Well, I have found a huge gap in my training with Falcon and would like some input.

Last night we were at our neighbor's house. We walk here almost daily as their dog and Falcon are great buddies and we throw tennis balls and flying squirrel, etc... Great times had by all.

Last night the younger set was playing volleyball and Falcon and I were watching from the porch. He was interested since there was a ball in action but on a down and doing fine.

Between matches we walked down to the volleyball area and were chatting,etc.. he was on a flat collar and leash. When the game was going to start I just sat down off to the side. This is when the gap in my training became apparent. The moment the ball was served Falcon was going nuts and blew me off BIGG TIME. I stood up to get better control and he about pulled me off my feet twice. I immediately asked them to hold the ball and tried a "correction" but of course on a flat collar it was useless and he was in such high drive I was like a gnat on his neck. By this time my husband had reached us and calmly took Falcon and walked him back to our home, put on the prong and calmly walked back.

I put him on a down (still down near the volley ball field) but when the ball was again played Falcon charged the ball but of course self-corrected (with a yelp) with the prong collar. I told him down, but he was still blowing me off and very intent on the ball. I gave him a moderate pop and he went down but kinda "mouthed" my hand. Not a bite and not aggressive. At the moment he did it I have him a sharp "AHHH!" and he immediately stopped.

Realizing this proximity to the playing field was simply way too much of a distraction, I took him back up on the porch away from the action and he did much better.

Falcon is almost 2 and big. I learned how incredibly strong last night.

He is a good natured dog and has NEVER shown any agression toward me or anyone. I think Dennis has a pretty good feel for his overall disposition and would probably agree on this, but don't hesitate to say different Dennis!

I did not take the mouthing of my hand as aggression in any way but want you to know it happened in case I am being ignorant and misreading.

Obviously, I have not introduced enough distractions in our training. We've worked on downs/sits and had Doug toss balls / flying squirrels, roll a ball etc... but never in a group of folks with all that excitement.

I'm assuming this is a matter of setting up this type of situation and training at a distance and then moving closer and closer?

I have been in the exact same situation many times before, so I totally know what you are talking about. I have found that what works best for me is a collar correction followed by a Ceaser Millan style "touch" with my lower leg or knee.

Just to be clear, I'm not talking about kneeing my dog

I position myself so that I can use my knee or my leg to to turn her away from the excitement, then I either heel her away or put her in a fixed position depending on the situation.

I have found this works better than anything else with her. If I don't physically turn her away I end up banging out multiple corrections to break her focus, Its much more fair to just turn her around.

This one can be hard to train for, because IME the dog will learn quickly that the ball or whatever is part of the game while you are training. I know Tasha has learned that she will eventually get to have the toy if she is patient.

Maybe you can set up a training session with Dennis and his kids kicking around a soccer ball or something. Something where he never gets to have their toy but maybe gets to play with a different toy as a reward for self control.

The mouthing was probably just pushy and frustrated. Tasha pulls that kind of thing all the time. I find it works best for us to just ignore it, follow through on the command that I have already given her and then move on to something else. For us correcting it just creates more confrontation and frustration.

It is just training for another bigger distraction for the dog to learn to watch & not react. This is one of the reasons that I have raised my pups on & around the school & sport fields & playgrounds in my area. They learn from day one the kids screaming & throwing, kicking, batting balls mean nothing to them. They are in downs or retreiving their own balls on the side of the fields while games & gym classes are going on. They have been hit occasionally by a very stray soccer balls or football & just sit there. Since I don't have young kids & have been few in my neighborhood until now...this was my way of getting my dogs used to the noise & excitment of kids running & screaming & sports.

I would start practicing in your home yard putting you dog in a down & kicking balls around & near them & rolling balls at him (not hard obviously) to get the dog used to the motion of balls close to him & his remain non reactive. Them move to the front yard & then various other places & then eventually to sport fields. Then take the dog to games in your area & start at a non reactive distance & overtime move closer & closer. If you get a reaction move back a couple of steps to the dog's 'comfort' zone. I used to find plastic water bottles etc on the fields & toss & kick them near & at my pups while in a down to desensitize them to things being thrown near them. My male used to find all the plastic water bottles left on the fields & pick them up & carry them around from when he was 9 weeks old. It was funny. This is what has worked for me.

IMO the mouthing is redirected frustration. I'd watch that it doesn't go further then just mouthing when you start to train for this level distraction since it seems to trigger a sizable responce in your dog.

 Quote: Lauren Jeffery

Maybe you can set up a training session with Dennis and his kids kicking around a soccer ball or something. Something where he never gets to have their toy but maybe gets to play with a different toy as a reward for self control.

Thanks Lauren. I bet for beer and eggs, I can get Dennis to assist with almost anything dog training related! Might have to up the ante to icecream for the kids, but Dennis is cheap.

 Quote: anne jones

It is just training for another bigger distraction for the dog to learn to watch & not react. This is one of the reasons that I have raised my pups on & around the school & sport fields & playgrounds in my area. They learn from day one the kids screaming & throwing, kicking, batting balls mean nothing to them. They are in downs or retreiving their own balls on the side of the fields while games & gym classes are going on. They have been hit occasionally by a very stray soccer balls or football & just sit there. Since I don't have young kids & have been few in my neighborhood until now...this was my way of getting my dogs used to the noise & excitment of kids running & screaming & sports.

IMO the mouthing is redirected frustration. I'd watch that it doesn't go further then just mouthing when you start to train for this level distraction since it seems to trigger a sizable responce in your dog.

Thanks Ann - I think your advice is exactly what I need to do. The benefits of living a bit in the boonies is the peace and quiet but the disadvantage is no built in kids/distractions, so I need to make that happen. Lauren's suggestion of "using" Dennis and his home grown rug rats has has potential, but as the heat allows this week I'll be going back to square one and introducing minor distractions here before kids and soccer balls.

I agree 100% with both you and Lauren that Falcon's mouthiness was frustration with both not being allowed to play and the prong collar being put on. Thanks for your input!

Having Dennis help would be great...it will allow you to have an element of control over the kids that you would otherwise not have & that can be a great help to your training.

I have always made an effort to have the kids at the middle school,on the other side of the woods from my house,help me with training. I would ask them to ride their skateboards & bikes etc back & forth around me with the dogs walking & in a down etc. I take the dogs over where they are riding their boards up & down stairs & jumping things etc & heel my dogs around them. They will play catch around me etc.etc.etc. I have never had any of themn refuse to help me when I have asked. They have been a great help. I don't allow them any physical interaction with my dogs, though. This way my dogs never look to any of the people on the fields etc for any attention. They just ignore them. Works great for me.

I have to say that I would love to 'live in the boonies' as you put it. Wana trade?

 Quote: Anne Jones

I have to say that I would love to 'live in the boonies' as you put it. Wana trade?

I couldn't give it up if I tried, but you are more than welcome to come visit!

Be careful with that invitation...I just might take ya up on it.