Dutch Shepherd Forum

What are you training at the moment?

Bramble is working on walking with my son and focusing on him. We're actually having her work for treats and using a tone marker, because he can reward with treats and a tone keeps her focused on him vs looking at the person giving praise.

So what are you working on? (I ask these questions to steal other people's ideas.)

Picked up a refresher on muzzle training the past week. Nosework as usual. Gotta work on not stealing Oreos, apparently

Ah, an Oreo sneak attack. For Bramble it's apples.

Is muzzle training rewarding for accepting the muzzle or something else?

We're doing well on nosework (NACSW ORT in a month or so) and while we've gotten intermediate obedience down, we need to work on getting it to happen faster/cleaner. Also need to do some polishing on human greetings. She's pretty good when we're out and about, she'll stay in heel about 75% right now. When people come to the house though we need to work on keeping all paws on the ground. Beyond that we have our evaluation for protection training and advance obedience tomorrow.

Wow, that is a lot of work. Bramble hasnt quite gotten that she is supposed to be invisible when she works. She has learned not to jump up, but will still try to lean into a petting opportunity.

Grace leans in for scritches big time but I don't have any issues with that. I just want all four on the floor when greeting.

I use "floor" for all feet on the floor....which I gather isnt the most common command in the world.

ladyjubilee wrote: ↑Fri Jan 31, 2020 6:03 pm I use "floor" for all feet on the floor....which I gather isnt the most common command in the world.

How do you exactly teach that ?

Actually, I'm not really sure. All of our dogs learn it. Initially, we say it when we redirect them from jumping up or getting on furniture without permission. And then once all four paws touch we praise.

I always thought everyone had a floor command...until the trainer laughed when I said it.

I use "stand" for them just to stand there in place if that is what you referencing.

That does sound better

So many things. In public, staying in her down even when other dogs come over or when people crowd her. Focus with distractions is ongoing, but she did do well in the pet store today.
At home, she has a few possessive tendencies with the other dogs that are a constant training point. She gets better as she gets older, but it's something to stay on top of. She is also pretty crabby to other dogs when she is sleepy, which is another things we always watch.

Ah, the public, so hard to work around

For Bramble people are such a temptation. Always the possibly of a belly rub.....even if with her "do not pet" patch.

Foxy is starting nose work on Friday.

Get after it Foxy!

TimL_168 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 05, 2020 2:19 am Get after it Foxy!

Just waiting for her to figure out how to drive....

We are working on the Here command ... Still. Rogues mind is always at work and sometimes when called her brain is focused on the running pry, or whatever. Drives my husband crazy. I work nights, so most days I am sleeping. My challenge is in working out a schedule that I can focus on getting better recall with life’s daily distractions for Rogue.

I had a good test of Bramble's recall this week. We got out of the van right as one of the white squirrels took off cross the yard. Fortunately, she obeyed and immediately returned.

I've found my prior trainer's advice helpful. I could never find time to train, as it meant focusing on her and stopping real life. He said to make training part of life instead of squeezing in time (and trying to negotiate caregiving). Instead training gets integrated into our regular day. Bath time means down stay time. Five minutes in between a task is heel time. If she happens to be in a different room (and I can her her movements enough to correctly mark) we work recall. I've definitely seen better results with this approach than trying to set a separate training time and not following through.

Of course right now we're work on Bramble going to my son, so each day it takes about an hour for him to hand feed her her supper piece by tiny piece. It takes ages, but at least I can see them both at the same time.