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kerrie and stan.
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August 18, 2006 at 2:26 pm #91517
cjane
MemberHow do you get this ‘total focus on you’ / ‘looking to you for cues’?
Is it by practising anything specific, like the location/heel work, or is it more general than that. More general trust and reliance on you, and respect for you, the relationship you build with the dog, by providing food, playing, training, protecting etc.
CJ
August 18, 2006 at 5:37 pm #91518kizkiznobite
Memberit is all of that plus coresponding to the dog communicating to you – so if he is off free playing he will naturally look at you every few seconds – this is called looking to cue – the dog is saying ‘is this ok’ ‘can i carry on’ ‘are you going to tell me to do something else’ if you ignore this then the dog will reduce the number of times he does it and sometimes it goes altogether – i am always fascinated by ‘silent’ walks – folk out for a stroll with dog and in a world of their own. my dogs look at me after 3 behaviours – a turn – a nose in a bush – etc – each time they get a ‘go play’ ‘walk on’ or a cue like ‘stay by’ – ‘wait up’ or even a’good girl/boy’ anything to maintain focus. once it is lost it is hard to get back.
August 18, 2006 at 5:55 pm #91519Anonymous
Guestooh ooh you heard it here first – i am fascinating
quote :i am always fascinated by ‘silent’ walksclaire x
August 18, 2006 at 5:58 pm #91520Memberi spend half of my life walking with folk and dogs saying – speak to him/her – s/he is looking at you – you dont talk to the dog enough haha – but yes claire – you are top of the silent walker list at the moment ;D ;D
August 18, 2006 at 6:48 pm #91521young
MemberAnd that was me 😀
August 18, 2006 at 8:10 pm #91522Guestmy throat is sore :-[
August 19, 2006 at 11:12 am #91523MemberTai just doesn’t seem that interested in me at all when we’re out on the lead. Much more interested in sniffing, eating grass and bark. I do speak to him, cue him to heel, say watch, stay close, good boy, and give him treats when he responds. He’ll be okay for a few steps, then pulls off to sniff etc. Maybe I need higher quality treats (using baked porridge oats + carrot & cheese), got some liver so going to make liver cake.
When we took him to the field, on long line, he did check in frequently and we said good boy, or go play or something to acknowledge his look. But now, the walk to the field (only about 5 mins if we could go directly) involves so much pulling, stopping and turning, we don’t go every day. We’re thinking he’s getting rewarded for all the pulling when we do finally get there.
Are we doing the right thing?
CJ
August 19, 2006 at 12:48 pm #91524GuestHi,
I am not sure if this will be exactly right as you have a puppy and my girl is older (20mths) but I’ve just gone through this myself 🙂
You are right in thinking that the more you let him pull and get rewards for it the more he will pull 🙂
This is what we have done with Bonnie who pulled too until Kiz came to sort us out !
Start with her in a wait position next to me and wait till she settles and isnt pulling with her on my left i lead off with my left leg (a visual cue) and say “walk on” “heel-close” if she gets so that her bum is level with my leg i turn around 180 degrees and say “this way” “walk on” “heel-close” (you have to get these cues in fast – and also praise good girl when shes doing it … hence sore throat !!) if shes going it OK i say “good girl” or “good heel-close” if she starts pulling off again turn 180 degrees and “this way “walk on” “heel-close” if she does it again i put her into a wait and wait till she calms down and we try again. You also need to get your leaveit’s in before she sniffs them out (know all her usual sniff places and my leaveit is there 2 paces before if its static 5 or 6 if its moving or likely to move) you need to do 1 cue at a time so if you are saying leaveit you need to wait and acknowledge it is left (and give time) before moving on to another cue 🙂
**nb: praise “good girl” is SO important to bonnie that its almost like a treat bless her – if it isnt quite there with no actual treats smear pate on the back of your hand and offer that as a reward if she’s doing it ok – not tried this yet 🙂
I do my best to go out every day as bonnie learns better outdoors for some reason, if your dog learns good indoors you can start with doing it off lead indoors. then in your garden, then take him outside.
As he is little still I might be jumping the gun a bit – parker has a l’il poop maybe she can find a post with what to do for l’il poops 🙂 pleeease parker 🙂
Claire x
August 19, 2006 at 1:05 pm #91525MemberThanks Claire, I’ll try what you say. It’s sort of what we’re trying to do, but not using the rapid cues you describe.
Thanks again for your advice.
CJ
August 19, 2006 at 1:08 pm #91526GuestHi,
I was doing the same – only completely silent until 6 weeks ago
It took me 2yrs to train wills like this to stop pulling and he’s still not great, bonnie is better than him after 1 session !!!
Claire x
p.s. i think kiz is coming to scotland in oct / nov to see that mad weime lady *hugs* :-* :-* if u near i definately reccommend a session just to build confidence 🙂 even 1 session will help heaps 😀
August 19, 2006 at 1:32 pm #91527GuestHi sorry been up most of the night with a demon >:D
What is it you are actually trying to get/know? 🙂
Tyson(18 wks) is so much better off lead than on but he is also great onlead. He had alot of trouble with the lead at first he would sit outside and not budge it took alot of coaxing with treats and when we did eventually make it to the park he enjoyed it so much that he would walk perfect on the lead and back home, but going out again he didnt like but we got there in the end when he knew he wouldnt get to the park unless he walked there.
He always looks to cue, it is catching it and watching him thats the key. We are working on the stand off as he will see another dog sit there staring and then look at me, this is looking to cue so I treat him etc.
pulling on the lead, you have to stop everytime he pulls, wait until he stops pulling then carry on walking dont say anything just stop if he pulls and walk on when he stops. If he looks to you then treat, this will encourage him to look to you 🙂
August 19, 2006 at 1:35 pm #91528Guestthis thread is about Molly who was 7 months at the time
https://www.resources.dogclub.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=2403.0
February 19, 2007 at 8:29 pm #91529ulster exile
MemberWhat an eye opener!
And here was me thinking that my dog was quite well adjusted as he was happy to take himself off and have a play with his toys, or have a snooze in another room whilst my husband’s dog barely leaves his side (well unless it’s cold and the fire’s lit 😉 ).
And yet I wondered why my dog has no interest in recalling to me and my hubby’s dog does it fine (not 100% yet, but I doubt it will take much). S
So my dog doesn’t want to be with me! What sort of owner am I?
February 19, 2007 at 8:51 pm #91530Memberhow does he communicate with you?
February 19, 2007 at 9:01 pm #91531MemberIf he wants something he’ll come and lay his head on my lap, or paw me – he’s got very good control of his paws if you know what I mean? Sometimes he’ll sit (we taught him to sit to tell us he needed a wee and he sits for everything he wants now).
We’re doing a late walk tonight so currently he’s laying down watching me and waiting for the signs that we’re off out 😀
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