As a novice dog trainer (I hesitate to even use that term) I have been unsure of the usefulness concerning engagement. Of course I have stressed it during training, but mostly because it is such a big part of the Leerburg/Ellis curriculum. I am merely training our family pet, and have no plans to enter her in a sport or competition.
We have an acre of land, however, only a small portion is fenced. When Molly was a puppy the small area was sufficient for training, exercise, and going potty. Now she is 18 months old and weighs 70 lbs, and the yard seems tiny.
Today was a beautiful snowy, sunny day...and I decided to strap on her trusty Einstein e-collar, harness with 30 ft long line and head out to the back acre for the first time. Now I get the whole engagement thing!!!!! We were playing tug, doing long retrieves, call-off recalls, long down stays, playing "find" in the snow-she never took her eyes off me even when the neighbor dogs raised a fuss, and geese landed close by. I never had to grab her long line or stim her. WE HAD A BLAST!
I love it when the pieces fall together. Thank you Leerburg for all the amazing training DVDs-I shutter to think what a naughty, spoiled, disobedient GSD we would have without this website.
MERRY CHRISTMAS one and all!

i'm really starting to see the fruits of our labors . . . the marker training coupled with the focus on engagement first , creates a line of communication that is almost unfair .

Congrats to both of you! Without "engagement" training becomes a chore rather then fun with your dog.

Big congrats!!

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 Quote: ian bunbury

i'm really starting to see the fruits of our labors . . . the marker training coupled with the focus on engagement first , creates a line of communication that is almost unfair .

"Unfair" Love it! You made me LOL at 6:00 am. Nicely played!

Don't you just love those "ah-ha" moments, when it all suddenly seems to make sense, when things just come together beautifully for both the dog and for us!

 Quote: Cheri Grissom

Don't you just love those "ah-ha" moments, when it all suddenly seems to make sense, when things just come together beautifully for both the dog and for us!

Definitely makes all the hard work worthwhile! And, it was surprisingly bonding for both of us. I honestly believe she had an "ah-ha moment" and understood all of her good behavior earned her this huge privilege. (or maybe I have turned into a crazy dog person?) hehe

"maybe I have turned into a crazy dog person"


Yep!


LOL

Update-We have been off leash in our unfenced yard every day since the initial post. What a happy (exhausted, well exercised) dog! So much fun to play now- given the extra space. Engagement continues to build!
So proud of my puppy-gosh how I love that dog!