While working with my GSD(rescue 12 months) in the back yard just now, in the apartment bldg. behind me screamed this woman "I am going to report you lady for animal abuse". I did not respond, nor did I acknowledge the comment. The situation;
I was trying to teach my female to bring the ball back and out it on command. She was not good at bringing it back and taunted me with the ball. I decided to calmly go inside and get a leash and put it on her and begin again. She still did not come, so I walked to her and pulled her back to where I made the command from. I praised. The commanded her to "out" the ball. She would not. So I tried to level a #8 or 9 correction to her. She still did not release the ball. The proceeded to paw the hand that was trying to retrieve it from her mouth. At this instant, the woman starts her yelling. I was giving her a firm correction and loudly saying "out".



I am a junior handler. I absolutely love my dogs and pay very close attention to them and their needs. I am at a loss. I am mad. Did I do something wrong? Or next time, should I practice in my house?
Has anyone else had this happen?????

Flip the old hag the bird and tell her to mind her own business. If she calls animal control, they might come out. That is when you explain to them that you are training a working line dog for possible police service, and you know what you are doing. You also tell them that the old hag is constantly yelling at you for plenty of other reasons and you dont' understand what her problem is with you. Then offer to let them see the dog, no harm done. Show them how happy and well taken care of she is and they'll be on their way.

Then with Halloween on its way, you find some neighbor kids and pay them to egg her place good.

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Just kidding. . .don't do that, the little brats might rat you out. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

You also might want to try playing the two ball game to help with your training issue.

Thanks. I feel better now.
It has been bugging me for 3 hours now.

I did the 2 ball thing.....she only brings one back. Smart dog. Dopey trainer.

I will try treats tomorrow. And I will proudly do it right in front of her apartment window.

I was almost worried......

There are quacks all over the place. I had someone in my club tell me I was abusive for setting my dog up to break a platz by throwing a ball 2 feet in front of him, in hopes that he would break. These people have a lot to learn about dog training.

Oh, and I am cruel because I accidentally stepped on his foot too.

Her words were "I can't beleive he still wants to work for you, you abuse him, and step on him, and he is still so happy..." :rolleyes:

She is a Teacher... scary stuff, we are not allowed to correct anything or set it up to fail... whatever

It seems to me that bringing the ball back and outing it are two separate behaviors.

I probably wouldn't work on the retrieve until she has "out" under her belt.

I wouldn't be correcting her for not outing unless I am certain that she knows what "out" means.

How have you taught her "out" so far? I have a Lab, so outing (I use "give") is not difficult to train; basically, once they figure out that when they give up the toy, they get another retrieve, they get the idea real quick. However, I understand that for some dogs, outing can be quite stressful. Do you have any of Ed's Flinks tapes?

Hey,

I have suggestion. Try playing two ball. As soon as she stops bringing the balls back just end training, and put her in her crate. If she does it once and stop thats it. She'll get the idea. I did that with my old dog and it worked.

Robert

Is the two ball game used to train the out or retrieve? Will someone explain the game? Thanks.

Hi
With all this great advice I decied to try the 2 ball 'game'. It did not work...at all.

Rather than bring back the one she had..she sat patiently in the middle of the yard waiting for me to throw the 2nd ball.

I then tried food. With her incredible prey drive, she had absolutely zero interest in the treat (her favorite).

When practiced in the house, she does the out. Outside, a whole different ball game I (if you will). She outs my slippers/////food////anything I ask. Even on a walk if she is to get ahold of food and I commmand 'out', she does. Right away.

So now I am terrified to go into my back yard as the large apartment block looms behind me and a nasty remark today has me still so mad.

I have read every shepherd book I know of.....done videos......practiced all the methods...to no avail.

Perhaps there is something I am missing? My other dog a shep/husky practically hurls the item out of her mouth on command. I trained her to 'out' with bacon. Believe me....it worked.

It took some time for my dog to get the idea. I ended up putting a long line on him, throwing one ball, praising wildly, pulling him back in with bring command, kept getting him closer, etc. Took a couple wks, just didn't get the idea that if i throw it, bring it back to me, she'll throw it again. Also did this with sticks in the yard. Bring, brings it back to me instead of going around me or dropping it 10 or even 5 ft away, be patient.