tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4901844543243405919.post171641164847703598..comments2024-03-08T22:33:35.306-08:00Comments on Exercise Finished: Get rid of with the flying monkeystervnmalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16059486741282674657noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4901844543243405919.post-24903419770403641202011-04-30T17:01:38.112-07:002011-04-30T17:01:38.112-07:00this is a tricky thing; training like you show and...this is a tricky thing; training like you show and showing like you train. No good trainer would really train like they show....the boredom and lack of feedback (positive or negative) would make it a complete misery for all involved.<br />My current strategy is to use as little reinforcement that is not "allowed in the ring" as possible. So...food and toys are great for training but there comes a time when the chance to retrieve, jump, run, and play and snuggle with me is the primary reinforcer for training. <br />I try to make most of my sessions extremely fun. Even the ones where I practice having nothing happen for stretches are fun, because out of nowhere they will become exciting. <br />If I can convince my dog that time with me is the best part of their day, then time with me in the ring is better than no time with me at all.<br />It's never the same as training, but it's the best I can do.<br />And...I'm becoming a master at figuring out what you CAN do in the ring. There is never a minute that I'm not engaging my dog (in whatever way that particular dog wants to be engaged), unless we working an actual exercise. I stand out like a sore thumb against my competitors, but it's rare that a judge takes points from me for my between exercise behavior. It's a good idea for each of us to figure out what we can get away with. Melinda, send me a private note if you want to see video of what I'm doing in competition rings.Denisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16293127126317475938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4901844543243405919.post-83074159954266313772011-04-08T17:36:26.208-07:002011-04-08T17:36:26.208-07:00I know that I discovered that all my "proofin...I know that I discovered that all my "proofing" of long sits and downs did not include a whole room full of silent, still people with crossed arms who stared at the dogs. Coach sat, he cocked his head, he gawked around, and he started partying! I really felt stupid. With Jazz I was afraid to breathe for fear he's get up. With Coach - I can do jumping jacks and he stays. If I stand really still - he freaks out and runs around! Thank goodness for fun matches or I would have found that one out the hard way!Kathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16843229866930009738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4901844543243405919.post-73594308212851098192011-04-06T15:45:06.925-07:002011-04-06T15:45:06.925-07:00I am discovering with my current dog something I n...I am discovering with my current dog something I never saw before with my other dogs. This dog really seems to enjoy challenging proofing, she does better. But when it's "boring" ring-style, she seems to have time to worry. I am glad to see you wondering about the same thing. What is the solution? I guess a combo of good proofing and "regular ring style".graciesmomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13384619914695004525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4901844543243405919.post-1120508354348501242011-04-06T05:28:39.286-07:002011-04-06T05:28:39.286-07:00Sometimes we focus too much on 'making it look...Sometimes we focus too much on 'making it look like a trial' and the dogs don't generalize the concept. Some dogs are not concept-oriented and those I suppose have to have the entire ring set up to do a go out, for instance. I do go outs on walks down the road, in the driveway using the barn wall or a fence or a gate. The dog, if she has the concept, will go straight until you tell her to sit no matter what, jumps or no jumps. Same with the other exercises that aren't 'dependent' on an obstacle being there. Drops on recalls, moving stand, signals, even gloves are done on our twice-daily walks down our country (and little traveled) road. It helped my dog understand the concept of what I was asking her to do so the ring is just another place we do these things, not the ONLY place we do these things.Kathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13860431979665024109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4901844543243405919.post-43290911708367738842011-04-05T21:44:58.219-07:002011-04-05T21:44:58.219-07:00Great thoughts! I intend to bring some of my "...Great thoughts! I intend to bring some of my "tools" into the ring with me, such as touch and a couple of bounces. :)Candicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09888979920169814072noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4901844543243405919.post-36853490944475295622011-04-05T19:44:52.097-07:002011-04-05T19:44:52.097-07:00Oh my you even make your posts funny when you had ...Oh my you even make your posts funny when you had a bad trial I am in love with Phoenix. I hope you will post the videos so we too can learn from your experiences in this journey. Good Luck next wknd.tawnyhillshepherdshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13780810335620143661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4901844543243405919.post-84327778127597080842011-04-05T16:50:41.100-07:002011-04-05T16:50:41.100-07:00Very interesting! I have no basis to judge on as ...Very interesting! I have no basis to judge on as my dogs are still in the early stages of really learning the exercises. But the corgi works really hard when he knows I'm proofing him. We have less forging, straighter go outs, etc as he really does try harder! I do feel that proofing is helping to give him a greater understanding of the exercises but there is a lot to say for the emptiness of the ring.Laura and The Corgi, Toller, & Duckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06437492165453445126noreply@blogger.com