A lot of sniffing on the ground can be showing stress.
When I first started training one of my GSDs he could read me like a book.
If I had a bad day there was no way I could hide it when working with him no matter how happy I acted or how much I rewarded him It was next to impossible to keep him from sniffing.
You did a pretty fair job in the video. It's just a matter of slowly adding distraction there.
Maybe reward a bit more often then what I see in the video and don't make a pattern of the reward.
Let the dog know that reward can be had anywhere in the routine. First step, 5th step, whatever.
Random can help get past those distraction but don't do it right after he turns his head away. He may thing it's the head turn that is reward worthy.
Duane Hull Webboard User Reg: 09-23-2011
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Quote: Peter Cavallaro
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.
Yes. I take my dog to places where there are distractions so I can proof my training.
Have you read anything here about desensitizing? If a dog is stressed by the distractions, the idea is to move a little farther away until you're out of the dog's reactive zone and work the dog until you gradually reduce that "safe zone". The goal is to acclimate the dog to the distractions until you can work near the distractions without stress or losing focus.
When I joined my Sch club, my reactive dog was unable to function because she was focused on the other dogs. I separated myself from the group and spent some sessions reducing her reactive zone. We also did some exercises with all the dogs (figure 8's, parallel heeling, etc) designed to acclimate the dogs to working together. My reactive dog is still reactive, but she can work side by side with other dogs.
Lesley Reed Webboard User Reg: 10-09-2014
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Hi guys,
sorry for delay in replying (busy mum plus think I may be a number of hours ahead/behind some of you)
Thanks for the advice. I do take him to the park so I can work around same distractions but further away from dogs being walked there and also outside my kids school on a daily basis (kids and dogs being his distractions there). He is checking in with me at these places and once we have been doing it for a while and I have him settled he focus does improve, but really must start using a toy I think for a stronger reward so better get watching the 'Power of Playing Tug' video so I know how to take full advantage of this reward
Connie Sutherland Moderator Reg: 07-13-2005
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I'd get Power of Tug, too, but if you are using food that he loves (and you wouldn't use anything else ... lol) and he did not just eat a meal but is losing focus, you are almost certainly (I think certainly) too close to the distraction for now.
"If a dog is stressed by the distractions, the idea is to move a little farther away until you're out of the dog's reactive zone and work the dog until you gradually reduce that "safe zone". The goal is to acclimate the dog to the distractions until you can work near the distractions without stress or losing focus."
IOW, you begin far enough away for the dog to be able to focus on you.
Lesley Reed Webboard User Reg: 10-09-2014
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Hi Connie, thanks for that feed back I will look at watching that video next :-)
We had training class last night and he was better until he was off the lead but to be honest it wasn't the other dogs in the hall then... he just decided to be a rebellious teenager and prance around me like an idiot until I put him back on the lead and gave him a correction then he showed off his beautiful left turns that he is known for doing with eyes on me... really proud mummy last night :-)
ian bunbury Webboard User Reg: 01-19-2012
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Sounds like you and Thor are moving in the right direction Lesley ....
Just wanted to add , at just a year old , Thor is not even at " rebellious teenager " yet .
Enjoy the process , don't put too much pressure on the dog to perform too soon . It is natural for him to be distracted by the other dogs . are you allowing him some time to socialize ? That then gives you the opportunity to show him that you really are the best game in town .
The engagement that you seek is developed over time .... Allow it to flourish .
Connie Sutherland Moderator Reg: 07-13-2005
Posts: 31571
Loc: North-Central coast of California
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Quote: ian bunbury
Sounds like you and Thor are moving in the right direction Lesley ....
Just wanted to add , at just a year old , Thor is not even at " rebellious teenager " yet .
Enjoy the process , don't put too much pressure on the dog to perform too soon . It is natural for him to be distracted by the other dogs . are you allowing him some time to socialize ? That then gives you the opportunity to show him that you really are the best game in town .
The engagement that you seek is developed over time .... Allow it to flourish .
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