One thing I have learned about dog training, it isn't all about the dog! As a trainer many times it is about the handler and their learning curve. Once we figure out how to communicate with our dogs, the dogs are brilliant.
In the last couple of months I have been studying up on herding. I have been trying to learn what I can at my novice stage without my dog. Hoot is an amazing dog, great herding potential so I want to learn as much as I can so that our journey is as productive as I am capable of making it. That is a nice way of saying, so I don't screw her up. And I will, I already know that. But if I can minimize it I will. But this is Hoot's and my journey and where ever that takes us is OK.
This is from our lesson yesterday. It was toward the end so Hoot was settling down which was helpful.
This lesson was really fun for me since I really began to feel where I need my power to be to get Hoot where I need her to be. Hoot has matured a bit since our last herding lesson and she didn't have any side preferences. That seems to have gone away. Her lie downs and control were awesome. Proud of my little girl!
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
Friday, January 2, 2015
Hoot's Running Dog Walk Update
Again I am thinking, running contacts is such a manic-depressive experience! I remember this when I was training Tangle and Split.
We have several sessions where Hoot was kind of leaping off, giving me three strides and generally not hitting the contact. Induced depression in the trainer of the running contacts.
So, I posted to Silvia's site, she once again reminded me that I need to change the starting point. Well, I had been changing it to find the new sweet spot, but I had a mental barrier apparently. I didn't think to change it to the spot that had been her VERY WORSE starting point ever. So, I played with her starting point and we are now at 12 feet (use to be 20). Success!
The sweet spot changes because the dog gains physical strength and confidence.
This is the second session at the new starting point. Also previously Hoot couldn't take much movement on my part, throwing the toy late, static toy, or really much change at all. I secretly thought to myself, "I am doomed". But perseverance is my middle name, I don't give up easily and sometimes not at all.
So, new starting point and something in the air and all of the sudden I can run with her, she can run to a static toy, she can run to no toy, run with a barrier at the end of the DW, what changed? Confidence I suspect. This made a light bulb come on and Hoot has made HUGE progress in just two sessions.
Ah, the manic part of the RDW experience and you are hooked again!
We have several sessions where Hoot was kind of leaping off, giving me three strides and generally not hitting the contact. Induced depression in the trainer of the running contacts.
So, I posted to Silvia's site, she once again reminded me that I need to change the starting point. Well, I had been changing it to find the new sweet spot, but I had a mental barrier apparently. I didn't think to change it to the spot that had been her VERY WORSE starting point ever. So, I played with her starting point and we are now at 12 feet (use to be 20). Success!
The sweet spot changes because the dog gains physical strength and confidence.
This is the second session at the new starting point. Also previously Hoot couldn't take much movement on my part, throwing the toy late, static toy, or really much change at all. I secretly thought to myself, "I am doomed". But perseverance is my middle name, I don't give up easily and sometimes not at all.
So, new starting point and something in the air and all of the sudden I can run with her, she can run to a static toy, she can run to no toy, run with a barrier at the end of the DW, what changed? Confidence I suspect. This made a light bulb come on and Hoot has made HUGE progress in just two sessions.
Ah, the manic part of the RDW experience and you are hooked again!
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