tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4901844543243405919.post6593875747318965208..comments2024-03-08T22:33:35.306-08:00Comments on Exercise Finished: Stress and the Obedience Dog, Part Vtervnmalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16059486741282674657noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4901844543243405919.post-59714716862480012442011-06-22T10:48:22.546-07:002011-06-22T10:48:22.546-07:00Wow, I cant believe how close to home this disussi...Wow, I cant believe how close to home this disussion hits! I had 2 OTCH's then hit a roadlock w/ my current dog too. I only just discovered your blog and I love it, but I think Phoenix and my Berner girl Latte might have been emailing for some time, they sound like soulmates! She has her UDX but is stuck at 20 OTCH pts. Cant wait to hear about your progress this summer.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4901844543243405919.post-41724513484227852952011-06-07T12:20:27.517-07:002011-06-07T12:20:27.517-07:00As always, your thoughts make me think, too! I...As always, your thoughts make me think, too! I'm interested in the "work ethic" notion. The three dogs I've trained each had a built-in work ethic for sure, but their natural jobs were very different. Kiri loved challenges, especially athletic ones. The chance to do the next agility obstacle or the next obedience retrieve was a built-in reward for her. Lucy loved working with me at whatever, especially if we could stay physically close together as in rally. Orbit (probable JRT) is pre-programmed to hunt small critters. She could do it all day long with never a word of praise or reward from me!Kate in Iowahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15104952377874074075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4901844543243405919.post-12897275284334580912011-06-06T13:07:06.640-07:002011-06-06T13:07:06.640-07:00I'm working on using play more than food with ...I'm working on using play more than food with Legend. Seems to be helping. Lots of work still to do though.Nickihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00547292170354458260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4901844543243405919.post-83170333489131514972011-06-06T05:39:17.109-07:002011-06-06T05:39:17.109-07:00And just curious...any thoughts on a breed differe...And just curious...any thoughts on a breed difference and what, if anything, that brings to the table? Yeah, I know we're still swimming in the herding group pool, but Mals are not Tervs, GSDs are not Shelties, etc. etc. No hidden agenda in the question, just honestly curious. And even within a breed, say with mine(GSDs,) you get breedline differences as far as drive etc. that may make one adjust a training approach. I have really enjoyed your posts and thought provoking observations/conclusions.!Belindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06147485893164839282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4901844543243405919.post-83132111387797758212011-06-04T18:40:23.358-07:002011-06-04T18:40:23.358-07:00You mentioned Susan G in your post so I know you a...You mentioned Susan G in your post so I know you are familiar with her Have you tried some of the Recall games she plays? They are wonderful for creating bonding to you and not the toy or food though of course there are those things added to it but the "games" become the fun part for the dogs and some of them you can actually do in the ring between exercises once you have built the value. We have enjoyed your series of posts about your training.tawnyhillshepherdshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13780810335620143661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4901844543243405919.post-38396528464871026672011-06-03T06:59:58.833-07:002011-06-03T06:59:58.833-07:00Raegan - Thanks for your comment. I really do feel...Raegan - Thanks for your comment. I really do feel it's stress. First, I don't truly believe in a dog "blowing me off." If he's making that sort of error in the ring, there's a deeper reason - confusion, stress, fear, boredom, whatever. <br /><br />It's possible he is be making lack of effort errors or simply making the wrong decision because he doesn't understand what to do, but that all comes back to my training - my fault for not preparing the dog better.<br /><br />Plus there's been a lot of stress behavior showing physically, too: sniffing, slow movement, no eye contact, ears back, submissive tail and body carriage - just a very uncomfortable dog, not one who's casually saying "Screw this, I don't wanna do it."<br /><br />My overall goal is to use play with ME as the reward to build enthusiasm that will carry into the work itself, making the experience itself rewarding and not dependent on treats/toys. <br /><br />I don't like the term "work ethic" because it implies the dog should come with that ability already built in, when in reality it's US as trainers who have to install it - but it would benefit all of us trainers to understand that building a dog's work ethic is as important as training him to perform the exercises perfectly.tervnmalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16059486741282674657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4901844543243405919.post-35780087529420066192011-06-02T20:42:32.801-07:002011-06-02T20:42:32.801-07:00Another wonderful post as always! I will say using...Another wonderful post as always! I will say using play based training has helped me a lot with both of my dogs. They respond to it and it is wonderful to help get us in synch before we go in the ring, are training in a new place or even while waiting at the vet's office to be seen. Using tricks as a reward, silly talk/tone and "touch" are all ways I become the reward. Can't wait to hear how your summer progresses and we are cheering you both on!Urban canineshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08900555125617486402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4901844543243405919.post-31382400333248509522011-06-02T19:03:59.992-07:002011-06-02T19:03:59.992-07:00"After two OTChs, I finally got the dog who s..."After two OTChs, I finally got the dog who said, “No cookie, no workie.” Random reinforcement seemed meaningless. Delayed gratification held no appeal. Jackpots didn’t work. We went in the ring and Phoenix thought, “Oh, here’s the place with no food. Bor-ing.”"<br /><br />Does this really qualify as ring stress though? Or a dog that's "blowing you off"?Raeganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04993187206192547252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4901844543243405919.post-30130092196304772182011-06-02T09:58:22.783-07:002011-06-02T09:58:22.783-07:00Its a good point that we often rely on other thing...Its a good point that we often rely on other things to reward our dogs for us. I rarely use food to train flyball, focusing on using a tug toy reward. This forces interaction with the dog more than a treat, sometimes, but makes it easy if you have a good, serious tugger, to simply toss the end of the tug out, catch the dog, then pay no attention other than to realize there is still tension on the end of the tug.<br /><br />The true test of a bond with a dog, and good training, is that the dog will perform without any motivation other than the handler. Its something almost everyone involved in dogs sports can use some work on, we just need to remember to focus on it.K-Koirahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01933780350863090595noreply@blogger.com