Beau's had his first obedience class last night...

ghggp

ghggp

Moderator
I have to admit I was REALLY proud of Beau at his first class last night! He did so well. Thank goodness there were only two disruptive dogs in the class and the trainers got after them immediately! It was interesting that no dog had any issues with Beau at all. He is very well socialized, unlike Baron.

His heel work was great. Especially when I picked up the pace and he seemed to almost prance! I gave him plenty of praise too! We began the walking exercise and then the three steps to stop. He did really well on that! His focus was great and always looked at me and not the other dogs!

The challenge came when we tried the sit! Gosh, the poor boy is four and never learned SIT! Anyway, I was really struggling to put the treat over his head to get him to sit! It DID NOT work at all. All he kept doing was backing up to keep the treat in view! Too funny. Anyway, I eventually asked the trainer to help me. Even she could not get him to sit! Finally, she held his collar with her right hand and slowly ran her left hand down his back with slight pressure and tucked his bum down to the floor. We tried that several times and he seemed to get it.

Then we tired the walking and stop again with the sit. We are not allowed to say SIT! But, when I put the treat over his head and pressed my finger on his butt he sat immediately with very little pressure. Just something to work on.

Otherwise, I think it went great! The poor boy was sure pooped when we got home! An hour class is a lot for him... especially since we only train a 1/2 hour every day! To be continued...

I have to say, I love the bonding that obedience training gives... He looks to me for reassurance and direction!
 
that is awesome:yes:
don't lose that backing up with the treat- you'll be ready for excellent rally with that skill. I'm pretty sure that I was told not to teach sit with the cookie over the head for obedience. sounds like you are doing well though and that it's a better class this time.
 
What a little trouper Beau is! Handsome is as handsome does, right? BTW to this day, Brooke will only very reluctantly sit. I make her do it when we are heeling, but if there is a treat, all she does is stack and look pretty, as she was taught for years for conformation classes. Boy when that dog learns something, forget trying to erase it! :lol: Sounds like Beau got that kind of training from his breeder, did she show him?

Glad your class is going so well. It really is good bonding time.
 
Calliesmom said:
sounds like you are doing well though and that it's a better class this time.
Click to expand...
Yes, much better class!!!
The two dogs that were disrupting the class would growl, bark and lunge!!
Geez, the owners did nothing to correct them! Don't understand people like that! Anyway, the trainers explained they were like locked and loaded guns...
Once cocked they explode!
Correct them at the growl and it won't escalate! Seems like common sense to me!
 
ghggp said:
I have to admit I was REALLY proud of Beau at his first class last night! He did so well. Thank goodness there were only two disruptive dogs in the class and the trainers got after them immediately! It was interesting that no dog had any issues with Beau at all. He is very well socialized, unlike Baron.

His heel work was great. Especially when I picked up the pace and he seemed to almost prance! I gave him plenty of praise too! We began the walking exercise and then the three steps to stop. He did really well on that! His focus was great and always looked at me and not the other dogs!

The challenge came when we tried the sit! Gosh, the poor boy is four and never learned SIT! Anyway, I was really struggling to put the treat over his head to get him to sit! It DID NOT work at all. All he kept doing was backing up to keep the treat in view! Too funny. Anyway, I eventually asked the trainer to help me. Even she could not get him to sit! Finally, she held his collar with her right hand and slowly ran her left hand down his back with slight pressure and tucked his bum down to the floor. We tried that several times and he seemed to get it.

Then we tired the walking and stop again with the sit. We are not allowed to say SIT! But, when I put the treat over his head and pressed my finger on his butt he sat immediately with very little pressure. Just something to work on.

Otherwise, I think it went great! The poor boy was sure pooped when we got home! An hour class is a lot for him... especially since we only train a 1/2 hour every day! To be continued...

I have to say, I love the bonding that obedience training gives... He looks to me for reassurance and direction!
Click to expand...

Fantastic that Beau is doing so well with you and his class, obedience does help to cement the bond with the dog!
I can give you a tip that my trainer gave me with Finnie (and that I wish I had with Piper)...teach him to lure (follow you hand with the treat). I'm doing this with Finnie now I do little circles as I say around and just before I lose his attention I give him his treat then quickly replace the treat and do it some more. I then hold the treat over his head and say sit and he quickly sits. He's actually getting the sit already! You can then lure him into front position with a sit and they're learning a straight front without even knowing it!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top