in on what adventures you continue to blog about!