Tanya (11-03-2017)
Yeah, I was thinking in terms of the latter. That is, what sorts of handler faux pas will disqualify you in an obedience ring. (In field work they call them hee-hee's because a judge will put "H.E." meaning handler error in their book for each one they see you do.)
If I find myself wanting to pressure her negatively for being a butt... I probably would conclude that the class is counterproductive to our REAL goal of having really, really solid line manners. If it just continued to be frustrating, I'd drop the class. I don't think I'm going to have that problem. I'm finding out that Rocket Dog will work really hard for a molecule of string-cheese and an "atta-girl". I really don't think I'm going to need any firm corrections other than withholding the cheese and giving her a "NO". The problem will be the distractions of the new environment, people and dogs.
Today in the field... wow... her heeling was spectacular. Seriously. Maybe not OTCH robo-dog level, but almost. So I put out a holding blind. No sweat. Long sits, long downs, going in, coming out. Perfect. So then I put out an inert winger PLUS the holding blind. No big deal... heeled all around it as well as in-out of the holding blind then sitting staring at the winger (as if expecting it to hurl a bird.) So then I randomly released the winger for the thwack-jingle-jingle sound. Still, solid heeling/sitting. Great attention on me. THEN I added the quack, with going in and out of the holding blind... didn't matter. Her attention was stuck on me.
BUT when I put a fat white bumper in the grass... she was really on the edge. That was almost a bridge too far. She did it, but that seems to be her top limit for now.
Because this club also does conformation... I'm going to have to get a tee-shirt that reads "Yes. She is a pure-bred Labrador." I know someone will think she's a lab-blood hound cross.
Tanya (11-03-2017)
They should teach you that in class, but the biggest thing is not giving more than one command ... which sounds obvious but some “commands” can be subtle and non-verbal (for example drastically pulling your chin to your neck as they are coming front), or turning your head too much to watch them on the heeling which pushes your shoulder back which keeps them from forging. Stuff like that. A good trainer will explain what you should do and tell you if they see you doing something wrong. There’s no set rules about what commands/signals you can use though. For example, I use “heel”, but I’ve heard plenty of people say “strut”. As long as you are only using one command though, it could be in Swahili and it wouldn’t matter.
Glad to hear her impulse control is coming along so well! You are really doing a great job with her.
And as far as her looks go, most Obedience Labs are from field lines, or blends of show/field, so while she might look odd in the breed ring, she’ll fit right in at Obedience ;-)
Oh, and Chloe’s worst nightmare is being told no and having the cheese withheld! She’d rather I beat her, LOL (not that I would).
Annette
Cookie (HIT HC Jamrah's Legally Blonde, UDX, OM2, BN) 6/4/2015
Sassy (HIT Jamrah's Blonde Ambition, UDX, OM2, BN) 6/4/2015
Chloe (HIT HC OTCH Windsong's Femme Fatale, UDX4, OM6, RE) 6/7/2009
And remembering:
Scully (HC Coventry's Truth Is Out There, UD, TD, RN) 4/14/1996 - 6/30/2011
Mulder (Coventry's I Want To Believe, UD, RN, WC) 5/26/1999 - 4/22/2015
And our foster Jolie (Windsong's Genuine Risk, CDX) 5/26/1999 - 3/16/2014
Hidden Content
Yeah, I think what I've learned from this Hillmann video... even though it's very much all about using the e-collar... is how little it takes to get a good training result. I don't pretend to understand it, but very low nick or cheese or clicker... it's reinforcing the correct behavior and thus, over time, conditioning the dog.
The problem in the field is... too far away for the food reinforcement.
In due course, I know I'm going to have to clean up her whistle sit, which has suffered during out heeling hiatus. I'll try to do it with the low nick. But... we'll see.
So there is an instructor in our area that gives private lessons for Obedience and Rally. She also does classes (using videos, group class-times, readings, and homework.) I've sent her a couple of e-mails and haven't heard back. Someone said she's super busy and to give her time. So...
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