romeosangiovese
Forums Enthusiast
Oops! I didn't mean for this to be a choke chain/prong put-down! I have no doubt that everyone here knows how to use these tools responsibly and appropriately! But that's not what I see in the ring here - the people who dominate the ring do the whole 'heel, then turn quickly, run and yank' thing; they break the dog. I just want to do it in a way that's at the other end of the spectrum and prove to myself and others that it can be done! 
In any case, Juliet is a soft dog. If I so much as look like I'm going to wrap my hand around her muzzle, her ears fly back, her eyes grow large and she looks abit like that cat from Shrek!
Ok so here's what I'm getting:
1. Use food that is easy to dispense at the side and which is highly motivating. Dispense often initially. - About this, I was thinking of how I try to "trick" Juliet into thinking I have treats in my hand, but I actually don't. Obviously she realizes after awhile that there ain't no treat forthcoming, and starts to let her mind wander.
So then I tried to show her where I keep the treats, go do some exercises then run back. Problem is, she's reeeeally into food and when I did that for agility (left the treat outside the ring), she tried to run TO the food, so I think if we get to Novice obedience and she's offleash, this method will also backfire there! How do you keep the dog motivated and let her know the reward is coming but just do what mummy tells you and you'll get it at the end?
2. Train one step at a time - I can do this. Kind of like teaching a 'stay' by increasing the difficulty slowly.
3. Hold leash in the same way with treats and without - I hook the loop over my thumb on the right hand and keep my left hand leash free for treats usually and hold my left hand at my hip. This should work right?
4. Train heeling in short bursts - do I increase the bursts to longer ones slowly? Or is the short bursts meant to keep the heeling fun?
5. Get the dog used to the ring - do I keep entering trials? How does one prepare for this? How do I help train ring-readyness when I'm at the trial? What can I do to make my next time at the trial useful to getting her ring ready?
6. Wait for the dog to mature a little - Juliet is quite young and is still very much the puppy she was last year! She has a fairly short attention span.
7. Don't see heeling as being boring - I used to but I've been trying to change that!
The judge said the surrounding must be too overwhelming for her. And yet, the little minx can do her sit/down stay at the far end of the ring closest to all the distractions?? I'm perplexed to say the least!
In any case, Juliet is a soft dog. If I so much as look like I'm going to wrap my hand around her muzzle, her ears fly back, her eyes grow large and she looks abit like that cat from Shrek!
Ok so here's what I'm getting:
1. Use food that is easy to dispense at the side and which is highly motivating. Dispense often initially. - About this, I was thinking of how I try to "trick" Juliet into thinking I have treats in my hand, but I actually don't. Obviously she realizes after awhile that there ain't no treat forthcoming, and starts to let her mind wander.
So then I tried to show her where I keep the treats, go do some exercises then run back. Problem is, she's reeeeally into food and when I did that for agility (left the treat outside the ring), she tried to run TO the food, so I think if we get to Novice obedience and she's offleash, this method will also backfire there! How do you keep the dog motivated and let her know the reward is coming but just do what mummy tells you and you'll get it at the end?
2. Train one step at a time - I can do this. Kind of like teaching a 'stay' by increasing the difficulty slowly.
3. Hold leash in the same way with treats and without - I hook the loop over my thumb on the right hand and keep my left hand leash free for treats usually and hold my left hand at my hip. This should work right?
4. Train heeling in short bursts - do I increase the bursts to longer ones slowly? Or is the short bursts meant to keep the heeling fun?
5. Get the dog used to the ring - do I keep entering trials? How does one prepare for this? How do I help train ring-readyness when I'm at the trial? What can I do to make my next time at the trial useful to getting her ring ready?
6. Wait for the dog to mature a little - Juliet is quite young and is still very much the puppy she was last year! She has a fairly short attention span.
7. Don't see heeling as being boring - I used to but I've been trying to change that!
The judge said the surrounding must be too overwhelming for her. And yet, the little minx can do her sit/down stay at the far end of the ring closest to all the distractions?? I'm perplexed to say the least!
