Taking a poll here: how many of you have noticed whether your MOOD affects your dog's ability/desire to work. If so, how much?

Read my signature. And it depends on the mood.

My mood totally effects my dog. I completely shut my Mal down about a year ago due to some things that were going on at training.
Did not think it would be that obvious and she works off lead, but she KNEW I was upset and just kept coming back to me and sitting against my legs ......totally out of character for her when working.

So, I vote......"Be in the right frame of mind to work with your dog OR learn how to control yourself....otherwise, leave the dog in the crate until you have control."

I beleive that mood DOES affect a dog's working ability.

That said, my dog is missing a sensitivity gene. Though he is soft, if you are not directing your mood AT HIM, he could care less! If I am nervous (often when avi searching also in examination settings), I notice not a stitch of difference, if I am mad, I notice not a stich of difference, if I am sad..he still works and acts the same way.

I do work hard at "faking it" for the dog, no matter what my mood, in search scenarios...perhaps I am a good actor?

If the dog has my full attention (I am not completely distracted), and I do my job (and don't fall apart on my end), my dog works just fine..I notice no difference.

My mood does not affect his desire to work either. I could be in a full blown argument with my husband after dinner (not that it is a common occurance) and the dog will still try to solicit his apres dinner training/play session.

Hm, this got me wondering, is there any documentation on this? Papers? Essays?

Is that because he's a blond, Jennifer?

I was attacked in a park near to my house and noticed it is the only place my pup will balk and pull in the direction of home when we go there. Everytime I go to that park the same reaction from him.... and this is the only place I get this behaviour from.

I got my fiancee to go by himself to that park with the pup and no issues when he brings him. I then took notice that every time I go through that park I get jumpy and my heart rate increases and keep myself a little too alert (paranoid). I thought I had gotten over this but my pup seems to think otherwise. I guess my little mood thermometer will let me know when I have gotten over my fear of this place when me and him can pass through confidently together.

He obviously feels that I am not a strong leader for him when I am in that park as per his reaction. He has never hesitated anywhere else I have brought him. Again why the reaction with only me there?

I agree with Carol that no training should be done unless your in a good frame of mind.

 Quote: randy allen

Is that because he's a blond, Jennifer?

He is more of a red head....I am the blond one

He is just a weirdo. If I am sad and blue and want some sympathy affection, too bad for me..he just looks at me like "get over it!" Feed me, play with me, work with me...in no particular order is all that is on his mind. Doesn't care a lick for MY feelings the little prick! He would make a horrible therapy dog

In ob work if I am getting mad or frustrated I just ask him to do something he can do and just shut 'er down and fake smile at him I notice that HE sometimes gets stressed (yawning, looking around) in our ob exams, but I attribute that to the fact that he has to work around a bunch of strange dogs in close prox. and we don't get to train that too much.

I have the opportunity to get stressed out in real life and practice with him searching in the winter and I just do my best to fake it and don't take it out on the dog. You better beleive if I was looking for a victim under the snow with 15 minutes to live I am gonna be FREAKIN stressing hard so I practice my acting skills when I can

Very centered good dog Jen.
If I needed rescuing, I'd want that boy on my trail! Blond or no.

You and him are heros in my book.
Randy

Ummm..I woudn't call him well centered. In spite of it all he is a good little search dog though.

Cheers!