Obedience Class

He was definitely doing better by lying on the mat with the chicken. He was really cute and trying different things and then would lye on the mat. We worked on recalls with the assistant in the middle and me calling Dino. He responded pretty good. Heeling was better. I was just doing small, short steps with the treat at my left side and him looking up. By the time we got to the second class at 8 PM his heeling was weaker, so I just went off to the side while the others were heeling and we worked on attention and stays. We started on stands which I have done with him in the past. I am not putting a cue on it yet. Just backing up into him until he stands.

Obedience Class and Real Life Situation

Last class went well. We practiced a few more things. I was surprised that many people in the class didn't show up for the last class. We didn't stay for the second class because I was too tired.

That morning was pretty rough. I was walking the dogs as usual in the AM. I came across a man that I usually see. Dino went to see him and was very excited. He kept jumping on this man even though I was telling him to sit several times. I finally got so frustrated that I just pulled him off to the side not letting him see this guy more. I got so frustrated that I got mad at Dino for embarrassing me. I told this to Vicki later that night after class. She said what I did was fine to pull Dino off to the side and not let him keep ignoring me to ask him to sit. She said to ask him only once and then if he doesn't do it, then pull him away from getting more attention.

I think that will work fine. I know he will have a hard time at first because he gets so excited, but eventually he will get it.

Dino Competes in Disc Dog Tournament!

Dino Competes in Disc Dog Tournament!

March 24, 2007

Davis, CA

Dino did very well. I took him out on Friday to the high school to practice. This was the first time I did the longer throws rather than just up close. He tried to jump up and catch them. I think he caught a couple and missed a couple, but he was really trying. He was getting distracted, so I stopped after a couple of minutes.

On Saturday, I didn't know how he would do. I didn't know if he would run out of the ring or chase another dog or what. But he was focused on the frisbee and we did several throws. I don't think he caught any, but he was trying for each.

The second round was the same. He started to get tired and running back slower, but he was still trying to catch them and chase after them. He never ran out of the ring or chased another dog.

Second Bath!

I was able to give Dino a bath today at work. This was his second since I got him. The first took a half a box of cookies to keep him from screaming and going hysterical. He was much better, but he still was very whiney and anxious. I had some cookies, but I didn't dwell on them. I just kept doing the bath and prasing him and tried to do it as fast as possible.

Second Obedience Class

Dino's second obedience class. I remembered to bring a mat for him to lie on and I got there early to practice walking on a loose leash to the room. He was doing well and figured out about lying on the rug because I would click and treat when he did that. He was definitely very wound up and excited.

We stayed for the second class.

He is offering the down multiple times. I am not clicking when he is just about to down. I will start to click when I tell him to heel. I am luring him in the heel position and clicking and treating when he is in the correct position.

These classes are great to practice on his focus with distractions. He has to learn that he has to pay attention and do things even with distractions.

Obedience Class

Thursday evening 7 PM. Dino's class. We were late a few minutes. We will be there on time next time. Parking places are a long walk to the building which takes extra time.

I need to remember to bring a mat for him to lay down on. I forgot that in the car.

Vicki used Dino to demonstrate about sitting without a cue, and she tried to use him for another exercise but he was bouncing all over the place so she gave him back to me. We had a problem with the heeling because he was all over the place. I was able to get his attention back with the food, but I think it was good practice because he needs to know how to pay attention with distractions. Later when we were at the Advanced class he had more attention. We were using Vicki's prime rib. I don't know if that helped!

The Advanced class was good. There were very advanced dogs. We did more heeling, figure 8's recalls, stays. Dino's stays were bad. He was only able to stay for a few seconds, but we have not practiced that much in various places so we need more work. That is why we are there. To practice and learn.

We have to practice on having Dino offer the downs as part of learning the down. We practiced the next day outside of work. It took him several minutes. I had to lure him into the down several times, then I waited and he started to offer the down, and he kept doing it. It was really interesting. I have not trained a dog in this method before and it is interesting to see how enthusiastic the dog is to offer different things and to keep trying. I really like it.

Also what I noticed is that if I wait for him to offer sits at doors and other usual sit places, he does it himself instead of having me to ask him, which is really nice. I wonder if those things will stay or eventually fade away. I will ask Vicki.

Obedience Class

Dino did good. We were a few minutes late because I fell asleep until 6:30 PM. We needed a lot of repetition to get to the front door and inside. The other dogs were very wild and Dino fed upon that. He had a hard time focusing but once he remembered about the click and food he was more focused.

We stayed for the second class. I thought everything went well, but when I got home there was an email from Vicki that she didn't think he was able to do the second class. But, I was confused because he was doing very well. I don't know what she was talking about and I wanted to email her back.

He was focused on the heeling and sometimes we would go off to the side to work on attention.

Next Thursday is the last class, then we can start in the drop in obedience and Rally on Thursday.