Doggie School
 
Wish us luck......Kathy & Chauncey[/list] |
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| I hope he is a star pupil. I know how difficult these guys can be. Patience, patience on your part, not anger. |
| If I've learn nothing in the last 16 mos, it's patience. He's great but definitely needs tweaked abit. Who could possibly get angry with a face like these guys have?? |
Good Luck!! I'm sure you will both do GREAT!!  |
| Good luck. We are rooting for you!
I am sure he will be the cutest dog in the class! |
| That's great news. |
I'm happy you found a place to go!! Good luck and can't wait to hear all about it!!!  |
| Good luck! Have sooo much fun! |
| Good luck I'm sure you and Chauncey will enjoy it. Duchess and I just attended our 4th puppy class tonite and I was so proud of her.. she did her sit, stand, down and shake paw perfect |
| I'm sure you will do fine at school..and don't worry, with my first OES, we were sitting in the corner with the dunce cap on! But...we perservered and finally went on to obedience trials and even got our CD title! The main thing is to have fun...the dogs actually enjoy having a "job" to do and with time, they'll love going to class...
I also start school...tonight. My pup is only 12 weeks old so I KNOW we will be wearing that cap 
Good luck and keep us posted.. Diane |
Good luck! I'm sure Chauncey will graduate as valedictorian!!  |
| Oh you're going to have fun! Even if your little tyke is not the star pupil he always will be in your eyes and at this age it's more for socialization. It's so much fun, kinda like having kids in pre-school for the first time - you enjoy watching not only your Chauncey but how he interacts and plays with the others. Sigh I miss those days.
I found after taking a variety of obedience classes - aprox 10 different instructors over a 20 year period with 7 different dogs it really makes a difference how they view dog training. Shaggy's first trainor was I'm master you are dog..didn't go over so well with her and her abused past. She failed miserably. Next was a gentle woman whose training methods were based on positive reinforcement and she thrived. Shaggy went on to become a therapy dog and we were placed on contract to provide educational pet talks on behalf of the Humane Society. I've had horrible trainers too - like the one who told me to "get that stupid dog to shut up" when I brought Blue to his first class and last. Then there was the awful fellow whom admonished me and told me to put Merlin in the car (he was 12 wks) as I had given him water that day. I complained loudly and walked out , reporting him to the center that hired him. So in the end, use your gut instinct as to how you view the trainer and best wishes to you and Chauncey. Can't wait to hear upcoming stories of his adventure. Marianne and the boys |
| Good luck both of you with dog school. You will have fun and learn lots. And your dog will too!!!
Proper socialization is a huge part of classes. Plan on going to several sessions if you can. One thing I see is people who stop going while their dog is young, and they are not so adaptable later in life. We think of it as continuing ed at our house. Plus it is a great way to get out and bond with your dog and get some winter exercise too . |
| I think what Maryann says so true. If you are not comfortable with the trainer, or if he/she wants you to do something you are uncomfortable with doing, don't do it. Walk out just like Maryann did!
I haven't had a bad experience with any tranier yet but have heard some horror stories...positive reinforcement is usually the best method of training and usually has a (pleasant) long lasting effect on the dog. Good luck...and have some fun |
I've been looking for 6 mos. and have contacted many programs. I will admit I was being pretty picky. I had a bad experience with a mean hateful lady with our lab, it ended up I was just a little meaner than her when she was yelling and dragging my Jake  I learned from that experience.
We will be going to The Good Dog Boarding and Training Farm http://www.gooddogpaws.com/ It's near Greencastle, PA. I was pleased with their program and facility. All of the instructor's were very positive and great with the dogs. In fact we are seriously considering boarding him there as well. We have used the same kennel for 14 years and are very happy with them, but Good Dogs has many more activities as well as they reinforce the training while they're there. They even have a TV lounge, complete with sofa's, chairs, dog beds etc..plus animal channel. The one instructor has sheepdog experience, has a farm with sheep and has offered herding after we've mastered the obiedience.....okay, so that may be awhile 
Thanks for all the good wishes......Kathy & Chauncey |
| who could get mad at these faces.. Good luck with class and be sure to let us know how it's going. I have not signed Obe up yet but when we get back to Colorado (hopefully mid-march) we are going to take a class. So i will be interested to here how yours goes. |
| We met the instructor that will be teaching our particular class. She was asking about Chauncey's quirks, likes and dislikes, etc...
Well the long & short of it, she feels that we need to ban him from the bed until he realizes his pack position. I'm not having a problem with this, in fact I'm sleeping really well, Bob is another story. He keeps saying he misses "his snuggle buddy". They'd go into the bedroom and curl up on the bed and watch the history channel or NG for hours on the weekend. I'm the only football fan in the house. I read a passage from Herding Dogs for Dummies..."your either the shepard or the sheep" this is so true. Chaunce will be the best dog when we go out or for walks, but is devil dog for Bob esp. in our yard. On the other hand he is very protective of him. Bob is 6'4" 250lbs former Marine, I'm 5'1" ( sorry not telling my weight) nurse, he doesn't seem protective of me at all. ( does he think I'm a B**** and can take care of myself  ) |
| That is funny.
But on a serious note, that is so true (about the sheep or the shepherd) . It sounds like you have a helpful instructor. BTW, which one of you is taking Chauncey to class? |
| Sounds like you have a great instructor. After having trained my first OES for five plus years ( we were in obedience competiton, he wasn't dumb!), I learned alot about the "pack order" and we were told the same thing back then. Keep him off the bed and off the couch..The fact that he sleeps on the floor ( lower than you ) helps him understand his place in the pack order.It may sound like nonsense but its true...the instructor will probably also tell you about the "long down" which is another exercise in letting him know he is not the boss...these things really work!
Tell your husband not to worry...his furry friend can again sleep with him in time! Maybe you should refrain from shaving your legs a while 
Good luck in class. I think you will enjoy it and it sounds like you picked a great place. Keep us posted. |
| Well, here's for an opposing viewpoint....
Personally I think the "higher than you" theory works for cats, but not dogs. I used to go along with the "pack" theory but have since learned that it is is quite mis-understood and is actually doing dogs a disservice. It is easy to understand and work with, but it is just not the way it is with dogs. So we end up making them even more confused by forcing them into a way that is foreign to them...when folks think that they are not cooperating on purpose....It is just not the way they think, much as we would like it to be. If you like you dog on the bed with you, then let him up there. The dogs aren't planning to take over the world while laying next to their favourite person. They just like being there..
The training place on the website uses shock collars. Some people like to hurt their dogs and punish them for making mistakes. That is not the way I believe that annimals should be treated, and not the way I train dogs. Punishment usually causes more problems than not...different ones that involve unwanted behaviors instead of lack of training. |
| Nicole we are having a problem related to the bed. Bob and Chaunce usually go to bed earlier than I do. for the past several weeks, when I go to get into the bed he will stand on the edge and grab my arm. It's very obvious he doesn't want me there. He is very protective/jealous of Bob. |
Chauncey wrote: Nicole we are having a problem related to the bed. Bob and Chaunce usually go to bed earlier than I do. for the past several weeks, when I go to get into the bed he will stand on the edge and grab my arm. It's very obvious he doesn't want me there. He is very protective/jealous of Bob.
That makes a difference. It is important for this particular behavior to be addressed. What I would do is not let him on the bed any longer, but on top of that, he would stay up with me, and go to bed when I did. It is a matter of moving the "control" from him to you..In a very subtle way, with no confrontation at all. Once that is under control I would graduate to him on the bed, if desired, but ONLY when invited. If you choose to use force or puishmnet it can very easily backfire...He will see all the more reason to "guard" and get on the defense. What you want to do is change his whole look at the scenerio, and make it relaxed and confortable for both of you...And Bob needs to support this transition. |
| Nicole, they do have an off leash class that uses shock collars for the training, but we absolutely do not believe in them, and won't sign up for that session. Bob & I also stressed we will not use prong collars ( I know alot of people swear by them, I just can't do it ). If I need to use an alternative collar I will use his Halti. Bob works evenings, but they will tape our sessions for him.
I have noticed if I go to bed at the same time or if Chauncey stays up with me, we don't have the grabbing and nipping that we have otherwise. |
Chauncey wrote: Nicole, they do have an off leash class that uses shock collars for the training, but we absolutely do not believe in them, and won't sign up for that session. Bob & I also stressed we will not use prong collars ( I know alot of people swear by them, I just can't do it ). If I need to use an alternative collar I will use his Halti. Bob works evenings, but they will tape our sessions for him.
I have noticed if I go to bed at the same time or if Chauncey stays up with me, we don't have the grabbing and nipping that we have otherwise. I am very happy to hear that you won't be hurting your baby. Gentler types may take longer, so you might get pressured into trying a quick fix, so be prepared...just say "NO".. If you get into a snag in a particualr area please feel free to PM me and I can try to help you.
If Chancey's behavior is only a problem when he is there before you arrive I would highly recommend to be consistent and keep it that way. Make sure he is "invited" up by you, but until then he stays down. This will become the way things are and he will get used to it. Consistency is key here. Often when undesireable behaviors are left to go unchecked they become the norm...not because we have a bad dog, but because it was allowed to continue and the dog doesn't know that there were any rules. My Dixie goes to bed with Don before me, and she often is hogging all my side. I need to move her over, or to the end of the bed, and she is fine with it, so far. But the very first time she even tries to give me any attitude she is off the bed until I let her come back on. Period. |
| the class we are going to does not use any harsh methods, just praise and food (not to sure about the food but am giving it a go) and I have started using a gentle leader on Dutch , makes it so much easier on me LOL . She does not do thing perfect (yet ) but she is only 4 months and we are learning
Good luck with your and Chaunceys classes |
| Not sure where your information comes from Bosley's Mom? The canine pack behavior is a one that has been researched and written about by the most expert of dog behaviorists. A 4 month old dog that is exhibiting the kind of behavior Jean describes should not be in the bed. That doesn't mean he can NEVER be in the bed again. It just means a 4 month OES needs to learn his place. In fact, most dogs want to know their "master" will take care of them and in fact do not want to be the alpha.
As far as shock collars, very few trainers use shock collars and they should never be used by anyone but a certified master trainer. The other training collars, like the slip collar, are actually stressful to a dogs throat and larynex then a flat buckle they are pulling on. Again, training collars should never be left on excpet for training, have to be put on correctly and should not be used without the guidance of a professional trainer. Happy training |
Quote: Not sure where your information comes from Bosley's Mom? The canine pack behavior is a one that has been researched and written about by the most expert of dog behaviorists.
Raymond Coppinger has some very interesting writings in this area. There was research done way back in the 40's has been disputed in the last decade as very inaccurate. There is really no such thing as a "dog pack". The closest to that is in third world countires where they dogs kind of hang around together, but certainly cannot be defined as a pack. There was some research done on wolves, that are not dogs, and it was not a family pack of wolves. Just a bunch of strange wolves together that had to get themselves sorted out. Not the same thing at all. There has been more current findings recently that dismiss that theory. But it is an old theory, that has deep roots and is out there everywhere, so very difficult to get eliminated. And canine pack behavior is different from human-canine behavior. We are not caninies, so do not enter into a "pack" definition. Just like cat or a bird would not be expected to learn how to be a canine. Dogs know we are not dogs....and I know I am not a dog...so me and my dogs are not a pack... I am in charge of my dogs, and they look to me for guidence, food, direction and resources, but I am not one of them. This type of view puts a different kind of spin on the dog-human relationship, and why we cannot expect them to think and behave the way we want them to....just because we think they should..when we could be wrong.... |
| You're right Nicole. Different theories for different people. Hey whatever works bests for each individual is what works best But, you know, sometimes I wish I was my dog! Having someone taking care of everything for me |
| Nicole, thanks for your offer, I will definitely take you up on it....Thanks again, Kathy |
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