Tone of voice vs. yelling

[celloyogi]

I'm very much into making sure a dog is never pushed past their threshold. I find that with time and consistancy the dog's threshold moves so more pressure can be put on it. Yelling is unacceptable in a training environment. A dog that is well taught will work for a whisper. I vary my voice a lot, you never know who's coming to my house and how loud they might be so the dogs have to get used to the screamers and the baby talkers but I don't yell to be heard over a din and certainly not a command to a dog as sensitive as a sheltie or a Belgian. If anything, I'll lean down and talk softer. Personally this is not a place I would continue to take a dog to as the socialization is not even good. Tinsel hears me even though it would appear he is deaf in his right ear. Sure, if I have to get his attention when he is facing away from me I might whistle but once he is focused on me I can say a command softly, loudly or not at all and use hand signals and he, a puppymill dog with no socialization, has been taught exclusively with food and voice rewards.

RE: the threshold. I did a mini-experiment with Olive in our driveway today. The neighbors next door and across the street were having their leaves cleaned up. But interestingly, when we spent about 30min working on heel/sit/down/etc, even with all the loud leaf blowers, chippers, mowers, trucks, and lawn guys, Olive responded to me the fastest when I talked the quietest.

I think we provided the entertainment for the lawn guys. Olive wanted in the worst way to go play in the leaf mountain the workers had put together and I gave in and let her jump around one end (the workers thought it was hilarious because she almost got stuck!). Such a better way to end a training session - Olive happy, me happy, the lawn guys laughing hysterically at the tiny sheltie buried up to her neck in leaves!

I'm debating finishing out the class now, especially after the comments and suggestions all of you have offered - thank you! I'll let you all know what I decide.

 

[Calliesmom]

RE: the threshold. I did a mini-experiment with Olive in our driveway today. The neighbors next door and across the street were having their leaves cleaned up. But interestingly, when we spent about 30min working on heel/sit/down/etc, even with all the loud leaf blowers, chippers, mowers, trucks, and lawn guys, Olive responded to me the fastest when I talked the quietest.

I think we provided the entertainment for the lawn guys. Olive wanted in the worst way to go play in the leaf mountain the workers had put together and I gave in and let her jump around one end (the workers thought it was hilarious because she almost got stuck!). Such a better way to end a training session - Olive happy, me happy, the lawn guys laughing hysterically at the tiny sheltie buried up to her neck in leaves!

I'm debating finishing out the class now, especially after the comments and suggestions all of you have offered - thank you! I'll let you all know what I decide.

where are the leaf playing pix? we need to see these moments

 

[Toffee's Mom]

yayy, that sounds like a great training session, lol
and she got to do what she wanted in the end that is INDEED what good training should feel like!

 

[Meldor]

I'm debating finishing out the class now, especially after the comments and suggestions all of you have offered - thank you! I'll let you all know what I decide.

Interesting thread. I agree with the others about no yelling and I also call BS on the ''dogs cannot focus with treats'' thing. I train with treats, toys and clicker and Kyara is great at learning tricks, to the point that I run out of ideas of tricks to teach.

After puppy classes, I took a basic obedience class with Kyara in a place where I felt completely uncomfortable with the methods used. I tried to stick with it as at the time I did not know any better and did not know of any other training facilities. After 5 out of the 8 classes, I dropped out and never went back. This is the best thing I did.

Since then I found awesome training facilities all around our town. Sure I need to drive maybe 15 minutes more to get there but I am much more comfortable with the approach and methods used.

Our dogs only have us to protect them and show them learning is fun might as well do what we think is best for them. Finally, this also taught me that it is important to speak out and tell the trainer ''No I prefer not to work that way'' if I believe another method is better for my dog.

 

[celloyogi]

where are the leaf playing pix? we need to see these moments

Alas, I have only my giant Nikon DLS or my sad excuse for a camera on a flip-phone, neither of which are usable when Olive is in the 'picture.' (Couldn't resist.) Am thinking maybe I should add a smartphone to the Christmas list, if for no other reason than to be able to take pics of Olive and send them around to everyone!


(I have no idea why the camera brand is hyperlinked - I didn't add it in; maybe my computer's possessed.)

 

[Calliesmom]

Alas, I have only my giant Nikon DLS or my sad excuse for a camera on a flip-phone, neither of which are usable when Olive is in the 'picture.' (Couldn't resist.) Am thinking maybe I should add a smartphone to the Christmas list, if for no other reason than to be able to take pics of Olive and send them around to everyone!


(I have no idea why the camera brand is hyperlinked - I didn't add it in; maybe my computer's possessed.)

I have a flip phone- takes good pix for a phone
I do like the DSLR for any kind of motion pix

 

[OntarioSheltie]

I'm planning on finishing out the class for the socialization for Olive, not the training methods (obviously!)

This is NOT the type of socialization you want for Olive! Continually exposing her to an environment that obviously makes her uncomfortable can do her long term harm emotionally that you might not be able to reverse.

Honestly, I wouldn't go back. Its just not worth it.

 

[Toffee's Mom]

This is NOT the type of socialization you want for Olive! Continually exposing her to an environment that obviously makes her uncomfortable can do her long term harm emotionally that you might not be able to reverse.

Honestly, I wouldn't go back. Its just not worth it.

VERY true, bad experiences can't be undone. I am with Melissa on this one...
But I am glad you're totally aware and good to protect Olive all the way

 

[Silaria]

I agree with Melissa also.

A bad experience wile socializing with other dogs, including a negative environment, could easily influence all future interactions.

You're a great Sheltie mom for Olive and as long as you keep her best interests at heart you'll never go wrong.

 

[OntarioSheltie]

But I am glad you're totally aware and good to protect Olive all the way

You're a great Sheltie mom for Olive and as long as you keep her best interests at heart you'll never go wrong.

Absolutely! I don't mean to come off as sounding harsh or judegemental.

But one of my shelties had a bad experience when she was young that I didn't try hard enough to prevent, against my better judgement. She's never quite been the same since. I'd hate for you and Olive to experience this.

But you are an awesome sheltie mom and as the others said, if you do whatever you think is in Olive's best interest then you can't go wrong.