Just a quicky 'here I am' update -
As mentioned in the previous post, I've been weaning the doglet off of food training in preparation for shows - when we can't use ANY food. :]
So far so good -
I've been making sure I train him when he want to 'play'. This is usually late, just before bedtime. Usually, this is after I've changed into my favorite nightshirt and am prepping my computer. He comes running up with toys and bounces around with bright eyes <- So I take advantage of the moment and put him through a few quick exercises.
Last night, it was off lead heeling with attention and quick sits. Each time he did something perfect, I said "YES" in a loud happy tone. This "YES" is the exact same method that clicker trainers use - they click their button thingy every time the dog does something perfect.
Like with the clicker, when you start doing the "YES" thing - it always precedes a treat or you have a PARTY BREAK (stopping the training, clapping your hands, patting him, and encouraging dog to bounce around like a goofball).
Like with the clicker, when the dog 'gets' a training exercise, you start weaning him off the food or 'party break'. This could be giving him a treat/party every other perfect sit and so forth, until you are only giving the treat/partying at the end of an exercise. In my dog's case, the party includes a few toss/retrieves of his favorite toy.
Ideally, you want your dog to enjoy training like mine does. The way you get that is by making that training time short, positive, and rewarding to him. And again, aim for those times of the day when the dog is 'on' and wants attention.
Special crow - dog's fronts are getting solid. No more leans left or right. Yay.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Weaning and the Importance of the Retrieve
Weaning
While preparing for dog trials later this year (first fun matches, and then hopefully the real thing late summer and early fall) - I'm working on weaning the doglet off food-training completely. This means I'm shortening the training sessions and making sure I'm consistent and LOUD with my praise.
This means that I'm dealing more with 'distractions' and silliness. If I don't have food on hand, dog is more likely to break off lead to bring me toys. This is standard young golden 'work-avoidance' behavior. They are trying to please you without having to work for it.
On the other hand, I've noticed that the doglet's fronts are becoming straighter. He isn't fronting to my pockets or hands. He's fronting to my face and waiting for the cue to 'have a party'.
"Have a party" means that I release him from training and let him jump around for a little bit until I gather his attention and move to the next quicky exercise. Goldens LOVE to jump around and be praised.
This doesn't mean we are off food completely. I still have regular training sessions 1-2 times a week where I have food in my hand or pocket. During these sessions I'm focusing on speed and style (encouraging him to rack it out). These things aren't necessary in the show ring, but they do look nice and give spectators a better show.
And sometimes I do have a bit of food in my back pocket that the doglet gets on the last front. I'm trying to keep these random, because as I said I really want to get him so he is SOLID at the fronts. When he knows I have food in my pocket, he does a slightly crooked front and points his nose at my pocket. <- I have nightmares of this happening in the show ring. I wonder if the judge would make me turn my pocket inside out to ensure I'm not cheating.
Important of the Retrieve
If you have a retriever type dog - I can't stress how helpful this exercise can be. Not only are you training the dog to do something that he was bred to do, but you are also training the dog to do something that will be ultimately useful in the long run.
I do know that not all retrievers have the retrieve-drive.
A while back I took a retrieve class with one of my past goldens (Danny) in which we were going up against a lot of german shorthair pointers, hunt line goldens, and labs. These were dogs who were going to be used out in the field, and breeds known to be more serious and work-obsessed.
Golden retrievers have two seperate lines - show lines and hunt lines. With the show lines, the retrieve instincts have been somewhat bred out of them. The hunt lines are the smaller red goldens who generally are a bit more serious and retrieve driven. They are also stronger minded though, so you have to be firm with the training early on or you could have a golden playing 'retrieve-and-evade' games with you.
Our first golden (Charmer) came from a hunting line. We could point out live and running rabbits to him and tell him to 'take it', and he would pursue the rabbit and bring it right back to our feet. The rabbit would be alive and unmarked when he delivered it, even though it would invariably die of a heart attack. Rabbits have weak hearts and can't take too much of a shock.
Sometimes you do get a gem in the show lines, and these are the dogs you see going to the upper classes in obedience shows, where the dogs must retrieve dumbells and other items.
My Danny was such a dog, even though his poor elbow joints did not allow us to go any further than the first level in shows (he couldn't jump without pain). When I took that retrieve class with him, I wasn't sure what I expected. It was really a filler class until obedience classes resumed.
In a class of all retrievers and serious hunters who knew what they were doing... my dog was the only one doing regular, multiple, and blind retrieves on the first try. This was due to his natural retrieve instincts... and also the fact that for as long as I'd been training him, when I threw an item for him, I expected him to bring it right back to my feet.
This means that retrieves are always done on long line when the dog is still a puppy. You throw the toy, send the dog to retrieve, and then reel him in to praise and "have a party".
You only take him off leash when you know he will come back to you, and when he does return you make him feel like he is the most wonderful dog in the world and just did something AMAZING.
And you don't always have to THROW something to get your dog to retrieve. You can place a toy or object within dog's sight, point it out to your dog, and then send him to retrieve it.
This is important - when the dog goes over and touches the object that is when you say YES (or use your clicker) and give your "Bring it back" command.
And when he brings back the toy, throw a party and give him a treat. Make sure he knows that he is WONDERFUL.
As the dog gets better, you should be able to send him outside to retrieve all the toys or any object that he took outside when he went out for potty.
Today I was wearing shorts and was barefoot and really did not want to step outside to get the towel which my dog dragged outside with him.
Thanks to the retrieve trick, all I had to do was point out the towel and tell my dog to go back outside and bring it in. He did so in short order and earned a milkbone. :]
Remember to have fun with your dogs! And put them to work.
While preparing for dog trials later this year (first fun matches, and then hopefully the real thing late summer and early fall) - I'm working on weaning the doglet off food-training completely. This means I'm shortening the training sessions and making sure I'm consistent and LOUD with my praise.
This means that I'm dealing more with 'distractions' and silliness. If I don't have food on hand, dog is more likely to break off lead to bring me toys. This is standard young golden 'work-avoidance' behavior. They are trying to please you without having to work for it.
On the other hand, I've noticed that the doglet's fronts are becoming straighter. He isn't fronting to my pockets or hands. He's fronting to my face and waiting for the cue to 'have a party'.
"Have a party" means that I release him from training and let him jump around for a little bit until I gather his attention and move to the next quicky exercise. Goldens LOVE to jump around and be praised.
This doesn't mean we are off food completely. I still have regular training sessions 1-2 times a week where I have food in my hand or pocket. During these sessions I'm focusing on speed and style (encouraging him to rack it out). These things aren't necessary in the show ring, but they do look nice and give spectators a better show.
And sometimes I do have a bit of food in my back pocket that the doglet gets on the last front. I'm trying to keep these random, because as I said I really want to get him so he is SOLID at the fronts. When he knows I have food in my pocket, he does a slightly crooked front and points his nose at my pocket. <- I have nightmares of this happening in the show ring. I wonder if the judge would make me turn my pocket inside out to ensure I'm not cheating.
Important of the Retrieve
If you have a retriever type dog - I can't stress how helpful this exercise can be. Not only are you training the dog to do something that he was bred to do, but you are also training the dog to do something that will be ultimately useful in the long run.
I do know that not all retrievers have the retrieve-drive.
A while back I took a retrieve class with one of my past goldens (Danny) in which we were going up against a lot of german shorthair pointers, hunt line goldens, and labs. These were dogs who were going to be used out in the field, and breeds known to be more serious and work-obsessed.
Golden retrievers have two seperate lines - show lines and hunt lines. With the show lines, the retrieve instincts have been somewhat bred out of them. The hunt lines are the smaller red goldens who generally are a bit more serious and retrieve driven. They are also stronger minded though, so you have to be firm with the training early on or you could have a golden playing 'retrieve-and-evade' games with you.
Our first golden (Charmer) came from a hunting line. We could point out live and running rabbits to him and tell him to 'take it', and he would pursue the rabbit and bring it right back to our feet. The rabbit would be alive and unmarked when he delivered it, even though it would invariably die of a heart attack. Rabbits have weak hearts and can't take too much of a shock.
Sometimes you do get a gem in the show lines, and these are the dogs you see going to the upper classes in obedience shows, where the dogs must retrieve dumbells and other items.
My Danny was such a dog, even though his poor elbow joints did not allow us to go any further than the first level in shows (he couldn't jump without pain). When I took that retrieve class with him, I wasn't sure what I expected. It was really a filler class until obedience classes resumed.
In a class of all retrievers and serious hunters who knew what they were doing... my dog was the only one doing regular, multiple, and blind retrieves on the first try. This was due to his natural retrieve instincts... and also the fact that for as long as I'd been training him, when I threw an item for him, I expected him to bring it right back to my feet.
This means that retrieves are always done on long line when the dog is still a puppy. You throw the toy, send the dog to retrieve, and then reel him in to praise and "have a party".
You only take him off leash when you know he will come back to you, and when he does return you make him feel like he is the most wonderful dog in the world and just did something AMAZING.
And you don't always have to THROW something to get your dog to retrieve. You can place a toy or object within dog's sight, point it out to your dog, and then send him to retrieve it.
This is important - when the dog goes over and touches the object that is when you say YES (or use your clicker) and give your "Bring it back" command.
And when he brings back the toy, throw a party and give him a treat. Make sure he knows that he is WONDERFUL.
As the dog gets better, you should be able to send him outside to retrieve all the toys or any object that he took outside when he went out for potty.
Today I was wearing shorts and was barefoot and really did not want to step outside to get the towel which my dog dragged outside with him.
Thanks to the retrieve trick, all I had to do was point out the towel and tell my dog to go back outside and bring it in. He did so in short order and earned a milkbone. :]
Remember to have fun with your dogs! And put them to work.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Westminster Show!!!
Will be on Monday night at 8PM.
I will be watching to root for my favorite dogs. I always hope there will come a day that I get to see my favorite breed (golden retriever) win the BIS.
If you are watching -
- The dogs compete against those of their own breed to determine the best of breed.
- Then they compete against the best of breeds in their group (sporting, toy, hound, terrier, working, nonsporting, and herding).
- Then the best of each group goes up against each other to determine the best in show.
Like all other 'big' shows, there are certain dogs who always seem to win.
Go HERE for a list of the show winners going back the past 100 years.
When I look at the list, I see a LOT of terriers winning. No goldens. *weeps* I still hope to see the day happen.
The elegance, beauty and grace of the canine athletes combine with the excitement of the competition in the world's most famous sporting arena before a live national television audience. The result is an event that is the dog show world's version of the Super Bowl and Academy Awards. But even greater, The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is a celebration of the wonderful canine spirit, reflecting our emotional and spiritual attachment to our dogs.
I will be watching to root for my favorite dogs. I always hope there will come a day that I get to see my favorite breed (golden retriever) win the BIS.
If you are watching -
- The dogs compete against those of their own breed to determine the best of breed.
- Then they compete against the best of breeds in their group (sporting, toy, hound, terrier, working, nonsporting, and herding).
- Then the best of each group goes up against each other to determine the best in show.
Like all other 'big' shows, there are certain dogs who always seem to win.
Go HERE for a list of the show winners going back the past 100 years.
When I look at the list, I see a LOT of terriers winning. No goldens. *weeps* I still hope to see the day happen.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Health Reminder
One of my dogs (Arthur the collie) has bad breath and has turned his nose up at food and water. This caused much alarm in my family, as we saw the same symptoms occur with our Charmer who died at only 6 years of age from kidney disease and renal failure.
Optimistically speaking -
He is six years old and his gums and teeth are starting to show their age. That, and he will not eat dry food without canned food stirred in. Canned food (in my opinion) causes more dental and gum issues than a diet of dry food alone.
If he is having dental problems and his mouth is ouchy, that will explain why he isn't very interested in eating.
We also know he is a water-snob. If it tastes funny, he won't drink it. This includes water that other animals drink out of, water from the well, water that's been sitting out for a while.... he's fussy.
That said, I know that if he does have kidney disease, he has a much better chance of surviving if it is caught early and before the vomiting stage begins. Most people catch the disease at the vomiting stage, and by then one or both kidneys have already been destroyed.
So we are taking him in to have his urine and blood checked.
Fingers crossed.
Optimistically speaking -
He is six years old and his gums and teeth are starting to show their age. That, and he will not eat dry food without canned food stirred in. Canned food (in my opinion) causes more dental and gum issues than a diet of dry food alone.
If he is having dental problems and his mouth is ouchy, that will explain why he isn't very interested in eating.
We also know he is a water-snob. If it tastes funny, he won't drink it. This includes water that other animals drink out of, water from the well, water that's been sitting out for a while.... he's fussy.
That said, I know that if he does have kidney disease, he has a much better chance of surviving if it is caught early and before the vomiting stage begins. Most people catch the disease at the vomiting stage, and by then one or both kidneys have already been destroyed.
So we are taking him in to have his urine and blood checked.
Fingers crossed.
Random Brag
Thanks to Christmas and other stuff the last two months, I have not been training my dog. In fact, I did not train him since the week before Christmas which was our last class at the obedience club. We are off until spring (I chose to do so to save money + I didn't want to be driving around at night in winter). Being off for four months means that I did not feel inspired to train every day, so I let that slide.
Until last week, when I realized I have about a month left before my dude and I go back into dog classes.
To my enormous relief and amusement, the dog not only did not forget anything, but he literally shines as he zooms along through all of the exercises.
There is one thing we were working on prior to the break - while turning or doing figure 8's, it is important to get the dog so he is using his whole body and turning with you.
Admittedly, this whole deal... ugh. I HATED it, because I always walk too fast and that encourages him to walk fast. In order to train the total-turn thing, it is important for both dog and trainer to be going tick...tock...tick slow.
I don't recall suddenly learning how to walk slower without concentrating on it, but the doglet has suddenly begun to turn the way he should. Perfectly. It's like he's been thinking about it for the past two months. :)
So his trial routine is solid, except for the dratted stays. But even there I have high hopes of smoothing those over by summer.
The thing I REALLY want to brag about -
Last winter, we had this assignment at dog class to teach our dogs a new trick. It didn't matter WHAT we taught the dogs or how 'amazing' it was. The teacher just wanted to see us figuring out the teaching method on our own.
For our trick, I chose 'limp'. It was a lot harder than I expected, and took three weeks to teach the trick to the point where I was not holding his paw anymore.
I never did build distance from him, but that isn't important.
What is important is I threw the command at him the other day after not practicing it in at least six months or so and dude! He did a perfect limp across the room at my side. He actually brings his left leg as high as his head as he three-legs it. It is so adorable.
*loves having a smart dog*
Until last week, when I realized I have about a month left before my dude and I go back into dog classes.
To my enormous relief and amusement, the dog not only did not forget anything, but he literally shines as he zooms along through all of the exercises.
There is one thing we were working on prior to the break - while turning or doing figure 8's, it is important to get the dog so he is using his whole body and turning with you.
Admittedly, this whole deal... ugh. I HATED it, because I always walk too fast and that encourages him to walk fast. In order to train the total-turn thing, it is important for both dog and trainer to be going tick...tock...tick slow.
I don't recall suddenly learning how to walk slower without concentrating on it, but the doglet has suddenly begun to turn the way he should. Perfectly. It's like he's been thinking about it for the past two months. :)
So his trial routine is solid, except for the dratted stays. But even there I have high hopes of smoothing those over by summer.
The thing I REALLY want to brag about -
Last winter, we had this assignment at dog class to teach our dogs a new trick. It didn't matter WHAT we taught the dogs or how 'amazing' it was. The teacher just wanted to see us figuring out the teaching method on our own.
For our trick, I chose 'limp'. It was a lot harder than I expected, and took three weeks to teach the trick to the point where I was not holding his paw anymore.
I never did build distance from him, but that isn't important.
What is important is I threw the command at him the other day after not practicing it in at least six months or so and dude! He did a perfect limp across the room at my side. He actually brings his left leg as high as his head as he three-legs it. It is so adorable.
*loves having a smart dog*
Fun Matches
Or the post where I pretend I have been posting all along and you just haven't noticed. Hah.
My young Jack is officially 2 years old now, and settled down enough that I feel guilty and remiss in my training duties - because I haven't gotten him into any fun matches yet.
Fun matches are AKC-type show trials (conformation, obedience, rally, agility) which are a step up from dog class and ideal preparation before you actually go into a formal trial. Points are not deducted and you are allowed (encouraged) to train your dog as much or as little as necessary. These are usually held by local clubs and open to the public. You usually have to pay $5-10 bucks to enter your dog. The runthrough is exactly as it would be in the show ring, but the 'judge' allows you to handle your dog or whatever.
For example, with Jack I need to babysit him on the sit/down stays until he gets the idea they are a good thing. Like other sensitive type dogs, he does not like it when I get more than five feet away from him and deliberately breaks the stays.
Two of the fun matches I'm EYEBALLING are held at spots where there will be a real show later in the year. I'd like to see how he does in there in advance.
I'd like to have Jacket ready by September when I hope to show him at the Fort Detroit Golden Retriever specialty. This is over in St. Clair, MI, and a GREAT location. I showed there once before and enjoyed the experience. We went out to the lake afterwards as a reward for the doglet.
A 'specialty' means that only dogs of a certain breed and registered with the AKC may enter. When competing in obedience, this means that it is THAT MUCH more difficult to place high, because you are up against a bunch of other golden retrievers who do not make mistakes in the obedience ring.
I'm also going to be showing Novice B, which means that while I'm more experienced because I've already done the obedience show thing with other dogs; it also means that the other people have shown multiple dogs through UDX.
I'll be happy if we get high scores and of course the leg.
My young Jack is officially 2 years old now, and settled down enough that I feel guilty and remiss in my training duties - because I haven't gotten him into any fun matches yet.
Fun matches are AKC-type show trials (conformation, obedience, rally, agility) which are a step up from dog class and ideal preparation before you actually go into a formal trial. Points are not deducted and you are allowed (encouraged) to train your dog as much or as little as necessary. These are usually held by local clubs and open to the public. You usually have to pay $5-10 bucks to enter your dog. The runthrough is exactly as it would be in the show ring, but the 'judge' allows you to handle your dog or whatever.
For example, with Jack I need to babysit him on the sit/down stays until he gets the idea they are a good thing. Like other sensitive type dogs, he does not like it when I get more than five feet away from him and deliberately breaks the stays.
Two of the fun matches I'm EYEBALLING are held at spots where there will be a real show later in the year. I'd like to see how he does in there in advance.
I'd like to have Jacket ready by September when I hope to show him at the Fort Detroit Golden Retriever specialty. This is over in St. Clair, MI, and a GREAT location. I showed there once before and enjoyed the experience. We went out to the lake afterwards as a reward for the doglet.
A 'specialty' means that only dogs of a certain breed and registered with the AKC may enter. When competing in obedience, this means that it is THAT MUCH more difficult to place high, because you are up against a bunch of other golden retrievers who do not make mistakes in the obedience ring.
I'm also going to be showing Novice B, which means that while I'm more experienced because I've already done the obedience show thing with other dogs; it also means that the other people have shown multiple dogs through UDX.
I'll be happy if we get high scores and of course the leg.
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