Need opinion...anxiety or excitement?

I can tell something about that- there is no comparison at all.

After 3 GSD, I thought I had a lot of experience with herding dogs.
Then I got Minnie :smile2:
After a week I could see that I could forget all about my "shepherd dog" experience.

Sheltie's mind is completely different
- I could absolutely not work with her in the same way :no:

Lisa - Now it becomes difficult with my English - but it's all written with love :hugs

When I watch the video I see a young unconsecrated (not insecure) dog,
he is not at all confident in the exercises, he tries his best to do what you want.

Lisa he is so young and you know yourself
he needs more confidence - it's the downside with two dogs.

Personally - I probably had not gone to the competition yet,
but trained more on few exercises, so he had many success experiences
Until he has built up more confidence.

Finnie is under a lot of pressure, when a stranger stands so close
and staring at you
At the same time, he has no overview of what's going to happen
Poor Finnie !

Now you have got such a fantastic result with Piper :yes:

So now it's Finnie's turn - that you really work with his confidence
and not least let him have lots of success
-you can't expect him to be "a Piper" :wink2:

I can totally understand what your saying Hanne and I agree. I probably should have done this awhile ago but you trust that your trainer knows what they're doing.
He's not Piper but he will be...it'll take some time and work and yes, I'll definitely not enter him until he's ready (I'll do exhibition only and matches) but in time he will get the confidence and be a happier dog for it.
 
Lisa -I'm really so relieved you took my post so positively
as it was meant. :hugs

"you trust that your trainer knows what they're doing"

I have been there with my first GDS - where I ruined her "down" forever.
After this my motto:
My dog has to trust, i want it only the best and want to protect it
- so no matter what others say, never do anything against your "gut feeling"

"He's not Piper but he will be ..get the confidence and be a happier dog"
I have absolutely no doubt about that :smile2:

When I look at you and Piper it is so beautiful,
you have such a perfect body language as he reads:yes:
 
I guess I'm better at breaking up than I thought lol. I'd messaged her this morning to let her know I'd be taking Finnie to a different class for the distractions, that I'd probably just come every 2 weeks with Piper and her response was telling me what a horrible person I was, she said death is so much simpler when you have so called friends chitting on your leg.
Well I was done. I said some not so nice but true things (she actually stole some Rally sign holders from another trainer, same one who's class we'll be attending) among them that she has no moral compass and well.....we were done. She blocked me on Facebook and unfriended me :ROFLMAO: but hey, I'm good...happy actually, this has been a long time coming.
We'll start renting Mat time at same facility where I'm going to take Finnie so I'll go at 8:30 Monday's and work them for an hour and then have class with Finnie. It'll work out so much better and I won't have to deal with her narcissistic b.s.

so sorry that your trainer was so incredibly unprofessional- that makes things so hard when they don't have to be that way.
really hope the new place works out and that those people are professional and not negative.
 
so sorry that your trainer was so incredibly unprofessional- that makes things so hard when they don't have to be that way.
really hope the new place works out and that those people are professional and not negative.

I took Finnie to the new place today (I'd attended her handling class when Finnie was a pup) and I was only intending to sit in and watch her class but she had us doing some heeling exercises, she got out a plank board and we got him on that as well as a wobble board, had him doing stands as well as playing with him and then getting him to settle right away. He did fantastic...no barking (there were 5 other dogs) better heeling, much more calm than other class. He was truly a different dog, what a change!
She doesn't think it's anxiety (and after today I agree), perhaps lacking a bit of confidence but not much. She doesn't think it'll take long to get him where he needs to be and I agree! Also doesn't think it's about respect, more of an age thing...just immature and very high. Definitely not a dog that can go from crate to work.
I had a suggestion from another Sheltie lady who does obedience with her dogs to do Crate Games so I'm going to get that this evening and start working with both of them (30 US for one year). Helps with impulse control, better recall, teaches them to like the crate so you can work with another dog etc.
If your interested Calliesmom I can see if I can videotape it and then post to YouTube and share it.
Should've switched trainers a while ago.
 
I took Finnie to the new place today (I'd attended her handling class when Finnie was a pup) and I was only intending to sit in and watch her class but she had us doing some heeling exercises, she got out a plank board and we got him on that as well as a wobble board, had him doing stands as well as playing with him and then getting him to settle right away. He did fantastic...no barking (there were 5 other dogs) better heeling, much more calm than other class. He was truly a different dog, what a change!
She doesn't think it's anxiety (and after today I agree), perhaps lacking a bit of confidence but not much. She doesn't think it'll take long to get him where he needs to be and I agree! Also doesn't think it's about respect, more of an age thing...just immature and very high. Definitely not a dog that can go from crate to work.
I had a suggestion from another Sheltie lady who does obedience with her dogs to do Crate Games so I'm going to get that this evening and start working with both of them (30 US for one year). Helps with impulse control, better recall, teaches them to like the crate so you can work with another dog etc.
If your interested Calliesmom I can see if I can videotape it and then post to YouTube and share it.
Should've switched trainers a while ago.
Thanks for the offer Pipersmom- I'm familiar with crate games although I've never registered for a class. I believe my instructor had the dvd. Mine all are very good in their crates but I hardly ever crate them while training. maybe I should.......
So glad to hear that Finnie did so well at the new place:yes:
 
I took Finnie to the new place today (I'd attended her handling class when Finnie was a pup) and I was only intending to sit in and watch her class but she had us doing some heeling exercises, she got out a plank board and we got him on that as well as a wobble board, had him doing stands as well as playing with him and then getting him to settle right away. He did fantastic...no barking (there were 5 other dogs) better heeling, much more calm than other class. He was truly a different dog, what a change!
She doesn't think it's anxiety (and after today I agree), perhaps lacking a bit of confidence but not much. She doesn't think it'll take long to get him where he needs to be and I agree! Also doesn't think it's about respect, more of an age thing...just immature and very high. Definitely not a dog that can go from crate to work.
I had a suggestion from another Sheltie lady who does obedience with her dogs to do Crate Games so I'm going to get that this evening and start working with both of them (30 US for one year). Helps with impulse control, better recall, teaches them to like the crate so you can work with another dog etc.
If your interested Calliesmom I can see if I can videotape it and then post to YouTube and share it.
Should've switched trainers a while ago.

I would love info on it too! never heard of it. Liam is terrible in his crate!

Glad Finnie did so well!
 
I would love info on it too! never heard of it. Liam is terrible in his crate!

Glad Finnie did so well!
I'll definitely let you know how it goes Gloria but I must say for the few exercises I've been doing with Finnie he's catching on quick and having lots of fun. We started with paw targeting because this is the foundation to get them to like the crate. The nice thing about this is the dog makes all the decisions and learns without you having to correct.
I started to paw target with a small non slip mat (got a cheap bathmat) and I've been shaping him to go on the mat. Just since yesterday I've now got him going to it and sitting. Tomorrow I'll start moving the mat closer and closer to the crate until it's inside and I then reward when he goes in.
It's a very interesting concept and one that will have many practical applications in every day life. Fortunately we don't have any obedience trials for awhile because this will be taking up much of my time. Additionally I have a very jealous Piper, who is crying because he's not taking part in all this fun so I'll have to train him on this afterwards lol.
I must say after just maybe 3 hours over 2 days Finnie is much closer to me, not as wrangy and super sleepy lol...all that thinking he's doing is making him pooped.
 
So we've been doing crate games since Monday and I started with Finnie paw targeting on a mat (first just in middle of room away from crate then moved closer and closer to crate) and I now have the mat completely inside the crate and I have Finnie going halfway in the crate. He just loves this game and doesn't realize he's actually working.
Once he's consistently going in the crate then the real work begins. The paw targeting is sort of the precursor to getting him to WANT to go in the crate every time, he can't be made to go in it or even told to go in it.
I have to remind myself to take it slow...Rome wasn't built in a day lol.
 
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