Alex Madsen Webboard User Reg: 02-16-2007
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I have a 6 month GSD that I've been working on building drive. He is VERY mouthy, but we've been working a lot on reducing it and he seems more trusting in me and chews on the items less and less. My question is, is it a good idea to start his focus training with the sit before he fully stops being mouthy or is it better to wait?
On a side note, I seem to be getting REALLY dizzy when I do it with a ball on a string and have him chase the ball around me, heh! Is there any alternative thing I can do in order to prevent this?
Don't spin in just one direction. If you rewatch Bernhard, he alternates. It takes practice, but you will get good at switching hands and directions.
So far as the mouthy thing goes, have you tried a tug? Some dogs that mouth the ball will grip a tug with no chewing. Keep working the dog into your arms and working on trust. I see no reason to delay focus work. You need to limit your outing the dog though if he is chewy.
You might need a lot of patience, too. Whether through my own inexperience or my guy's extreme possessiveness, it took a long time (6 months) of into-my-arms work before he (mostly) stopped chewing. I only rarely (maybe once in 20 times) would ask him to out the ball. He wasn't aggressive about keeping it - just very determined. Just recently he has begun to on his own bring the ball back to me for additional play, and will also do a recall while he has the ball. When I recall him, I still rarely ask him to out. Normally I stroke the top of his muzzle, do in-my-arms, then release him. If I do ask him to out, I immediately play with him again.
Oddly enough, from the very beginning he understood that "All done" means we're finished playing and he instantly switches off his drive and drops the ball.
Incidentally, I'm going to the Flinks seminar this weekend, so I'll let you know if I have this all wrong!
Alex Madsen Webboard User Reg: 02-16-2007
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Carrying? I'm not sure what you mean by carrying. Do you mean that he holds it as I walk him in circles? I do that quite often, if that's what you mean. The only thing I could see a problem with is that I'm not doing it for very long, we just make two circles or so and that's it. But everytime I bring him into my arms I don't steal it from him, sometimes I'll just pet him and then we'll circle again and then I'll take it. I try switching the number of times, but I think I should make a few more circles so he's more comfortable.
steve strom Webboard User Reg: 03-17-2006
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"In to my arms". It's a technique Bernhard Flinks uses where he kind of guides the moving dog who has a tug or ball in his mouth in to his arms kind of like a hug. I think its part of building trust. There might be a little more to it, I havent watched the dvd in a while.
I use "Into my Arms" for recall. Example; someone holds my puppy on leash. I walk 100 foot away and call him. He is released and comes barreling toward me. I squat down and he runs into my arms. I make a big deal about his return, he's overjoyed. It help build a bond and as stated above, used in that way trust.
Connie Sutherland Moderator Reg: 07-13-2005
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Quote: steve strom
"In to my arms". It's a technique Bernhard Flinks uses where he kind of guides the moving dog who has a tug or ball in his mouth in to his arms kind of like a hug. ....
QUOTE:
A large section on "Taking the Dog Into Your Arms", which includes sections on:
1. Why take the dog into your arm in bite work
2. How to take the dog into your arms
3. How to praise while the dog is in your arms
4. Training the dog not to chew the prey while in the arms
5. How long to keep the dog in your arms
6. Problems while the dog in in the arms:
* Not standing calmly
* Dropping when the dog comes into the arms
* Chewing in the arms
END QUOTE
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