It's nice to have a dog to "learn" on, but it is soooooooo much nicer to have a dog that bites right out of the box. As far as selling the dog, I have a hard time with that as well. If I had never done rescue, I would probably have less dogs, but I see all the really crap homes, and the people that blatently lie to get a dog.........scumbags.

I don't think it's so bad to give a dog that doesn't cut it to a good home. It's just finding the dang thing.

If my Erika doesn't work out in Sch then we'll go to agility or doggy dancing or just cute tricks. I'm just glad I have the time and health to do so.

I always thought flyball was < Mod Edit >, but then I got to watch something other than fluffy do it, and it was cool........for about ten seconds <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> Just kidding. I saw some video of Martine Loots doing a version of doggy dancing. I can see where it would be good. My dogs would never get it, I'd always be falling down, and they would be laughing so hard we would never get any training done. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />






Jeff, c'mon now - you know the rules! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" />
Check your PM's!

Will Rambeau
Moderator

Yeah, and that's what my next dog will hopefully be. For now I just have to be patient and remind myself that the reason I'm in for this is for my personal "learnage". Frustration build drive! Even if it works the other way.

Plus, half of this stuff I was trying out on my other, byb dog, who showed just as 'much' <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> drive...and now she's chasing frisbees and stuff. So I'm not abandoning ALL hope. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

 Quote:

Go ahead it is on your dime anyway. Life is to short for cheap beer and crapper working dogs <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Yup. Good thing I'm still young, that still leaves me like what, a good fifty or so years of working dogs before I die? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Crate the dog for 4 hours prior to every training session.

For the next few weeks limit your interaction with the dog. You only play with the dog during very short and high energy tug sessions.

Limit the dog's exercise during this period as well, no long walks no playing and running around with other dogs, etc.

Don't give the dog any free toys to just play with.



The goal is to build frustration, to focus the dog's energy into your drive building sessions, and to restrict interaction with you so that training sessions are an exciting and enjoyable time for the dog. You won't be putting more drive into the dog with these methods, but you WILL be able to bring out the drive that is already there.


I disagree that this only works on borderline dogs. My brother and I rescued a Mal/GSD cross who was on death row. The dog was very solid, but had owner created dominance issues. He was labelled a dangerous dog. When he came to us, he had very little interest in playing ball or tug.

A few weeks of this work and the prey drive exploded. The dog had never been encouraged to play or chase. He was basically a house dog that ended up as a kennel dog.

The dog is now a very good detection dog for the San Jose police and he has insane prey drive. Focusing all of the dog's energy into drive building enabled us to bring out the genetic drive in a dog who's drive had been repressed and unused.

This is similar. Dogs that live as normal pets may get a lot of outlets for their energy and drive, so when it comes time to try to focus the drive into work it can be difficult with some dogs.

Putting the dog up for a few weeks and doing intensive drive building sessions usually brings out whatever drive the dog has. If you don't see results within about three weeks or so, get another dog. LOL

Sir Vancamp, how many times a day max. do you play with the dog in this way? Short walks are okay? Is the dog allowed to have any interaction with you aside from playtime? I've tried doing something similar with my dog and it seems to work, but then I end up being too soft and worrying he's not getting enough exercise, so it lasts no more than 2 days. That and a day of this and he'll start singing his frustrations out. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

"The goal is to build frustration"


Maybe we should just have the dog get married? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Little joke there......... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

"how many times a day max. do you play with the dog in this way?"

Two times a day for a few minutes, maybe less.

"Short walks are okay?"

No, not really. I don't take the dog for a walk during this time. I let them out alone to do personal business and that's it.

"Is the dog allowed to have any interaction with you aside from playtime?"

No, not really. I don't spend any personal time with the dog during this time.

"I've tried doing something similar with my dog and it seems to work, but then I end up being too soft and worrying he's not getting enough exercise, so it lasts no more than 2 days. That and a day of this and he'll start singing his frustrations out."



I look at this as an intensive last ditch effort for the dog. I don't get soft, I'm a hard hard man. (I'm married, so frustration plays a part in that.) LOL

This is only for a short period of time. Normal pet interaction can be gradually extended to the dog as the drive comes up. The dog can live without a walk for a few weeks, it won't kill them.

If the dog is a noisy little baby about it, they get introduced to a Dogtra Yapper-Stopper. Also, a garage is usually a good place to put the dog that protests verbally. LOL

"I don't get soft, I'm a hard hard man."

I should have known better than to say that to you. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Thanks. He's already in the basement...he doesn't yap, he howls. Kinda sounds like someone's killing him. He's been at this since he was a baby, though, so I'm really quite deaf to it nowadays...I can sleep through his yapping, no problem. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />