April 12, 2011
My dog does great with obedience work at home, but at the Schutzhund club she has a hard time paying attention to me. What do you suggest?
Full Question:
Hello, I have a 13 month old female GSD and I belong to a local Schutzhund club, recently they started obedience class with the younger dogs. I have your video on Basic Obedience and Building Drive and Focus and many more, my problem is she is distracted in the obedience class by other dogs, at home and alone her drive and focus is great. In your video Basic Obedience you say you don't care for these classes because they are crank and pull, should I discontinue these classes and work more on her drive and focus and any suggestions on how she can overcome this problem.Thank You.
Ed's Answer:
The Basic Obedience DVDs that I sell is directed towards pet owners and not people who want to do competition sports.
What you need to do is learn to play with your dog. Learn to use food with your dog to build drive. Then become an expert on engagement. Learn how to engage your dog in tug and in food games. This is all covered in my food and tug dvds
When you can engage your dog at home - start taking it places and playing enragement games with it. Take it everywhere and do this - so when you come to a new location and get the dog out it thinks "WE ARE AT A NEW PLACE - THIS MEANS I GET TO PLAY WITH MY MASTER".
This includes going to your Schutzhund club. If your dog will not engage with you at the club when you try and play it is not ready to learn skills and exercises.
So until you can take it to club and get it out and it only has eyes for you and is challenging you for the toy you have and challenging you to play - don't do anything else.
What you need to do is learn to play with your dog. Learn to use food with your dog to build drive. Then become an expert on engagement. Learn how to engage your dog in tug and in food games. This is all covered in my food and tug dvds
When you can engage your dog at home - start taking it places and playing enragement games with it. Take it everywhere and do this - so when you come to a new location and get the dog out it thinks "WE ARE AT A NEW PLACE - THIS MEANS I GET TO PLAY WITH MY MASTER".
This includes going to your Schutzhund club. If your dog will not engage with you at the club when you try and play it is not ready to learn skills and exercises.
So until you can take it to club and get it out and it only has eyes for you and is challenging you for the toy you have and challenging you to play - don't do anything else.
100% (6 out of 6)
respondents found this answer helpful
Can't find what you're looking for?
100% (6 out of 6)
respondents found this answer helpful
