I worked really hard for Cody to tolerate being handled at the vet. I did just what you are saying and Cody is great at the vet now. Of course I am blessed with vet tech's who work with me by treating Cody for behaviors and making a real big deal about it when he does something right.
Now he prances right in, waits to see his friends, trots over and gets on the scale, can have all his nails clipped, and get a shot, with no problem. Believe me this is a miracle!!! After being in the hospital for a week, he hated anything vet!
Good for you for working on these behaviors.. My Cody's stress level has gone way down when going to the vet. (he goes every two months for a B12 shot)
love sharon and her pups, Bindi, Cody, Terra.

 Quote: Sharon Empson

I would love it if my dogs opened their mouths on command. Cody has lots of tarter on his teeth from all the medicines he had to take when sick. I thought I would train him to open his mouth and I would brush his teeth. The same for Terra. Terra doesn't like it when you come at her with something in her hand. SO we will work on it. ...

 Quote: Sharon Empson

I worked really hard for Cody to tolerate being handled at the vet. I did just what you are saying and Cody is great at the vet now. Of course I am blessed with vet tech's who work with me by treating Cody for behaviors and making a real big deal about it when he does something right. ... Now he prances right in, waits to see his friends, trots over and gets on the scale, can have all his nails clipped, and get a shot, with no problem. Believe me this is a miracle!!! After being in the hospital for a week, he hated anything vet!
Good for you for working on these behaviors.. My Cody's stress level has gone way down when going to the vet. (he goes every two months for a B12 shot)
love sharon and her pups, Bindi, Cody, Terra.

I applaud you! Procedures training can actually enhance your dog's success at the vet's office when wounded or sick ... can mean the difference between stressed and fighting, or calmer and able to be worked with, with less medication, and even less restraint.

And while it sounds like unpleasant or boring work, it pays off so well that no one will regret this investment. If we are so fortunate as never to have a very sick or injured dog in the vet's office, it will still pay off when we have to clip claws, brush teeth, examine inner ears, remove something from a paw, or take a temp. All of these things can be calm and upbeat.


"I am blessed with vet tech's who work with me by treating Cody for behaviors and making a real big deal about it when he does something right." ... We can all have at least some of this. We can teach by example, and we can also ask for this kind of positive reinforcement. We can even provide our own HV rewards up front.


THIS is not overstating the results of assiduous procedures training with an anxious dog:

" Believe me this is a miracle!!! "


I think that procedures training is way up there, not up as high as the foolproof recall, but way up there nevertheless ....

 Quote: Sharon Empson

... Still working on Terra, and Cody behaviors for CGC certificate. We are working on sitting quietly next to me while I talk to someone and sit quietly for petting. (not my favorite behavior for them not a fan of people petting my dog. I usually have my dogs give them a hi five instead, but to pass the test, they must allow a friendly stranger to touch them.) Tomorrow I am going to continue to work on Terra being out of site of me and waiting. Both my dogs are ok if I leave the room, although they wait for me to return.

Good job.


Duane, good work! And Karen and Kristin! Kristin, thinking about the procedure of your own and sending metta.


This thread is always inspiring.

I've been taking Tanner out to the PetSmart closest to me for months. We've been working on not losing his mind every time somebody wants to pet him. He's going much better at this than he used to. We're not to CGC standards yet but getting better.

Took him tonight and his motivation was kind of low so we did some luring with misses in the aisles. He perked right up and did very well. They must have just waxed the floors in there because he was having a heck of a time keeping a sit-stay. He was even pushing off the floor to stay up and slipping. The "I'm trying!" look on his face was great.

I actually had my first K9 Nose work clas this evening.
I took Trooper since I've never really done much with him other then a CGC and a TT. He's got a ton of potential if I get past my short comings with a handler soft dog and both our ADHD look at the world. I know exactly what he sees.
I've been told by a friend that I need a dog that's willing to bite me in the ass. Markers have helped that a ton but a soft dog will forever be my weakness in training.
To many years with the evil little bassids I guess although Thunder has always been a dog that I just read him the rules and he does it.
Trooper, not so much.

Great to hear you took Trooper!!!

Last evening was a good one. Club night.

After doing some finishing work on our OB, we did some protection work that was a step up from what we've been working on. Sadie had a lot of fun with it.

Then, when we got home, we had a yardful of our considerate neighbor's new cats. As a reward for for her good work on the field, I let Sadie clear the yard before retiring. She was very pleased, and slept like a baby.

 Quote: Terrasita Cuffie

Great to hear you took Trooper!!!

That was actually a bit strange. It was the first time I took Trooper somewhere to train without Thunder with us. Still had a great time though.

I'll have to come watch him. Hello to everyone else. I generally spend my days training herding dogs. My bouvier Khira has retired and the dog that is replacing her as my chore dog and main squeeze is two year old Pembroke Welsh Corgi {PWC} "Rhemy." He's a very exciting young dog. I also have 2 year old Khyndra--PWC who is a little more of what I call the finesse trial dog variety and brings her own strengths to the table. These two along with my training group will keep me busy until the right GSD lands on my doorstep

T

Edited by Connie Sutherland (09/13/2013 09:23 AM)
Edit reason: fix broken post

Terrasita was my instructor when I worked with Thunder in herding. She helped me and Thunder make a lot of believers out of the naysayers that said a Sch III dog would be to tough on stock.
I became a true believer when Thunder was working a small flock of ducks. One actually attacked him, grabbed a mouthful of the skin on his side and just hung on. Thunder stopped long enough to just shake the little killer off then continued working the ducks.
He has also proven his "stuff" by putting a dog aggressive billy goat in it place.
One group of cattle stood their ground the first time he was exposed to them and he slowly walked up and almost touched noses until they said uncle and slowly backed off.
His character came into play only once with T. The first time she placed a shepherd's staff to block his move he stopped right where he was at. Ears and tail came up, his eyes locked on to hers and his mouth got that nasty pucker with a "I don't know you well enough for you to do that" look.
They became great buddies after a while. Fact is, when stock was involved I think he would have tossed me out the door if T was around.

I am continuing to perfect the skills Terra needs to get her CGC. She is a smart dog but very independent. We are making progress.
Cody-just something fun, shaping him to bow. Rewarding small increments until we get the bow posture. taking him to the park before its hot to burn off steam.
Bindi-something fun-I am shaping her to wear some bling classes and then going to take her picture for my web page. We are also working on "go outs" and pivots. We kinda put training rally on the back burner when I was taking the dog trainer course, so now we are back at it.
Its been hot here so walks have pretty much been ruled out. Heard cooler weather is coming sometime next week. This week we have had a break, it didn't get to 100 until about 1:00 in the afternoon. Usually by 10 a.m. it is 100.
Today is game day for the dogs. Going out in the back yard early this morning and raking, while i rake i practice the dogs recall. I wait till they are the farthest from me, really interested in something and then call them. They love to try and out race each other. THen maybe we will do a puzzle.
Love reading all you posts. An attack duck! Maybe you could train it to be a watch duck! ha!
very good that thunder just shook off that duck, I do not think my pups would have done that.
We have a ferral cat that is very bold, not the least bit afraid of me or my husband or the dogs. The dogs get a big kick out of making sure that cat stays out of our back yard. The other day the cat saw a rabbit hopping by and pounced on it and carried it away for lunch!
Anyway, keep up the good work. love, sharon and her pups, Bindi, Cody, Terra