tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101438868458660054.post8260790671373895894..comments2024-03-04T06:54:50.622-06:00Comments on Reactive Champion: Denise Fenzi Seminar: Work is a PrivilegeCrystal (Thompson) Barrerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01738188430244886019noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101438868458660054.post-67240478743088306962011-07-26T20:21:39.233-05:002011-07-26T20:21:39.233-05:00DENISE- And herein lies the difference between the...DENISE- And herein lies the difference between the teacher of a seminar and the student. ;)<br /><br />Your point about switching between brainy and brawny exercises is really nice- it makes a lot of sense to me. <br /><br />MEGS- If I had a dollar for every time I said, "Why didn't I think of that?" I'd be rich.Crystal (Thompson) Barrerahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01738188430244886019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101438868458660054.post-11078204930639453302011-07-26T19:54:47.375-05:002011-07-26T19:54:47.375-05:00Thanks for the idea Crystal. It is an hour long cl...Thanks for the idea Crystal. It is an hour long class, and although we do some breaks in the crate (while other dogs are running), I am usually working her a little while she's in the crate because she can be reactive in there, so I'm going to start taking her outside for a few breaks and see if that helps any. I feel sort of silly, like, "I should have thought of that!" and I'm willing to bet it will help.<br /><br />Also, your post on choosing the right tug toy, I'm still talking about it to people. I finally got Roxy to tug with me by picking a longer more "bunny-like" toy, so I am really excited to start using that in training, as well. I'm hoping it'll help make agility more fun overall so she's more engaged in general.megshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00016428980492161438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101438868458660054.post-1827399009349389622011-07-26T19:43:50.211-05:002011-07-26T19:43:50.211-05:00FWIW, I've never met a dog that didn't ben...FWIW, I've never met a dog that didn't benefit from being challenged. Even the softest, most fragile dog wants to use his brain, if the activity is presented in a way that is interesting and in small enough increments that the dog can succeed. There is a world of difference between challenging a dog and overfacing him. It's the trainer's job to figure out what's an appropriate challenge for a given dog. For some dogs an appropriate challenge might be teaching something relatively simple (like sit) and then offering new challenges to that (can you sit on a dog bed? On a plank? On a metal platform? When other dogs are nearby? And for other dogs, it might make more sense to move on to a whole new exercise - let's work on "down", for example. And as a personal aside, I find dogs enjoy their work best if it alternates between clicker training (dog does the thinking) and work with more active movement or handler involvement (heeling, recalls, fetch, etc.). Each build up their own type of stress, and switching to the other eliminates much of it.<br />Regardless, I'd agree that short sessions are far superior to full length classes with a bored and distracted dog.Denisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16293127126317475938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101438868458660054.post-37535468801167664662011-07-26T17:23:49.498-05:002011-07-26T17:23:49.498-05:00So true, Christine. I think I picked up on and emp...So true, Christine. I think I picked up on and emphasized Denise's point about "challenging" dogs because I do have one of those smart dogs, and because I'm not good at raising criteria.Crystal (Thompson) Barrerahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01738188430244886019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101438868458660054.post-56959864568307110612011-07-26T15:09:46.846-05:002011-07-26T15:09:46.846-05:00I think that figuring out if you need to expect mo...I think that figuring out if you need to expect more or expect less is one of the facets of dog training that is an art.<br /><br />I have several dogs who are crazy smart and motivated and I have to up my criteria quickly and we move forward quickly.<br /><br />But, as I have only too recently realized, I have a couple of other dogs who just turn off if I up the criteria too quickly. <br /><br />So, figuring out what each dog needs is important--there is no "one size fits all" solution in dogtraining--and you have to be experiment to see what works best with each dog.Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08604222824925980526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101438868458660054.post-89704673474331486522011-07-26T09:28:26.897-05:002011-07-26T09:28:26.897-05:00I completely agree, K9, that you don't want to...I completely agree, K9, that you don't want to challenge a dog to the point that he gets frustrated. I think Denise would, too. Perhaps I didn't make that clear, but it's what I was trying to point out when I wrote that you need to watch your dog for stress and give him a break before he disengages. Denise actually really likes the GMAB game, but I think she would say that when you're using it, you should raise your criteria quickly during the work sessions.Crystal (Thompson) Barrerahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01738188430244886019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101438868458660054.post-31530040923713606992011-07-26T08:55:51.912-05:002011-07-26T08:55:51.912-05:00I would be very careful by pushing/challenging a d...I would be very careful by pushing/challenging a dog as you mentioned. I much prefer Leslie McDevitt's approach to keeping training sessions short and ending before the dog 'gets bored' leaving him/her wanting more. Denise's approach to challenging a dog doesn't work with a lot of dogs. Some hit their frustration point and learning could stop at that point. Also...Susan Garrett brings up a point that if your dog disengages from you and wants to investigate other things or looks bored - then there is another issue going on. Not enough value with you the 'trainer' in moderate distraction areas.K9Partnershiphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04203491268788289406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101438868458660054.post-24993379437553563622011-07-26T08:03:13.174-05:002011-07-26T08:03:13.174-05:00Megs, my immediate thought is that an hour long cl...Megs, my immediate thought is that an hour long class might just be too long, especially since you describe her as getting tired mid-way through class. When we had our working spots with Denise, none of us worked our dogs longer than 20 minutes, and even 10 was a long time for some dogs. <br /><br />I'm not sure what your class is like, but you might consider ways to give her a very clear break at class- a crate maybe, or even going out to potty.Crystal (Thompson) Barrerahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01738188430244886019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101438868458660054.post-5948932314939406522011-07-25T12:24:26.459-05:002011-07-25T12:24:26.459-05:00LOVE it ... do it with Brody (I think)
He isn'...LOVE it ... do it with Brody (I think) <br />He isn't allowed to work unless he wants to work and has that ever helped him pick up his RPMs:)andreahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08911146116540091798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101438868458660054.post-42736265671458018192011-07-25T09:02:17.248-05:002011-07-25T09:02:17.248-05:00I think this idea is definitely an interesting one...I think this idea is definitely an interesting one and quite possibly could help Roxy and I. We have been doing agility and there are some days that I can see she is definitely going through the motions. She gets "tired" mid-way through class, but the energy level is there. The second we leave the building or when we get home, she is running around with the other dogs or off in the yard hunting for and chasing squirrels with a lot more enthusiasm than she had in class. Prior to class, I ask if she wants to go to school, and she gets all sorts of wiggly and excited. So the reality check for me is that Roxy is probably bored, or just going through the motions to some extent.<br /><br />I'd love to try something different and this idea of treating work as a privilege could be a great place to start. What exactly does one do in order to make this type of transition -- is it as simple as not training unless the dog is very engaged and having fun? Or is there more to it?megshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00016428980492161438noreply@blogger.com