It's so good to hear from all of you! Last week, I started classes with both of mine. Hunter is in Beginner Novice/Novice I, and Terra is in Introduction to Rally. Both of these dogs are middle-aged but have had no previous formal obedience type classes, so we're starting from scratch. And like Bob, I myself feel very rusty, since it's been many years since I've done dog training classes or any type of competition. Not to mention, for the last two months or so, until just recently, I've had nowhere but my small living room to train, so we have some catching up to do.

I almost feel like I should have switched the two dogs' classes, though. Hunter is very uncomfortable being touched by strangers, as required in AKC obedience. Terra on the other hand is a seasoned conformation champion and is very used to that. Hunter is also very quick on his feet and loves learning the rally-type maneuvers, whereas Terra is, well, a little bit slower and and less manueuverable. Maybe I'll switch them next class term.

I have no idea if I will end up competing with either of them. Right now, it's such a novelty just going out to classes. We're all having fun doing that, and we'll see where it all goes.

Winter seemed very long and cold here. December wasn't too bad, but January and February were cold, snowy, and windy, with very little in the way of breaks. Now, though, it does indeed look like spring has arrived and we can get outside. Of course it's mud season, yippee!

Bob, have fun with your poodle in FastCat! That's an event that is really catching on here, too, and my club is looking to have some AKC-sanctioned trials this year.

Our old friend Candi Campbell and her three dogs are doing fine, and she says to give all of you her best regards!

Cheri good to se you back in the game, One thing that surprised me going back to
AKC stuff is how they ahave also caught on to marker training.
Another surprise in the basic OB class I'm in was one woman walked up to me and said "Your Bob Scott and you had Kerry Blue terriers". She said she was one of my students when I was teaching OB classes in the 80s. Small world.

Happy birthday to Fennec!

I'm glad to hear from Candi, and would love to say hi back to her next time you hear from her, Cheri.

Cheri ... that's great about your classes! I hope you'll update us on them.

Bob, I was pleased too when I saw that AKC had embraced marker training. Their web site has extolled it for a few years now -- I think I first saw it three or four years ago. It took them a while, but I'm glad it happened.

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

I'm glad to hear from Candi, and would love to say hi back to her next time you hear from her, Cheri.

Connie, I think you just did. Candi is still able to read posts on the forum, as well as articles, etc.

The AKC-affiliated club I belong to has promoted what I would generally call positive reinforcement training principles for as long as I've been going there (20 or so years), but these days I am noticing a lot more instructors actually teaching the specifics of marker training, which I am very happy to see.

Bob, there are several of my fellow club members who have Standard Poodles, and they are super-nice dogs. Versatile, intelligent, trainable, fun-loving. Sometimes, the right dog just comes into our life, and it sounds like you and Quincy are having a great time together!

Super intelligent breed. Quincy is young and a quick learner so I'm really enjoying working a totally new breed for me. The last two dogs I've had were Czech bred GSDs and that makes training a new thing for me.......especially the fun-loving you mentioned. My one GSD had what I thought was a clown attitude but he didn't come close to Quincy.

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

Happy birthday to Fennec!

Thanks, Connie! She had a subdued birthday because of Eleven’s spay a couple days before. They both got cupcakes and toys- had to get Eleven an after surgery gift, too….

Hello folks! Nice to see some old names on here! Well…maybe not OLD…remembered!

Anyway… I’m stuck still trying to train my year old Chiweenie. Dog has 0 “want to please”, it’s all conditional on reward..and if the reward isn’t premium, well, NOPE!

Example..I was eating MnMs (I know, chocolate, sweet, etc) and just for fun, asked her to fetch her ball and “put”= drop ball into my hand. I’d given up training this, haven’t asked her for months. Showed her an MnM…..she did it about 10 times, til the candy ran out.

She also went to her mat, did “sit”, “down” “sit up”…. Her entire repertoire. Normally she won’t do anything.

So….with a hound/chihuahua (embark is happening ..she weighs >20 lb and could be any wild type small short haired mutt) is reliability …”I ask, you do, consistently” a possibility?

It's good to hear from you, Betty. I hope you'll share the Embark results when you get them. I'm afraid I don't have any helpful training tips to share. I'm dealing with my own mutt (probably a Lab/Beagle cross) who is almost 100 percent ruled by his nose. I know the "hound" part of my dog is not something I'm used to, and it sounds like you're in the same boat.

 Quote: Betty Landercasp

Hello folks! Nice to see some old names on here! Well…maybe not OLD…remembered!

Anyway… I’m stuck still trying to train my year old Chiweenie. Dog has 0 “want to please”, it’s all conditional on reward..and if the reward isn’t premium, well, NOPE!

Example..I was eating MnMs (I know, chocolate, sweet, etc) and just for fun, asked her to fetch her ball and “put”= drop ball into my hand. I’d given up training this, haven’t asked her for months. Showed her an MnM…..she did it about 10 times, til the candy ran out.

She also went to her mat, did “sit”, “down” “sit up”…. Her entire repertoire. Normally she won’t do anything.

So….with a hound/chihuahua (embark is happening ..she weighs >20 lb and could be any wild type small short haired mutt) is reliability …”I ask, you do, consistently” a possibility?

For me, a high-value reward (although not chocolate) is part of the plan (with consistent rewards phased out later).

(Also, I don't reward for unasked-for behaviors, but I'm pretty sure you know that.)

I'd start over, I think, with loading/charging your marker. Are you using a clicker, or a verbal marker?

Would a couple of short refresher threads help?

https://leerburg.com/webboard/thread.php?topic_id=34970&page=1#401660

https://leerburg.com/webboard/thread.php?topic_id=34172&page=1#390931

P.S. is reliability …”I ask, you do, consistently” a possibility?

IMHO, with solid marker training, yes!