I think everything my dog has learned. She has forgotten. I know she knows the commands, but isn't doing them . It's like we are going backwards in training.... She kinda does them when SHE wants to do them...I don't know what in the hell is going on. I know I'm new, but damn. I guess i need to back up and go back to square one
I haven't started anything new. Besides eye contact, having her sit at heel and taking maybe 3 steps while she maintains eye contact. then mark and reward. Just the beginning steps of the heel. Other then that, nothing new.
Maybe my work has been schedule has been messing things up. We don't get as many sessions in and there has been a couple days that we have skipped training all together. .

Also...the city i live in TOTALLY sucks as far as finding help. Closest help is 1 1/2 hours away. City of 25,000 and I have yet to find anyone that knows about schutzhund.

I know that trying to train frustrated isn't a good deal. I'm sure she can sense that. How about you guys fly to Ponca City, Oklahoma. Room and board paid for.....hahahaha

Do you have any of the videos?
If you are starting over.....I would recomend that you go off the videos.

I'd get the basic OB one and the Marker training one....if you have the cash, get the bundle that has those two and the e collar one.

I often hear that "the dog knows the commands"..what people really mean is that the dog can sit in my kitchen with no distractions.

I heard somewhere that when the dog learns a new command, where they learn it is important, they take visual cues from the surroundings.....what you mean as sit everywhere...really means sit when the counter and microwave is behind my owner.

this is why you need to teach the command in several different places and add increasing levels of distraction....it can take months.

I'm sorry you are frustrated, and I wish that you had some good clubs near you.....

I guess you will have to make the drive to the good ones.....
Willie

It can take months. Willie is right about that.
I was reminded of this yesterday at the trail when I asked the ages of some of their dogs. Yesterday, I saw some 3 year old dogs run off the field, break their heel, run around jumps ect ect. Just going to happen to the best of us. I even saw the judge stop a few peoples trails mid run because they could not get their other wise dog under control. They just had an off day. Stay positive and stick with it.

I have been working on focus heeling too. With my young 8 month old Dobe. Focus while sitting still is coming along great, focus while she is in a sit/down stay, pretty good. But, focus while moving, not so good.

She will walk with me pretty well but not look at me. So, I just do a few steps at a time and mark her behavior when she does good.

Some advice Steve here on the forums gave me, is to use the break command many times in training and to work and break more while out training.
I have been doing this and it seemed to help. Fun stuff after breaking the dog too, like tug. I bring her fav tug out with me for breaks.
I also try to keep it short, yet productive and try not to lump. I also try to end on a good note.

" I guess i need to back up and go back to square one"


Yup! This is NOT a bad thing. It's a totally positive step that only an owner/handler who looks at the big picture and is confident enough to see the step in its positive light will do.

We can "hear" your frustration, and you are 100% right that the dog can too. And when you say that your new schedule has screwed up your training sessions, I am imagining that you are lengthening the ones you do have to compensate. But short upbeat session always always always trump long sessions, long enough to tire or frustrate either you or the dog.

So what I would do (and have done, more than once, believe me) is go back and start with something like sit (if you have loaded your marker; if not, we'll guide you through that) with a pocketful of great rewards. End the session on a high note. End every session on a high note, even if you have to make the last command a real oldie.

 Quote: Dave Ferguson

I also try to end on a good note.

Then do sit with a change of venue. Then introduce a mild distraction. Don't introduce venue changes and distractions together. Don't increase distraction until you're doing great with the last one.


And end it while the dog wants more. End it with BOTH of you wanting more. I promise you that in the long run this is going to serve your basic ob training very well.

Even if you have an hour, end it after four or five minutes and play or walk and then have another short session.

Thats the thing...i work with her in the backyard. kitchen, living room. the field, while on walks...she was doing great....i wonder since ive been working so much, and Meeka pretty much hangs out with my wife ALL day. Maybe the bond is turning.
-Will i am ordering videos Wednesday. I worked some overtime just to buy them, crates, and a kennel. I planned on getting 3-4 videos.Im going to Oklahoma City this wed. also to get the crates, Taste of Wild kibble food, and whatever else I can find...And paying for half of my future dog. I guess the OT will pay off....Damn dogs live better then I do.
-It is 107 degrees outside. So it looks like training inside tonight

 Quote: jeremy moore

Thats the thing...i work with her in the backyard. kitchen, living room. the field, while on walks...she was doing great....i wonder since ive been working so much, and Meeka pretty much hangs out with my wife ALL day. Maybe the bond is turning.
-Will i am ordering videos Wednesday. I worked some overtime just to buy them, crates, and a kennel. I planned on getting 3-4 videos.Im going to Oklahoma City this wed. also to get the crates, Taste of Wild kibble food, and whatever else I can find...And paying for half of my future dog. I guess the OT will pay off....Damn dogs live better then I do.
-It is 107 degrees outside. So it looks like training inside tonight

Well, this is just me, but I don't think "why" you need to start over is very important -- just that you do it. This video http://leerburg.com/219.htm will guide you step by step through the nuts and bolts of marker training, and whatever went awry will recede into the past.

107 DEGREES?!

We live about an hour apart, here today it was 106 with a heat index of about 118. Asolutely miserable!

I fill up the kiddy pool and have frequent breaks

Yes this heat is unreal.....it's getting very old.....cant do anything outside....hell even at 9pm its still 90 something