CGC Testing Next Week!
I'm so nervous!!  The only test I'm nervous about him passing is handing him off to a stranger while I walk away. Wendel is very attached, I hope he does well!! |
|
|
| Erin... I think that is most difficult part of the whole test for the CGC!! But, I am sure you have been practicing in the obedience class you have been attending. Have faith in Wendel and yourself!!!! I am sure you will both do GREAT!!!!! Just a reminder....don't forget to BREATH!!!! and (try to ) relax as you are going though the various 'stages'. And of course all of us here will be keeping all our fingers, toes, paws, crossed....  for both of you!!! And don't forget to let us know the minute you pass!!!!  |
Aaaawww, hey, thanks Val!  I really appreciate your support!! I'm so nervous, I really, REALLY want him to do well. I know if he weren't to pass, it would probably be my fault for not being more diligent with our training  |
| With my first therapy dog, Millie..boy!! did I practice..alot!!! Then Pearl...more than normal but not enough like with Millie... Now...Heart... Not near enough as I should have, but Heart is different in a way that she can 'read' me better than the others, so I have to be very aware of calming myself down (which of course I am still working on..  )..I find if I am calmer and more settled, so is she!! You will do GREAT!!!! I just have a feeling... Cuz Wendel is destined to be a therapy dog..I know you know it in your heart and soul. He will do such wonderful work and will make the people he visits feel better both mentally and spiritually....An Angel with a Tail!!!!  |
| Good luck Erin! Try and remind yourself this is all common sense stuff and of course you 2 can do it! Think positive and you will do it |
| Yesterday was our final Obedience class; of our original class of ten only four dogs showed. My original instructor was out so we had a new trainer. I remember her from the Kennel Club Obedience trials. She was amazing! Her dogs were trained amazingly well. I thought to myself that Obedience trials were impressive. One command and the dog did it  She had us practice all the items on the CGC test.. and boy was she TOUGH! She told me that Wendel wasn't sitting quickly enough from our heel position. Wendel does sit and yes, it's more of an easing into the sit position. I guess I'll have to work on that I'm so happy though, he did the supervised separation without any difficulty! My trainer asked to have my dogs lead and for me to leave the room before I even knew what was happening. Wendel just stood there and waited by my instructor. He was looking out the door where I was, but he didn't cry or become upset. (I think it was too warm for him to really care).I also have to work on our left and right about turns... I guess I have been pulling the lead tight when we turned and I need to coax him along with the lead slack. This is great news, I'm so happy!!  |
| WHOO---HOO!!! Wendel!!!!! ((and Erin too!!))) Now you know for next week what to practice..Right/about turns are hard but practicing does make a difference!!!! As far at quick auto sits??? I think most of our sheepies are a little slow on this until they get that there will be a great high dollar TREAT for a quick sit!!!!!  Good Luck ~~Keep us posted!!!! |
| Sounds like you guys are on track Keep practicing, just short run thru's each day, so it stays fresh and fun for Wendel. These guys are very much known for getting sick of the repetition and deciding to stop - "I did this twice already - no more! |
| Nice "practice run" Erin. You will do great I am sure. Can't wait for the real test. got sheep wrote: These guys are very much known for getting sick of the repetition and deciding to stop - "I did this twice already - no more! Unless of course there are treats involved. Then they can work forever.  |
The test is TODAY!!!!  I'm so NERVOUS!! Wish Wendel and I luck, we've been practicing hard! |
| Where the heck is the nailbiting emoticon..... ...so I will just use this one......  ..............AND this one....................  We will be with you in Spirit!!!!!!! .....You both will do GGGGGGGGGGGGGGREAT~~~~~ |
| Good luck!!! |
| We failed! He was doing SO well, too! He did everything well except supervised separation. Within seconds of me leaving the room Wendel began to cry and whimper. The instructor was VERY supportive and said that he did very well and the last part was the hardest of the test. She said to just continue to work on it and we'll pass next time. I'm so disappointed... darn it... why can't Wendel love me less for the three minutes for the test! |
| ok....you didn't FAIL!!!!!!! You PASSED all the required exercises..except one.....just one!!!!! Just means you need to find ways to be separated from Wendel in different enviroments so he will know...that you WILL be back ALWAYS!!!!! That's all!!! Give Wendel a huge slurpy sheepie....  from Heart....(the great thing about the CGC is you can always try again!!!!))))  |
sheepieshake wrote: ok....you didn't FAIL!!!!!!! You PASSED all the required exercises..except one.....just one!!!!! Exactly! You can work on this and he will get good at it. It is very sweet, really. |
Valerie wrote: sheepieshake wrote: ok....you didn't FAIL!!!!!!! You PASSED all the required exercises..except one.....just one!!!!! Exactly! You can work on this and he will get good at it. It is very sweet, really. aw darn...but I know you can overcome this one small hurdle! |
| Well kick me but I'm wrapped!! Wendel is going to be a GREAT therapy dog, he has just proved himself to be a very people oriented, connected dog. Like the instructor said all that is needed now is just a little more work to get him (or is it you ) confident with a short separation.I havent even tried with Tiggy yet, she still thinks everyone wants her to jump on them when they meet. Wendel is too in tune with people to be so uncouth. |
| Thanks for all the positive support... I sure do need it right now! I'm not upset with Wendel, how on Earth could I be! The only thing he was guilty of was loving me so much he was afraid that I left him! He did everything else, very well, and has improved TREMENDOUSLY! He walks on a loose lead like a pro now; something we were unable to do prior to taking our class. I'll have to find out when the next test is and then work, work, work! |
| So, I'm trying to figure out... What do you recommend the best method for teaching supervised separation would be? I was thinking about having co-workers help me (which, I've had a surprising amount willing to help out!). Should I see if I can take him to their home and practice in a room in their home? How did YOU train your dog to accept the separation? Any tricks or advise would be AMAZING! |
| Not that I am doing any sort of structured training but Bella and I have a game we play. Hide and seek or Hide and hide. I am sure it is not for as long as you need, I think you said 3 mins, but when we are outside we play. I put her in a sit or down and walk away, hide behind a bush a tree or whatever I can find. Sometimes I wait and call her to see if she can find where I am hiding and other times I just go back and see how well she held (still in the sit or down)... I am up to about 1 min. Since she thinks of it as a game she doesn't seem to whine or get antsy. I am sure others will have better ideas but with have fun and I am very low key in the training department. |
| Another thing you can do is reward positive behavior. This technique is known as a positive reinforcer. Start with a simple stay (in a sit, down or whatever works). Walk away, but return and treat him (or pet, whatever works to reward him in a calm way) while he still is being quiet, then walk away again. As he figures this out, you can increase the amount of time (and distance) away. Seeing you are using this for the handler out of sight, you could have someone hold him, and make the reward be for quiet, not a perfect stay. Or it will work for both (stay and quiet), if you want to! I did this last year for the sit stay w/ Chewie. I had abused the sit, when he was sitting in the middle of the ring while I was teaching. He would slide into a down, and I wouldn't notice....... So I used the simple reward, catching him being good. Worked like a charm! |
Didn't find exactly what you're looking for? Search again here:
Custom Search
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|