Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 11:41 am Post subject: Lou's bungling along training
I thought I might attempt to jot down the things I'm doing with Grey in an attempt to put some order into my messy methods! Please feel free to chip in. What I'm trying to achieve is more focus on me, less reactiveness (vans, lorries, motorbikes), stop the throwing himself around on the lead, loose lead walking.
After watching Jo's video on free running with her two I was inspired to try and restrict Grey's wild running about. I know I've probably made a rod for my back in this so there is still lots of work to be done.
First we did a bit of CR training with the dummy in the house. Worked it back up from staring at the dummy to nosing it.
This morning I went up to the top field at Botany Bay. It's a big rough grass area. There are some other dog walkers but it's not like a park. There is enough distance to usually intercept a situation if I want to keep him away from running into other dogs if I'm quick enough. And at certain times of the day, I've got it all to myself.
I first had parked up at a local park but just as we'd arrived there were a gaggle of dogs that piled out of a car. Grey went nuts barking in the car so I sat waiting for them to walk off and for grey to shut up and then I drove him to Botany Bay, which was probably a better idea anyway.
Lots of the usual excited barking and howling in the car as soon as I turned the engine off. I sat listening to the radio until he shut up. I opened my door a bit and off he went with the noise again. So I did a series of shutting the door as soon as the noise started. he shut up after 5 attempts.
He manages a nice sit in the back of the car with the door open and waits. The one thing I really need to curb on this sequence is the huge boing to the end of the lead and round me as soon as he has been told he can get out of the car. Probably need to think about training it again in the house getting off the sofa into a sit.
I insist on a loose lead from the car to the grass area which is about 3 meters away. This can take some time. Today wasn't bad. But we still have to do clicker training for every step to the field. But I don't push it, because we're still training on lead walking and my purpose of going to the field is to give him a run, work on recall and some blind retrieves and focus on me. Probably the whole drive to the field thing is getting him more hyped up too. But there's no way or where I can walk him to an area for offlead exercise where I live. One thing I'd like to do if I have time is just drive him around and we don't go for a walk or run. But I have to juggle lots at the moment.
He sits before he's let off the lead. I unclip his lead and then still hold him until he stops pulling forward and sinks back. I can manage to gently disengage my hand from his collar and then give him a cue to go.
The sun was shining and there was a fair bit of wind. I went out into the middle of the area and decided to go back to the opening protocol that helen p had recommended for us. So I stood still and waited. He came back to me within 30 seconds and I clicked and treated him and gently held his collar, I then let him go with a 'free' cue. I did this 5 times and by the last 2 he didn't really run off away. I did a series of recalls to whistle which he did perfectly, coming back to me into a sit. There was an offlead weim 100m away plodding along with a frisbee which on the first recall he came back to me and then I released him and he went up to. Weim wasn't keen on Grey and sent him packing as did a yellow lab. I'm still finding it hard to manage him around other dogs. If I restrict his access he gets more excited by them. So I wondered if I just drill recall that eventually I can get him over the running in to other dogs. He's bloody pest when he does run in. It's stalkerish and he wants to goad the other dog into chasing him.
He did a sit stay where I moved 5m away from him and returned to him.
I hid his beloved sock three times and sent him in to find it which he brought back. I'm not clicking him. He drops it and sits in front of me. I know this might be bad but I'm loathe to give up on it as I don't have many tools I can use with him outside that don't instill naughtyness. If he gets a toy or an object he's quite possessive and generally runs around going na na na and then refuses recalls etc. So I don't throw toys for him outside. The sock has been a big improvement in that he'll come away from distractions and will bring it back to me.
So this morning's outing wasn't bad I think compared to normal! There was a dreaded road sweeper in front of the house when I got back which I just managed to get him out the car and into the house before he kicked off.
Hiya, sounds like he is keeping you on your toes alright!! How old is he?? Just wondered, what is the video you are talking about regarding free running? Sounds interesting, would love to take a look. Helen.
Chilly morning today. I haven't got much time as I'm working to a deadline. That almost has to go down as a first commandment of dog training. You can never go out if you don't have much time. Grey shouted in the car all the way to the top field. I waited for him to be quiet. But when I did get him out there appeared what seemed like an endless line of people with their dogs. Grey was throwing himself around on the lead, lying down as he does, then bouncing up and kangarooing. All the while I'm trying to stay calm and hold on. Eventually everyone went away and we worked on calm. I did some of the calming circuits that Helen had taught me and were on the Learning About Dogs DVD from Kay Laurence. Basically walking in a fixed oval shape 8 paces long three or four at the end. Steady pace so the dog is walking not trotting, hands at my belt with the lead shortened and lengthend with minimal hand movements. And don't divert from the circuit. The dog finds it hard to pull as just as he;s getting into it, you arc away and change direction. It does seem to work to calm things down. I know some don't like the sound of it as there is also no feedback throughout. It's just a default behaviour.
I then let him off and waited for him to come back. He ran around fast and after 1 min came back to sit in front of me. We did this 5 times and a then did a couple of blind retrieves. A third one I let him see me throw down the sock and as predicted when I've thrown something, he doesn't bring it back like he would do if he'd been sent in to find and fetch the object. He is possessive and mucks about, tosses the sock around and then drops it 5 meters away from where he'd be able to snatch it if I moved to get it. So I sent him back in to find it again and then he brought it to me.
managed some nice loose lead walking back to the car and he'd forgotten what a monster he was earlier.
Back home and did a series of CR training with me holding the dummy. Now putting his open mouth round it.
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Helen.