Kipp can be a really intense dog and tends to get very wound up at times.

I've been working on OB/self control with Kipp and Kenzi. Have one in a down stay while doing simple heal work with the other, or working one right outside the others kennel rewarding for calm behavior.

Even though he does do really good at controling himself, Kipp is still really on edge. I'll reward them with food but a couple times now soon after we're done, Kipp will vomit. I've noticed this a couple times when he's in his crate, usually at SAR training. I'll slip him a treat through his crate but a few minutes later, up it comes.

He had issues with car sickness for a little while after I got him, but as he got used to the car that went away.

So could this be a stress response of some sort? Everything else with him is perfectly normal - no other vomiting, great appitite as always, doesn't seem dependent on the type of treat he gets.

Mara,

I don't know how this got missed from earlier today... My gut instinct is yes, it is excitement/stress related. Falcon used to get diarreah when we'd go somewhere in the car (fortunately never IN the car) because he'd get himself worked up. If he is only doing this on edge and not during the normal day, I think you are correct.

Hey Mara, one day out walking, Echo was really engaged. One of those days that everything seems to come together. A nice focused heel, butt plopping at every stop, through the legs at will, anything I was asking him. He was on and getting lots of rewards. His usual liver treats which he’s had since a baby, never an issue. At one point, he and Vince got the zoomies - a real jack rabbit, tail tucking good time.

Shortly after they stopped Echo came over, stood in front of me and puked a huge mass. All his treats, in a mucky mass on the ground and then he carried on as if nothing happened. I’m sure this had to do with how energetic he was and all the excitement.

And Vince, who seems to breathe in drive, will not take treats when we’re training outdoors. Indoors, when he’s relaxed and hungry, they can have some significance. But I think he’s probably much like Kipp, controlled and focused but wound and driven. It seems that random food in his stomach at these times would just get in the way or doesn’t feel comfortable.

Echo wasn’t showing any signs of stress when he vomited and Vince’s actions no longer display what I would consider stress. Extremely motivated excitement, but not stress.

Thanks for the input!

So part two then - how would you go about training and rewarding with this in mind?

Keep doing the same thing in hopes that he'll settle down just a bit as he gets used to it more?

Super short sessions so he gradually builds up a tolerance? yesterday it was probably a 5 minute session with K&K where I alternated down stays and heel work with the dogs.

A different type of treat - perhaps PB in a squeeze tube so he has just a taste?

I would really like to build the idea of a more relaxed, calm focus. It's a been a bit of a struggle with him because the intense edginess can also manifest itself in reactive dog aggression with outside dogs. Very manageable, but always seems to be a work in progress.

With Vince, he’s just so eager to please and has energy to burn. I always do obedience type stuff with him “after” our hikes when he’s burnt off a lot of that energy. And because he doesn’t care for food rewards, I don’t use anything.

If he even thinks I’m carrying a ball, I can get a whole session of focused work out of him. With his eagerness to figure out what I want, he’s just really engaged.

Not sure if you see this in Kipp too, but Vince is also extremely sensitive to praise. The added vocals seem to stimulate him to a bit of confusion (what kind of command it that kind of thing – you’re not asking me to do anything – what do want, what do want).

So I also avoid excess vocals where he’s concerned. A great game of bouncy ball fetch at the end and he can’t wait for the next session.

Connie gets super excited about training and these are the things that were recommended to us:

Work on duration: Down - good (very calmly, no excitement) - good - good - ... - yes (calmly).

Capping: (some exciting high drive commands - jump! come! etc.) - DOWN - good (calmly) - good - ... - yes - (back to exciting activity) - (repeat). The idea to teach the dog to go in and out of drive and build self-control.

 Quote: Mara Jessup

A different type of treat - perhaps PB in a squeeze tube so he has just a taste?

I think this might build frustration. Almost like teasing?

Kipp is probably much more excitable than Connie. Isn't this great!

Kipp goes in to react-don't-think-mode pretty easily. Once he is amped up, he needs an outlet for the drive. If I've got something for him to redirect on, great. If no But on the other hand he is an eager little dog who really does want to please, quite sensitive when he isn't amped up, and pretty goofy when relaxed.

We've worked quite a bit on training calm behavior. But I've slacked off on that recently, so I'll get back on it. I do like the idea of capping. Haven't approached it quite like that before. I'll have to give that a try.

I think I'll also see if I can get my sister to come out and work with Kenzi while I'm working Kipp so I can focus just on him and see if that makes a difference.

As far as if it's great, well, very mixed feelings on this. I love his drive and intensity, but I really would like him to be able to calm down, relax and have fun as opposed to be keyed up and worried. Does that make sense? My other two can be very intense as well but not over the top edgy.

 Quote: cj barrett

With Vince, he’s just so eager to please and has energy to burn. I always do obedience type stuff with him “after” our hikes when he’s burnt off a lot of that energy. And because he doesn’t care for food rewards, I don’t use anything.

If he even thinks I’m carrying a ball, I can get a whole session of focused work out of him. With his eagerness to figure out what I want, he’s just really engaged.

Not sure if you see this in Kipp too, but Vince is also extremely sensitive to praise. The added vocals seem to stimulate him to a bit of confusion (what kind of command it that kind of thing – you’re not asking me to do anything – what do want, what do want).

So I also avoid excess vocals where he’s concerned. A great game of bouncy ball fetch at the end and he can’t wait for the next session.

To many words is definitely an issue for Kipp. He likes things simple and concise!

Kipp is eager to please too, but he is a chow hound at heart and likes to get "paid" for his work He will stay engaged for at least a half hour for kibble. He learns some thing ridiculously fast with a clicker. I think part of it might be that I'm keeping my mouth shut and the feedback he gets is very clear

I so you hear you with that clear communication. It's really important to these guys that seem to hinge on our every word.

So I tried something this morning and I found it quite interesting, not sure exactly what to make of it.

We had a great outing yesterday and the boys are all nice and mellow today. Vince was relaxing on the cushion beside me and I knew they were hungry, breakfast was a little late this morning but they got a late dinner.

After your post I thought why not check where Vince is with this food reward thing. He’s changing all the time and maybe he’ll go for it today. I was clear that I didn’t have a ball, showed him they were in the box, he saw me cut up the liver treats (which he actually loves – I often mix them in his dinner if he hasn’t had organ meat - the others all work for them daily). I put on my coat and out we went with him eagerly focused beside me.

His mark was loaded using a ball and he’s very in tune with “Yes”. He knows he’s done what I want and we’re off to the next thing.

I had him down, stand and sit at my side, said “Yes” and instead of heading off; I offered him a liver treat. He casually took, turned his head away from me and spit it out.

I had to laugh, thinking to myself, “What’s with you my dear man?” He could not have been clearer. “Don’t do that.” He’s wasn’t hectic or excited, very calm actually. He’s a strange boy.