I could totally understand that. Rally is not an exciting sport to watch, lol! It is fun to do though. It's not stressful and I think Ellie will gain a lot of confidence with it.
Ellie Does Rally! Long Post, lol!
- Thread starter Lahree
- Start date
I could totally understand that. Rally is not an exciting sport to watch, lol! It is fun to do though. It's not stressful and I think Ellie will gain a lot of confidence with it.
I'm glad Ellie had such a good time in Rally class. I'm sure you will find her confidence increasing with each week. It will also give your bad girl an outlet for her energy.
Irene personally I don't care for watching Rally either but competely in it is a blast. Same with obedience with Novice and Open. I do like watching utility. A good utility dog is a thing of beauty. A not so good one is entertaining.Dogs need to think and work alot on their own in utility and some of things they think are unexpected. Did you know that there is 55 different wats to NQ in the blink of an eye in utility. However, if I wasn't entered I wouldn't go across town to watch even utility. Agility,yes, I would.
I think Ellie would really have a wonderful time with agility. I do hope that next session there are enough people who want to do it. If not, I want her to have the Canine Good Citizen class or whatever it's called. She really needs to learn to have a dog get close to her without reaction and have a friendly stranger pet her, etc. I am hoping that this class gets her confidence up and then she will have an easier time with the Canine Good Citizen.
Once Ellie gets past her nervousness, I really think she would be a really great performance dog. If not, that's fine. I want Ellie to have FUN and I want her to be happy and confident. I love going to classes with her. DH loves to watch and he works on things with her at home too.
BTW, we taught her the voice command for "stand" with only four tries. Smart puppy.
Calliesmom
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I think Ellie would really have a wonderful time with agility. I do hope that next session there are enough people who want to do it. If not, I want her to have the Canine Good Citizen class or whatever it's called. She really needs to learn to have a dog get close to her without reaction and have a friendly stranger pet her, etc. I am hoping that this class gets her confidence up and then she will have an easier time with the Canine Good Citizen.
Once Ellie gets past her nervousness, I really think she would be a really great performance dog. If not, that's fine. I want Ellie to have FUN and I want her to be happy and confident. I love going to classes with her. DH loves to watch and he works on things with her at home too.
BTW, we taught her the voice command for "stand" with only four tries. Smart puppy.
Usually people get the CGC on their dogs and then move into rally or other sports
I'm sure that Ellie will do great - if you're both having fun, then everything will be fine
Justicemom
Forums Celebrity
I think Ellie would really have a wonderful time with agility. I do hope that next session there are enough people who want to do it. If not, I want her to have the Canine Good Citizen class or whatever it's called. She really needs to learn to have a dog get close to her without reaction and have a friendly stranger pet her, etc. I am hoping that this class gets her confidence up and then she will have an easier time with the Canine Good Citizen.
Once Ellie gets past her nervousness, I really think she would be a really great performance dog. If not, that's fine. I want Ellie to have FUN and I want her to be happy and confident. I love going to classes with her. DH loves to watch and he works on things with her at home too.
BTW, we taught her the voice command for "stand" with only four tries. Smart puppy.
There was a time when I wasn't sure Ember would ever get even a CD but she is just one leg shy of her UDX now. I just took it as she was ready and suddenly she turned on to training and competing and she took off. Agility is still harder for her because she doesn't like the contacts. Jumpers courses are better. Her speed comes and goes with how she is feeling that day about her environment and she'll never be a great agility dog. We have fun and that's what counts.
Usually people get the CGC on their dogs and then move into rally or other sports
I'm sure that Ellie will do great - if you're both having fun, then everything will be fine
Leave it to me to do things backwards!
Yes, I am not sure Ellie would ever be a great doing an actual competition, but I would like to see if she would like to go over jumps and do things that are fast and athletic. She LOVES playing Frisbee and LOVES chasing her big beach ball. I think agility would be fun. I don't know if I would ever be coordinated to do it, lol.
Second Class---HORRIBLE!
Well, the second class was a disaster. Ellie was feeling fine and I think her allergies and the vet visit didn't have anything to do with it.
She was alert when we pulled into the parking lot but was not hesitant about going in. When we got in there she seemed better than last class as far as nervousness was concerned--until the big scary Rott sat next to us in class. Ellie was totally distracted by him. He did not pay any attention to her but she was still afraid of him. She would NOT sit and stay sitting. AT ALL. ALL NIGHT. It was frustrating as hell. A simple thing like that that she knows stone cold since she was 9 weeks old. I have never had to redirect her more times in my life!
Ellie and I and a Yorkie are the only beginners in the class. Everyone else is advanced so some of the instructions the instructor gives are over my head or I have never heard before or she demonstrated too quickly (for me anyway). I felt totally uncoordinated trying to handle Ellie, read the signs, do the actions and have two different people yelling instructions at me. That's right--there seems to be one of those people in every class. Someone who knows how to do the exercises and feels they have a better take on how to tell me what to do than the instructor. And the instructor lets her get away with it. So I am trying to do a course the instructor set up and I am trying to handle Ellie who is doing a perfect imitation of a helium balloon and I have two different people--one on each side of the room mind you, yelling in overlapping voices "do this, do that, tell her WRONG, do it again (as the other person was saying go forward, don't worry about it)." I started to get teary I was so frustrated. Ellie was so confused and I was confused. The isntructor is yelling at me, "I want to hear PRAISE! PRAISE HER! DOOO IT! PRAISE HER SO I CAN HEAR IT!!! I am NOT used to screaming praise at Ellie. I talk to Ellie in a happy sing-song voice when she is good, but I do NOT scream it or even say it loudy. She's not deaf, just I am! She knows when she is good and responds to my voice. When she is bad, all I have to do is put a growl in my voice and she knows--so I am not used to screaming corrections at her either.
The other problem I had was towards the end of the class, the second Rott (the smallerer little less scary one) got to close too Ellie (as far as Ellie was concerned) and Ellie curled her lip, growled and lunged forward and snaped. Great. I need her to pick a fight with a Rott. Nice. I have no idea what that was about. The dog was not paying any attention to her whatsoever. I am sure it fear and was a defense mechanism on Ellie's part--in case the Rott decided TO look at her. ::shrug:: Who knows.
I am not a quitter, but I feel like it. I have a heard time speaking up, but I know how to praise my dog and I know how to work her. Since I was not allowed to work her the way we have practiced for almost a year and had to do it differently to be just like the rest of the class it didn't work for me. I also need ONE person to be the instructor. I don't know if I should try to find a one on one instructor or not or to stick with this to get Ellie's confidence up around other dogs. She seems to have real problems with other dogs.
Sigh.
Well, the second class was a disaster. Ellie was feeling fine and I think her allergies and the vet visit didn't have anything to do with it.
She was alert when we pulled into the parking lot but was not hesitant about going in. When we got in there she seemed better than last class as far as nervousness was concerned--until the big scary Rott sat next to us in class. Ellie was totally distracted by him. He did not pay any attention to her but she was still afraid of him. She would NOT sit and stay sitting. AT ALL. ALL NIGHT. It was frustrating as hell. A simple thing like that that she knows stone cold since she was 9 weeks old. I have never had to redirect her more times in my life!
Ellie and I and a Yorkie are the only beginners in the class. Everyone else is advanced so some of the instructions the instructor gives are over my head or I have never heard before or she demonstrated too quickly (for me anyway). I felt totally uncoordinated trying to handle Ellie, read the signs, do the actions and have two different people yelling instructions at me. That's right--there seems to be one of those people in every class. Someone who knows how to do the exercises and feels they have a better take on how to tell me what to do than the instructor. And the instructor lets her get away with it. So I am trying to do a course the instructor set up and I am trying to handle Ellie who is doing a perfect imitation of a helium balloon and I have two different people--one on each side of the room mind you, yelling in overlapping voices "do this, do that, tell her WRONG, do it again (as the other person was saying go forward, don't worry about it)." I started to get teary I was so frustrated. Ellie was so confused and I was confused. The isntructor is yelling at me, "I want to hear PRAISE! PRAISE HER! DOOO IT! PRAISE HER SO I CAN HEAR IT!!! I am NOT used to screaming praise at Ellie. I talk to Ellie in a happy sing-song voice when she is good, but I do NOT scream it or even say it loudy. She's not deaf, just I am! She knows when she is good and responds to my voice. When she is bad, all I have to do is put a growl in my voice and she knows--so I am not used to screaming corrections at her either.
The other problem I had was towards the end of the class, the second Rott (the smallerer little less scary one) got to close too Ellie (as far as Ellie was concerned) and Ellie curled her lip, growled and lunged forward and snaped. Great. I need her to pick a fight with a Rott. Nice. I have no idea what that was about. The dog was not paying any attention to her whatsoever. I am sure it fear and was a defense mechanism on Ellie's part--in case the Rott decided TO look at her. ::shrug:: Who knows.
I am not a quitter, but I feel like it. I have a heard time speaking up, but I know how to praise my dog and I know how to work her. Since I was not allowed to work her the way we have practiced for almost a year and had to do it differently to be just like the rest of the class it didn't work for me. I also need ONE person to be the instructor. I don't know if I should try to find a one on one instructor or not or to stick with this to get Ellie's confidence up around other dogs. She seems to have real problems with other dogs.
Sigh.
Justicemom
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I am sorry you had such a bad night.
I usually give soft praise to my dogs in obedience. I get alittle more excited in agility but I am never shouting. Your right they are not deaf, They don't need loud commands or loud praise or corrections for that matter. I believe quiet to normal voice actually is better the dog needs to pay attention. Shelties in general don't like loud voices. As long as your praising her ,who cares how you do it. Sheesh!
The deal with the Rott at the end of class was probably Ellie reacting to your stress. Your frustrated and it goes right down to Ellie. You had a long day and probably had little tolerance for the stuff that was going on.
Hopefully next week will be better.
I would try and continue class with other dogs. Relax breath, don't try and be perfect, try and give her a bit more space from the dogs. The more confident(that you can do it, that Ellie will behave) you are, the more Ellie will follow your lead.
Me, I would kindly ask the non instructor to limit their chatter that I'm trying to listen to instructor and then ignore them. I would also ask instructor for clarification on how to do something if there isn't time at the moment take a few minutes after class. They should be there to help you. Praise your dog the way you are comfortable and if she yells at you tell her you don't like being yelled at and neither does your dog.
Remember tonight was a full moon. Just chalk it up to that.
I usually give soft praise to my dogs in obedience. I get alittle more excited in agility but I am never shouting. Your right they are not deaf, They don't need loud commands or loud praise or corrections for that matter. I believe quiet to normal voice actually is better the dog needs to pay attention. Shelties in general don't like loud voices. As long as your praising her ,who cares how you do it. Sheesh!
The deal with the Rott at the end of class was probably Ellie reacting to your stress. Your frustrated and it goes right down to Ellie. You had a long day and probably had little tolerance for the stuff that was going on.
Hopefully next week will be better.
I would try and continue class with other dogs. Relax breath, don't try and be perfect, try and give her a bit more space from the dogs. The more confident(that you can do it, that Ellie will behave) you are, the more Ellie will follow your lead.
Me, I would kindly ask the non instructor to limit their chatter that I'm trying to listen to instructor and then ignore them. I would also ask instructor for clarification on how to do something if there isn't time at the moment take a few minutes after class. They should be there to help you. Praise your dog the way you are comfortable and if she yells at you tell her you don't like being yelled at and neither does your dog.
Remember tonight was a full moon. Just chalk it up to that.
I am sorry you had such a bad night.
I usually give soft praise to my dogs in obedience. I get alittle more excited in agility but I am never shouting. Your right they are not deaf, They don't need loud commands or loud praise or corrections for that matter. I believe quiet to normal voice actually is better the dog needs to pay attention. Shelties in general don't like loud voices. As long as your praising her ,who cares how you do it. Sheesh!
The deal with the Rott at the end of class was probably Ellie reacting to your stress. Your frustrated and it goes right down to Ellie. You had a long day and probably had little tolerance for the stuff that was going on.
Hopefully next week will be better.
I would try and continue class with other dogs. Relax breath, don't try and be perfect, try and give her a bit more space from the dogs. The more confident(that you can do it, that Ellie will behave) you are, the more Ellie will follow your lead.
Me, I would kindly ask the non instructor to limit their chatter that I'm trying to listen to instructor and then ignore them. I would also ask instructor for clarification on how to do something if there isn't time at the moment take a few minutes after class. They should be there to help you. Praise your dog the way you are comfortable and if she yells at you tell her you don't like being yelled at and neither does your dog.
Remember tonight was a full moon. Just chalk it up to that.
I always love your posts.
You always give such good advise and usually make me laugh.I think the snapping at the dog at the end could very well be Ellie's reaction to my stress and it was probably a reaction to her own. I think she gets stressed out as well. When we got home I let her go in the backyard and she went straight to the fence and slammed against it and did her angry bark even though there was no stupid neighbor dog even outside. Then she got one of her babies and proceded to "kill" it.
The whole deal with holding the leash was the thing that threw me off. I am used to working Ellie holding the leash in my left hand with my left hand completely down and relaxed by my side and a nice big "j" loose leash. No treats until the end. She doesn't need a lure to do the things she was being asked to do. She has known "sit" "down" "stay" "go slow" "go fast," etc., for forEVER. The instructor insisted that I hold the leash in my right hand, my arm across my chest holding the leash at my chest level and having a treat in my left hand and guiding her along using that method. Ellie has never followed a lure for exercises so she started to act nutty trying to get the treat out of my hand. She was clearly confused. She was also incredibly nervous and acting skiddish and would surge ahead of me and then go wide and swing back. It this had happened on a walk, all I do is gently (with two fingers) give the slightest guidance on the leash to get her back to my heel, but the instructor would not let me use the leash for guidance at all. The instructor wants me to controll her completely with my voice. OK, I understand that would probably be the ultimate, but we are NOT in the show ring. We are learning. We are training. I dunno, it's frustrating.
I also am used to--and therefore Ellie is used to--saying "Let's go!" for what they say "heel." Does it really matter what phrase I use? I thought in rally you could say anything to get them to do whatever they were supposed to do?
Justicemom
Forums Celebrity
The whole deal with holding the leash was the thing that threw me off. I am used to working Ellie holding the leash in my left hand with my left hand completely down and relaxed by my side and a nice big "j" loose leash. No treats until the end. She doesn't need a lure to do the things she was being asked to do. She has known "sit" "down" "stay" "go slow" "go fast," etc., for forEVER. The instructor insisted that I hold the leash in my right hand, my arm across my chest holding the leash at my chest level and having a treat in my left hand and guiding her along using that method. Ellie has never followed a lure for exercises so she started to act nutty trying to get the treat out of my hand. She was clearly confused. She was also incredibly nervous and acting skiddish and would surge ahead of me and then go wide and swing back. It this had happened on a walk, all I do is gently (with two fingers) give the slightest guidance on the leash to get her back to my heel, but the instructor would not let me use the leash for guidance at all. The instructor wants me to controll her completely with my voice. OK, I understand that would probably be the ultimate, but we are NOT in the show ring. We are learning. We are training. I dunno, it's frustrating.
I also am used to--and therefore Ellie is used to--saying "Let's go!" for what they say "heel." Does it really matter what phrase I use? I thought in rally you could say anything to get them to do whatever they were supposed to do?
I always heel with the leash in my left hand with my hand straight down. Only time I don't is the moving stand in utility. Then I hold my hand at my waist as hand movement will tell them to stop and that hard to do with your hand at your side.
I have never heard of the leash in the right hand as you described. Too strange. I do hold the leash in the right hand when starting my puppies so I can show them with a lure in the left. But lures should be faded at the first sign of understanding or you become dependent on it and the dog never learns to think. Sounds like Ellie is beyond that. If you watch Porter's video. Rachel lures Porter for the totally new things but for the sit which he knows, she just tells him ,no luring. If Ellie has not been lured ever I can see the problem, her whole picture has been changed.
I wish I was there so I could help you. For this week, just teach Ellie to follow the treat as you move it about when she is not lunging for it and following it ,say yes and give it to her. I'll see if I can get Rachel to show you will Porter tom night. Don't hestitate to tell her to do the things she knows you shouldn't need to lure those things. Practice will make it easier and less foreign.
Also it doesn't matter what you call any command as long as you use the same all the time. I taught Justice "heel" for the left finish, my friends say swing. I was told when I was training Ember I should said swing like I'm supposed not heel because that is what I say when I heeling. I said whatever, heel means be at my side whether I'm moving or standing. I'll never remember swing so I not changing. Worked out ok I think, Justice is a mutliple venue, multiple HIT/HC dog and so is Ember.