I took my Pittyx to AKC training last night(Been going since 7/1.) Their CGC test is on AUgust 9, but it's looking pretty grim for Gabby. She's gotten better and I kept her in check when she tried to bark at the trainer's St Poodle. Howhever, I've been working with her since I got her at 4 months in October. She was from the South Bend Animal Control and deemed aggresive and set to be euthanized when the rescue group got her. She get's along fine with smaller dogs after about 15-20 on a leash and constant corrections before she fixates. But as we were leaving last night I had her between a table and a crate and this woman brings in her BLR (Big lovable Rotty) and having no control allows it to touch noses. Needless to say I'm glad I had the HS prong on her. She turned into devil dog. How long will it take for this dog aggression to stop or will she always have it and therefore not pass the dog intro part of the CGC? Is there something I need to watch or a DVD someone can recommend or advice? I walk her everday and when dogs approach us I do not let her look at them or look back. Should she be greeting them?

Oops this should go to animal on animal aggresion but I don't know how to move it. Sorry. I'll get the hang of it yet.

I feel your pain, "Erika" thought all small dogs were prey items and all large dogs had to be put in check. what worked for me is getting a good focus and only staying around staying around other under controlled dogs. avoid if possible any area with uncontrolled dogs, even parks with leash rules can be a prob if you have knuckle headed people that just let their curs loose or on those damn retractable leads. I started at a distance from other controlled dogs and shortened the distance over a number of days then I looked over the neighborhood and noted the aggressive dogs behind fences and worked up to those as well. not real close I stayed in the street.

I was told that you should mark and reward as fast you apply correction, so as soon as pupper starts behaving correctly after the prong correction you need to click/mark and get that bit of hotdog out there. might want to do a large chunk at first.

I had excellent results with the DogTra E Collar and video I got from Ed and would recommend it for anybody that can't apply a consistent correction or has shoulder trouble(me)

Thanks I was reading up on the site here and thought about marking the good behavior with a reward. She's ok at least 85% of the time now. I'm hoping now that I'm with a decent trainer we will make the next CGC test. We have BSL here in Lake County IN, so a CGC would really help out as I don't have a six foot fence nor do I keep a harness on her as required.

Tried the food marker today during the walk as we passed the local dogs. It worked much better than my "Yes" Or "Good dog". I even used it for Chief and his s-q-u-i-r-r-e-l obsession. I have to spell it or he'll hear. Hubby thinks it's funny to tell him to find the squirrels. He runs out back and chases them up the trees and follows them underneath as they jump. Not so good on a walk when he see's one. Better not to mention the S word while walking. Anyways, Wow one tug and a treat was all I needed. Even when we encountered the local "run to end of the yard and bark challengingly" Golden and Pomeranian duo the focus was on me and the reward after that first tug. And there was absolutely no barking from our group. I also used it for my man aggressive dog Bolt. He glanced at a man by the road, I said "Ach" he looked ahead and I treated. I knew about this training but, I had so much info I couldn't see the forest throught the trees.

Michelle, the food isn't a marker. It's the reward that you give after the marker.

Food rewards are great, but the timing that you get from the marker (marking the fact that "the food reward is coming!") is greater.

If you want a quick rundown of the marker used with the food, we can link/post instructions/recommend DVD.



P.S. "Find the squirrels" ... not a good game. That's going to bite your husband in the butt, I can almost guarantee.

"Wow one tug and a treat was all I needed. Even when we encountered the local "run to end of the yard and bark challengingly" Golden and Pomeranian duo the focus was on me and the reward after that first tug."


Wonderful work!!

Yes I need the link I think I am, confused. Is a clicker a marker? I should learn this eventually in AKC obedience right? I think I knew it at one point well...age...the memory goes so fast.

 Quote: michelle pociask

Yes I need the link I think I am, confused. Is a clicker a marker? I should learn this eventually in AKC obedience right? I think I knew it at one point well...age...the memory goes so fast.

A clicker is one, yes, and you can use a verbal marker too (like "yes!").

The marker (once you load it, which should be the first step) tells the dog that the reward is on the way. The marker lets you mark the exact second when the desired behavior happened. This is not possible to do with the tangible reward, no matter how fast you might be.

http://leerburg.com/search/dosearch.php?terms=marker+training&Submit.x=0&Submit.y=0

The video you will see mentioned in there is GREAT, by the way.

 Quote: Michelle Pociask

...I should learn this eventually in AKC obedience right?

You should learn marker training no matter what you want to train.