Hi everyone I recorded this video of me working on obedience with my Doberman Kasper. I'm fairly new to this kind of work, so it may look a little clumsy. I'm trying to work the info from the M.E power of tug DVD, in conjunction with drills that my protection instructor is getting me to do. I video taped it to see what it looked like from the side lines and i figured why not upload it and see what the people on this forum think of it.

I noticed that he won't bring the tug back if he noticed i wasn't holding the leash, and my presentations could be cleaner, but it would be nice to hear criticism from you experienced folks.

Take care, and any input is appreciated

Rob

p.s my marker is "good"

Youtube

I don't have the dvd Robert, but anything I would say is probably just minor differences and really are just from working with my own dogs in a way that works with them. I learned with my shepherds to present the tug to the side, not in front of me. They carry right through the bite and get me in the chest. For my dogs that didnt want to bring it back, I move away and encourage them and when they get in close, its just a couple tugs and let them run with it again. Pretty soon they were pushing it into my hands to tug again.

I'm not sure if you really want to look for as much control or focus yet as you are. Stepping on the line to get a down, I think is a little counter to drive building. I've never seen anyone hold the toy on their right side the way you are either. That will bring the dog around and out of heel position like your seeing. Have you seen the video of Cindy heeling Rush? The ball is under her left arm. But really Robert, you guys look good, I can't imagine its easy in the snow.

Thanks Steve,

I will try releasing and tugging in shorter intervals and encourage him... I used to run him in circles and bring him into my arms (Bernard Flink's stuff) so its been hard to break him of his urge to parade around with it.

I will try doing more presentations off to the side. I've been trying to work the mechanics with and without the dog. I found i am not keeping the tug straight enough and he "corrects " me when present the tug I give my hand as the closest target and he is already in mid flight. He's got lots of drive so i try to work him three times a day to let me work on my technique and he probably learns something too

I also was kinda wondering why my helper had me putting the toy in my right shoulder. I'll ask him next week. and i will try under the arm on the left. My difficulty there too is getting the tug over his head for the presentation so maybe i would do better placing it else where during the heel.

yeah the stepping on the line thing i can see how that would be counter productive in drive building. it's an old bad habit from compulsion praise training... he's really engaged so i could probably just drop the line during that portion so i won't do it without thinking about it.

Thanks for the encouragement, it certainly looks too easy when you see the pros doing it. I think the appropriate quote is "it's simple but not easy."

Take care and thanks again,

Rob

Rob,

I think you're doing a nice job.

The only comment I'd make is related to the using-the-leash-to-down-him thing.

I am a big believer in giving a command only once...giving multiple cues only encourages your dog not to listen the first time. You don't wait long to give a second down cue---like seconds---then use the leash to down him. He knows you've got the tug and he's clearly eager for it...wait him out.

leih

Nice!


never thought I'd have more snow on the ground here in Richmond than the Canadians

Leih, thanks for the awesome advice as always. I'll give that a shot next time, give the guy a little while to figure it out on his own.

Dennis thanks, Yeah we have had barely any snow this year. its been crunchy grass and ice. That snow fall just happened the night before, it's nice to at least have little i mean this is Canada and all.

Thanks again everyone,

Rob

Hey Robert, unless there's something I don't know about thats on the dvd letting him parade around with his prize should be ok. I think the one difference is not trying to cradle him, just encourage him to bring it back to your hands to tug. That will probably come in handy later in helping shape his retrieve too.

As far as the tug on the right shoulder, thats something that you could work towards later as one of the steps to having it completely out of sight, but thats for later when he has a little more solid focus.

For your sits and downs, in the beginning I don't think you want to try and get him to hold the position as much as you want to work towards fast, and happy. Repeating the command isnt as important as not rewarding whats incorrect and instantly marking and rewarding what is. Something like play,command,(He's wrong) Nope, (No reward). Try it again. Does that make sense?

Also, I'm not sure how much a lot of these things would have been done on the first dvd training with food before using a toy.

Thanks Steve, yeah in the dvd and even my helper says not to let my dog (but he does allow it with others) to parade around with the toy... i think he sees some possession issues with him, that and he quickly destroys the tug cause he is still a bit chewy on the tug (though he got his first sleeve bite last week and had a grip like an Croc.) I do let him run off the yard with it but the tape ran out on my camera.

I see what you mean about the right side shoulder. i'll give the other way a shot and see how it looks and ask my helper what he thinks about it as well.

And that really is a good explanation and makes it clear with the sits and downs. i will try to work that today. It's troubling knowing he is an "A" student with great drive and any mistakes he makes are because of my timing and handling. but nothing worth learning is easy.

its all there and I've maybe watched the food and tug dvds 4 times each and when i watch it again I'm sure it will become clearer, but until I recorded myself and better yet when you guys took a look at it i was unaware of many of the mistakes i was making. Thanks again guys this website and advice on this forum is an invaluable resource for me.

Take care

Rob

My Rott was probably similar, he would want to take the sleeve or the tug to the ground and destroy it. After a while he learned to run around with it and then run right back to my hands. Well, with a tug anyway. Never with the sleeve.

Do you have the food dvd? I'm thinking theres something about adding duration on the sit or down with food at first?

Steve,

He Probably does mention it, i will give it another watch tonight. I know my helper when my guy was a pup had me working on duration by increasing the time between the command and the mark-reward (with food.)I'm just now teaching him the "stand" for duration with food and he's picking it up nicely.

I tried putting it under my left arm for today's first session and he seemed to straighten out a bit for the heel and presenting the tug over his head seemed easier from that position. but i think he thought it was in play when i was putting it under my arm. so it took a few times for him not try to snatch it.

I'll work on it for a while and I'm trying to record and review one of my training sessions a day and when i get some more improvement I'll upload another video.

Thanks again,

Rob