April 21, 2011
My dog has his CDX title and when I take him in the trial ring, he loses all focus. He’s great in training. Do you have any ideas?
Full Question:
Hi guys,Love all your DVDs and especially Michael Ellis, hope you can help with a huge problem that has emerged with my almost 3 year old male (neutered) German Shorthaired Pointer.
He has his CDX title, (not sure how that equates in the USA) exercises are heel free stand for exam, drop on recall, retrieve on flat, retrieve over the high jump and distance control (change of positions). Because it will be a while before we are ready for the Utility Class and I love competing, I was continuing to enter the Open class, however the last three trials we have entered have been a disaster!!!
He trains beautifully, but as soon as we enter the ring it is like a switch goes on and he is "off with the pixies"!!! He looses all focus, it is not fear or worry, he just switches off me and looks around at what's going on everywhere else. At the last trial he hit the jump and I am sure it was because he was just not concentrating. I think he has become very "ring wise." I try to go to different parks and grounds to train and also to just have fun with me and to get him to engage with me, and while we are playing or their is food he is fine. It is also very difficult to correct him, he is about 38kgs and quite insensitive.
I guess the obvious is to stop trialing for a while, which I am willing to do, but I would like any other advice you may have. I have your Focused Heeling DVD but in our training he is great. Having watched some of your other DVDs I do realise I probably didn't "neutralise" him enough to other dogs, people etc.when he was a pup.
Hope you have some ideas that might help.
Sincerely,
Gaye
Cindy's Answer:
I would stop trialing him for now, maybe for a long while.
The issue with this is always that the dog has been shown that training and trials are two different things. Most people don’t behave the same way in a trial situation as they do in training, in ways that are obvious to the dog.
The more repetitions he gets of the “off w/ the pixies” behavior, the harder it will be to correct.
Do you have access to correction matches in your area? I used to compete in obedience and our club hosted matches that were set up exactly like trials, only you could stop when necessary and either correct or reward your dog. Also, in training make sure you are behaving like you plan on behaving in a trial. Be formal, use the same body language, try to make yourself “nervous” so your dog gets used to this ahead of time. Most people don’t do this and it’s very clear to the dog that a trial is something much different.
I hope this helps.
Cindy Rhodes
The issue with this is always that the dog has been shown that training and trials are two different things. Most people don’t behave the same way in a trial situation as they do in training, in ways that are obvious to the dog.
The more repetitions he gets of the “off w/ the pixies” behavior, the harder it will be to correct.
Do you have access to correction matches in your area? I used to compete in obedience and our club hosted matches that were set up exactly like trials, only you could stop when necessary and either correct or reward your dog. Also, in training make sure you are behaving like you plan on behaving in a trial. Be formal, use the same body language, try to make yourself “nervous” so your dog gets used to this ahead of time. Most people don’t do this and it’s very clear to the dog that a trial is something much different.
I hope this helps.
Cindy Rhodes
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