Many of us have seen the recent video on the newsletter when Ed talks about this -where the dog is kind of antic moving around the room and generally tuning out...
What other syndromes have you experienced?
Yesterday was kind of embarrassing -here's what happened:
Normal 1-hour training walk in the morning...which involves down stay at vet's, walking by dogs and focusing practice, intermittent random downs in motion, etc...standard stuff we do everyday. But when we got to one corner close to the end she just rolled over on her side after her down...seriously wouldn't budge...it was fairly dramatic -had to pet her calmly and pick her back up on her feet again and coax her along home..
She gets out for similar 3x daily -I practice her positions (learning stand) and focus daily but in very short sessions..
But she has had a lot (?) of training the last few days -
Saturday with personal trainer and then practice in group with old trainer...Tuesday group class for proofing at humane society etc...and I know the beginning fuss work can be somewhat stressful for a dog?
At any rate I called it a day of course -what do you guys think?
She's such a mellow, loving dog -I feel like a jerk..it was like, "@#$% you and @#$% your FUSS!"

It sounds like a version of shutting down - the dog was over stimulated and coped by shutting down instead of going into hyper-arousal. I make sure Jethro has chances to roll and jump and act goofy during our walks. I also give him plenty of sniff time, even if it means I have to give a quick jerk sometimes to stop him from eating garbage. Are you making sure she has enough time to be undisciplined? To be her doggy self and tear around a bit?

I admit I miss my hubby most for this. He always makes sure both dogs get out for good run arounds. I'm more paranoid of Jethro getting into trouble, so he has fewer moments of freedom with me. I have decided this afternoon to put on his 30' training lead and play some soccer with him. We both need a break.

Thanks so much for responding Jenny....we took it easy today and she seems more like her own self..
She's not really a "tear around" kind of dog...she spends most of her time on some kind of high alert for Al Qaeda operatives on our walks...seriously, she's very fearful and nervous around dogs as you know from many previous posts.
But on a positive note, a dog ran out of his yard and right up to her on the sidewalk as we were walking home today. She submitted to the sniff with much praise and steak snacks. When he trotted back into his yard she turned around and just sat on the sidewalk to watch him. It's almost like she doesn't quite know what to make of other dogs...
She doesn't know how to play interactively with toys either...she'll just let me have the toy if I try to tug.
I'm guessing she was pretty isolated with zero socialization or training -and she's highly sensitive to boot...
So I just guess that I was laying it on a little thick -I've had her for just a few months after all. The Schutzhund Training book I'm reading talks a lot about taking the time to lay the foundation of interest and engagement so I'm going to concentrated a bit more on that.
Thanks again -don't forget that picture of Skipper's cool face!

We/ve never had "overtraining" I don't think -- but we've had "overloving".
Petting and praise for just being there, being a companion.
My guy hates that. He likes praise for actions, for work.
Took about 14 mos to get that figured out!

 Quote: jenny arntzen

It sounds like a version of shutting down ...

Ditto.

Sounds like classic stress avoidance behavior, something you really want to be aware of. JMO!

Had she been corrected?


"... the foundation of interest and engagement ... concentrated a bit more on that."

Good. And you're marker training?

Its nice to find time to just be together and let the dog do dog things.

On every walk I try to find a safe, quiet area where I can drop the leash and just let her smell stuff, roll around, discover neat things and run aimlesly for just a few minutes while I walk ahead. No commands, no games with any sort of purpose. Just hanging out.

The funny thing is, the more I make a practice of this the closer she stays to me and the more she tries to keep me engaged with her.

She will run off and come back to shove an old gatorade bottle into my hand for tug. Or she will find a ball and toss it at my feet to kick.

I want to emphasise safety in this. I've been training my dog since a puppy and her recall is excellent, and I only do this in feilds that are away from roads and where I can see from every angle that no one is around.

But still, even with a new dog, try bringing along a long line to allow them to explore and just be. Its suprising how much they not only appreciate it, but bond even closer to you.

Thanks all!
Connie, no correction at that time -only time she gets a correction is for blatant "know better' behavior such as snarking at another dog...we were just walking along, she stops automatically at corners now and downs if I wait long enough..and just flopped over...she is a bully bitch so some drama is in the mix too. But with her character I think you are correct -I do need to be more sensitive to her perception of stress..
Lauren, good point also...I was much more proactive in doing recalls with the drag line before she ran into me and severed ACL/MCL...but the knee is much better and I need to get over that and get back to some field work..
Thanks all!