Hi everyone, I am new to this forum and currently live in the UK but moving to the US in the new year. I have trained collies in the past for obedience comps but now currently have a 2 yr old cocker x springer called Toby and a soon to be yr old GSD called Thor.

I am currently training Thor for the obedience ring and must say have been pleased with his progress so far. We train on our own around home and local parks but also once a week with a class. I have been using Leerburgs 'Heelwork' DVD and have been working through each phase a bit at a time so haven't as yet watched the whole video so as not to confuse me or be tempted to skip any steps.

I have added a link to this post to show our progress and where we are at (please excuse it looking a little messy still havd to tidy up the finer points)

http://youtu.be/pVkWEioI57w

The problem I am having is he is extremely distracted by other dogs so in class I am getting nothing like what you see in the video. His head is all over the place and I totally loose his focus resulting in him being head to the floor sniffing and pulling me in the wrong direction. This is a total contrast to when we work on his recall or stays. He proved last night he can do a recall with another dog doing the same right next to him with things on the floor aimed at distracting him and a scuffle broke out between 2 dogs during the stays and he remained solid focused on me but I just don't know how to keep his focus from other dogs during his heelwork in class.

I think maybe its because I need to work more regards building our relationship although he is totally my dog (until someone wants to pet him) what other training programmes/ DVD should I work through next or along side with what I am already doing that I can use to help me build that drive and focus to me as opposed to other dogs so that he only has eyes for me. I will add I have also done Forrests course regards building focus which we work on outsidd my kids school and at the local park buf I totally loose him still to dogs.

I still don't walk him off lead as although his recall has proved reliable he has also demonstrated that if he see's another dog in the distance he will run off and not give me a second thought so all distance work is done on a long line still when away from home.

sorry for the lengthy post just wanted to make sure I gave all details and I look forrd to your advice.

Thank you

Lesley, welcome!


"Head to floor sniffing and pulling" .... this too happens only around other dogs?

Hi Connie,

Thank you for the welcome.

Not only around other dogs but this is when he is at his worse for being distracted that way. He can also do this in different places we train for example at the park but when we are on our own at the park I seem to be able to get his attention quicker and once I have got his attention he spends less time trying to sniff the ground. He is worse for this while practicing heel work in class walking round a hall with the other dogs. I just can't get his head up and attention fixed on me.

Are you training with food, or does he drive for a tug or ball?

Hi Duane,

Primarily with food at the moment as until now he has had a stronger food drive than tug toy drive, but he is just starting to discover the fun in playing tug. I was going to possibly watch the reward with food and tug videos so I am using the tug reward appropriately also the Focused Heelwork video is still using treats primarily at the point we are at with the instructions.

It has been a while since I trained a dog for competition heelwork. The last one was 14 years ago with a trainer that loved leash popping and as I wanted a dog that was better than my last one who would shy away I have been following this video to the letter and only watching a bit at a time once we had perfected each step. I am pleased I have as when I have his attention his heelwork is better at 11months than my collies ever was.

Although I suspect his ball/tug drive is getting stronger than his food drive (which is still relatively strong still) we are unable to use toys in class to motivate for the trainer is concerned this will add to much distraction for other dogs in class.

The prey drive is hereditary. When you start using it more you will see how valuable it is.

His heelwork looks good now, but I suspect you may be surprised how focused he is when you switch to the toy.

Sounds like y'all are having fun.

Definitely having fun Duane, he's a stunning boy and hasn't shattered my dreams of owning a GSD.

Think I will have to give the power of playing tug video a go just so I know how to take full advantage of this method of reward

Maybe you could ask your class leader to let you work farther away from the other dogs until your dog becomes desensitized to the other dogs. I see classes where they insist you work close to the group. That is flooding and some dogs never make breakthroughs with that method.

 Quote: Lesley Reed

.... we are unable to use toys in class to motivate for the trainer is concerned this will add to much distraction for other dogs in class.

isn't this the whole point of taking your dog to a class as opposed to training it in your back yard, I drive 100 miles to just to get good distractions for the dog.

oh look there is some road works, heavy machinery, passenger jet landing, guys with jack-hammers, people everywhere.... come on dog time for some obed, gonna be late for work but you don't stumble on distractions like this to often, and they are free.