It's a nice gooch......er, I mean pooch.

Schutzhund guy...... If he trains the dog to push into the front of his body with his legs open, when he closes his legs and stands up straight (for Heir in compet.) he will have a 'perfect front' with the dog's chin resting on his belly button or 'belt buckle.'

Definitely NOT a ring thing. Precision and style are only 3 points of mondioring - not worth the work!

As for the slapping - What if the guy had used an ecollar? Would that be better? I'm torn on this one. If the dog knows to focus, and doesn't, it needs a correction.... How?

After re-watching, I realized the dog was investigating his hand for food (cuz he just put food in a bowl), and that's why the guy slapped him.

And he IS doing ring - NVBK. Not worth the measly 3 points there, either!

Oh, oh, and he is working for a reward. He gets his food in the end.

 Quote: Niomi Smith

Anne - What do you see in the dog as being worried?

I don't think that little tap really affected the dog.

He looked worried/stressed to me, completely aside from the slap.

I did see the chop-licking as anxiety, but didn't think about it being about the food.
I'm interested in others' comments on it.

To be honest, the dogs behavior looks a lot like what Ryuk acts like if I put down his food and make him perform before getting it. He gets yippy, extremely worked up, completely on edge...and he's not typically a food motivated dog....I think it's stress and excitement over OMFGYESFOODISTHEREIMLISTENINGTOYOUBUTOMGDENYINGMESWEETFOOD.

You'd think I'm killing him.....I'd imagine with a more food motivated dog it would be even worse....

 Quote: Michael_Wise

Nahhhhhh.....It taint weird at all.:smile:

hehehe....I ABC what you did there

I think it looks weird. I would hope it's not a normal thing. What do you do if your dog's back is higher than your 'crotchal area', and his nose is almost up to your elbow when he's heeling?

Sing soprano?

Personally, I would rather have more space inbetweenus.


Ok, I've ran out of names for that area, so now I'll stop.

I do ask my dog to "come" that close - however, she is the perfect height to rest her chin on my stomach when she comes in.

I think if I was taller I would ask for a bit more space, but to each their own I guess.

I hear you Jamie - Ironhide is CRAZY about her food bowl, she likes food too, but nothing gets her worked up like her food bowl.

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

 Quote: Niomi Smith

Anne - What do you see in the dog as being worried?

He looked worried/stressed to me, completely aside from the slap.

I did see the chop-licking as anxiety, but didn't think about it being about the food.
I'm interested in others' comments on it.

I hope this isn’t going to sound too contradictory and totally JMHO for what it’s worth.

I just wasn’t getting that much stress off this dog. Anxious maybe, but in an “eagerness to please” kind of way. I would think there might be a certain amount of pressure, a dog performing at that level, is going through. His movement was quick and snappy and seemed like he couldn’t wait for the next command, not to mention the food.

I think a more fearful, “anxious of his owner” dog may have been a bit more hesitant heading over to that food, if he even wanted to eat. Looked to me like a pretty well-deserved, enthusiastic chow down.

I couldn’t help but feel the owner was oozing a bit of arrogance though. That head slap didn’t “seem” necessary. He looked like a pretty good dog trainer but maybe takes his teaching position a bit too vigorously – a bit of a perfectionist (maybe not a bad thing – not sure on that one). I’ve also never owned a Mal or trained for ring sports.

Didn’t look like much room for mistakes though and I don’t think that dog was purely marker trained.

Again… all JMHO.

I’ve got to start teaching Echo that move - from the front. He’s got the depth in the backend down pat.

Michael, I think you are getting the silent treatment on your nice remarks If it helps, they've made me laugh! Oh, and there are more at urban dictionary