Okay, here goes...training low, there have been many but I just chuckle when I remember this: As I have stated here before I train in AKC Obedience. I am also an extreme optimist. We had a German Shepherd Randy who did a perfect "Heel on Lead" as well as a "Heel off Lead" as long as we were not in a show scenario.

We were famous for stopping obecience trials as Randy would take off through the show grounds on the second step of the heel off lead exercise. Sadly he died of kidney failure at 3-1/2 so we never really got to fix the problem.

Training High: Six years ago at the last leg of a CD my German Shepherd Kati got first place with a 189. Those of you who show in AKC obedience know that most of the ribbons go to dogs who score 195 plus. We were so excited at our first place win that I got the show photographer to record the event.

 Quote: Cheri Grissom

This topic couldn't be more timely for me since I just had one of my all-time lows today. I attended a practice match at my club with Logan, my three-year-old. Let's just say that I have had an ongoing problem trying to curb his overly-social impulses. He's not the least bit aggressive, just obnoxiously friendly with every human and dog he encounters.

Today it resulted in him being over-excited at ringside and he ended up bumping into the ring gating and knocking down an entire side of it. I was mortified beyond description. Thankfully, no injuries to anyone and no traumatized dogs.

So now it's back to square one, again, working on getting him to listen to me in the midst of distractions. Focus, listen, watch me, never mind the other dogs............after today, I'm wondering why I'm still doing this.

I'd like to tell you about a high, but I'll have to think a while on that.

Yes, this sounds like my girl... over-zealous Klutzhund III ! That's why I was so pleased when she acted like a gentle lady w/the toddler... in the middle of Petsmart, no less.

 Quote: Jane Jasper

 Quote: Cheri Grissom

This topic couldn't be more timely for me since I just had one of my all-time lows today. I attended a practice match at my club with Logan, my three-year-old. Let's just say that I have had an ongoing problem trying to curb his overly-social impulses. He's not the least bit aggressive, just obnoxiously friendly with every human and dog he encounters.

Today it resulted in him being over-excited at ringside and he ended up bumping into the ring gating and knocking down an entire side of it. I was mortified beyond description. Thankfully, no injuries to anyone and no traumatized dogs.

So now it's back to square one, again, working on getting him to listen to me in the midst of distractions. Focus, listen, watch me, never mind the other dogs............after today, I'm wondering why I'm still doing this.

I'd like to tell you about a high, but I'll have to think a while on that.

Yes, this sounds like my girl... over-zealous Klutzhund III ! That's why I was so pleased when she acted like a gentle lady w/the toddler... in the middle of Petsmart, no less.

Yep, my boy sure doesn't have any Schutzhund potential, but he may be a shoo-in for a Klutzhund title! Thanks for giving me a reason to chuckle over today's events!

My high happened just this past weekend. I took my 5 month old American Mastiff pup to an Open House at a new training centre near us. Even though she was so excited to meet all the new people and dogs, she maintained her composure and sat beside me until released to go say hi.

This new place had some demos of agility, obedience, protection work and dock diving. After the demos, we got to try the agility equipment (supervised by an experienced person) and Sasha was so well behaved.

When we got to try the agility equipment, she dove into the agility tunnel, and then proceeded to race back and forth inside the tunnel. She barely fit in the tunnel so I'm still not sure how she was getting turned around each time. We also got to try the A-frame, the plank and the wobble board.

Next we signed up to try dock diving. Sasha has never been in water before other than an occasional bath but I figured what the heck, why not try? Well, we had to climp a fight of wooden stairs with no back to them first. She hesitated at these and then figured if mom said it was ok, then it had to be ok, so up she went. She ended going down the ramp and getting one foot wet and stretched herself to her limit to reach the toy and retrieve it from the water. I think I may have a dock dog in the making.

I'm so proud of my girl that right now I can't think of any training lows and really don't want to. I want to enjoy the feeling that all the training we've been doing is paying off.

 Quote: Cheri Grissom

Yep, my boy sure doesn't have any Schutzhund potential, but he may be a shoo-in for a Klutzhund title! Thanks for giving me a reason to chuckle over today's events!

I find it's so much easier to go w/their natural potential... I feel sure there are big things in store for you in the National Klutzhund circuit!!!

{{River, you have met your match, I fear!}}

Good thread. Nice stories everybody.

 Quote: Betty Waldron

I'm doing off leash ob with him one day at training and as we turn around there is my decoy in the middle of the field. Don't know who was more shocked, me or my boy.

We heeled of leash, we escorted, we bit and we outed. Not a single correction.

Not one false step and you could see Doc doing a little dance for a back step when he got excited and started forging ahead on a heel.

We called off on a send.

My training group was standing motionless at the fence and I swear even the birds were silent! All you could see was ear to ear grins.

I just sat down and hugged him. Such a forgiving dog and such a magnificent one.

All my decoy would say later was that he was watching us and something just told him it was time. He was right.

Betty, that gave me chills.:smile: Sounds like a great moment. Storybook.:smile:

My decoy and I would just look at each other and break out in the biggest grin. We were giddy.

We had to retire him shortly afterwards due to an injury but in my heart that day Doc won the Worlds.

With Missy the first time I went out to the barnyard, just me and my dog and vaccinated and wormed the 20 or so sheep. this was a job that had taken at least two helpers that I would have begged for to get and then we would have had the whole sheep rodeo. Instead Miss and I worked though it quickly and quietly. When we finished we were both happy and satisfied with a job well done - I could see it in her eyes.

Second high - when I took her in last year for her yearly u/s and she was just a quiet, well mannered dog. No fear, ignoring the other hyper dogs present. It may sound small, but she was unsure of e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g when I got her and to be able to walk in there and she was secure, well mannered and received complements from everyone was a sweet, sweet taste of success for me.

Low would be the handler error that had her push a 13 y/o ewe into the river. Not a pretty sight. I was convinced that I was going to get to the barn in the morning and find the ewe dead of a heart attack. Amazingly she lived another 2 years.

With Kipp it would probably be the first time I lost contact with him doing a search in training. Crazy windy, I couldn't hear his bell collar. I had no idea where he was - until I heard his bark alert in the distance. My boy was working just like he was supposed to! I was pretty proud of him the day he passed the SAR cert, too!

Lows, wow. Umm we've had them. I have had many "what in the world is going on" moments with this dog. But I love the dog he has become - for the most part at least

Thanks Mara and Betty- I've got chills from both of your stories!

My lowest point has to be when my friend's dog(now my dog) Kari bolted out of the compound to jump on some stranger and say hello. I live in a place where that can mean instant death. I always carry a switch in my hand to ward off stray dogs, if they decide to attack my dogs while on my walk.

I called out his name and said no etc. He ignored me.In my anger and frustration, I whacked kari so hard, that it raised a welt and Kari was crying and cowering at my feet peeing.

This was the worst low I had. I put Kari back inside the house and came in and decided that I was not fit to train kari. I did not train Kari for the next three months. The only thing I would do was to take him for a walk and pet him, if he decided to come up to me.

I broke his trust out of anger. Even today when I ask him to do some thing like Sit, down, stand etc, I see a bit of fear in his eyes and feel that I have ruined him.

Kari taught me an important lesson, I am a bad trainer.


Here he is

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qYV4CzYkr8


Even though he does not compete in any shows, I love him dearly and he loves me dearly. He will come up to me every morning and demand that I pick him up and put him on my lap while sitting in my garden. I give him a lot of kisses and apologize every day.


As for the high point, every time my dogs look at me with love and affection, come bounding into me, decide to lick me, snuggle up to me to go to sleep, bring me food (yes, bommi finds food for me and brings it to me, mostly it is dead lizards and offal the crows dropped from above). I don't care about training or obedience, there is no high for me there.