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Postby pitbullmamaliz » June 24th, 2011, 9:44 pm

Inara and I seem to have hit an impasse with our training. Not due to lack of skill, but because I can't trust her off-leash. She's totally ready for advanced rally signs, but even the 2nd level of rally and obedience stuff is off leash. Ginger and I were talking this evening and we feel she's kind of hit the max benefit from our Rally classes we've been taking. Ginger thinks I need to expand outwards, into new training places. That frightens me. It's very difficult finding good, positive trainers. And quite frankly, other places are really expensive ($140 for 6 weeks? Really?). And I like Ginger and her style of teaching.

I suggested to Ginger that maybe she can offer "semi-private sessions." Her normal rally classes have 6 dogs and are $85 for 6 weeks, so I said that maybe she can offer 3 week sessions, with only 3 dogs, for $85. It'd be a lot more individualized attention, and if we chose the dogs well we could do off-leash stuff w/o worrying. Once Inara got used to being off-leash around those 2 dogs, another dog could be added in. I'm not looking to get her playing with other dogs - I want her to IGNORE them entirely.

I may also just do some private sessions with Ginger out and about in the community, just for the change of scenery. We all know that dogs don't generalize, so I do maintain Inara's training elsewhere. It would be nice sometimes to have Ginger on walks in the park with me when other dogs are passing in close proximity. Not because I don't know what to do, but because my confidence increases with her around, :oops: .

Any other ideas for me as to break through this impasse? I'm going to start working hard with Inara on training/walking w/o relying on the leash to keep her by me, even outside. It will be on, of course, but only as an emergency measure. But while we're doing that, I want to DO something - classes, seminars, something.
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Postby TinaMartin » June 24th, 2011, 10:05 pm

Have you tried long line with her as an in between?
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Postby pitbullmamaliz » June 24th, 2011, 10:09 pm

That's what I'm going to start doing at home and out on walks. Unfortunately I can't do that in class just because she'd be able to get to another dog even with the long line.
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Postby mnp13 » June 24th, 2011, 10:11 pm

What about a shark line? Ultra light weight line that they pretty much can't feel?
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Postby pitbullmamaliz » June 24th, 2011, 10:23 pm

I'm pretty confident in how to go about transitioning to off-leash work, but I know it's going to take a while to make her trustworthy. I just don't know what kind of structured class activity to do in the meantime to keep us both sharp.
"Remember - every time your dog gets somewhere on a tight leash *a fairy dies and it's all your fault.* Think of the fairies." http://www.positivepetzine.com"

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Postby TheRedQueen » June 26th, 2011, 7:55 pm

Have any Nosework classes around?
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Postby pitbullmamaliz » June 26th, 2011, 8:01 pm

No - that's actually what I'd really like to try next. One of the part-time instructors at my training place occasionally offers a 2 part nosework seminar but there isn't one scheduled.
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Postby furever_pit » June 26th, 2011, 8:52 pm

What about weightpull?
I know that classes aren't typically offered but I know of a few groups of bulldog owners that just get together and train.

Is there any lure coursing scheduled in your area?

You can start some nosework on your own. Joanne Plumb has some great information on tracking for Sch and it is something you could totally do on your own. Or if you can contact a police or military trainer in the area (some sport trainers have a background in detection as well) you may be able to have them work with you on narcotic or bomb detection.
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Postby pitbullmamaliz » June 26th, 2011, 8:55 pm

We tried weight pull and she didn't like it. She would pull stuff, but not happily.

Not sure I've ever seen lure coursing offered. I'd love to see Inara try it but I'd be hesitant to let her off leash and get all that worked up. But she'd be fast. :)

Narcotic or bomb detection would be very cool. Would they teach a civilian and her dog though?
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Postby furever_pit » June 26th, 2011, 9:15 pm

I don't see why they wouldn't get you started in detection. I got my start with a few police/military vendors that I had met through FR. You'll just need to find someone who is authorized to have narcotics or explosives. Or you can go the pseudo route.
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Postby Hundilein » June 26th, 2011, 9:32 pm

You can totally do Nose Work on your own. I went to a workshop on it (official "K9 Nose Work", that is) a few months ago and I've messed around with it with Renee and Vixen. I'll see if I can get some video next time I practice. It is loosely based on detection training, but you train them to find essential oils rather than drugs or explosives. You actually start out having the dog find either food or a toy that the dog goes nuts over. It's really pretty neat stuff. I know you're looking for more of a class setting, but if you want to have fun on your own in the mean time, you should totally go for it!
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Postby amalie79 » June 28th, 2011, 9:59 am

Have you seen this? It's virtual agility for dogs who have trouble in group settings. Our trainer is looking at becoming a facility for it. I'm going to post it in a separate thread... I know you really want class things, but I thought it was an interesting idea. Something to do with Robin while we continue to work on her reactivity/fear. She's terrified of the agility equipment, so I need to work on it separately first, and this would be a nice opportunity.

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Postby mnp13 » June 29th, 2011, 11:40 am

pitbullmamaliz wrote:I'm pretty confident in how to go about transitioning to off-leash work, but I know it's going to take a while to make her trustworthy. I just don't know what kind of structured class activity to do in the meantime to keep us both sharp.


That's what I mean - do regular classes, but with the shark line as a backup. Even if you do "lower level" classes when all of the other dogs are on leash, but with her only with that.

Riggs used to behave in a class of 10, off leash, and was quite trustworthy (not that I ever actually did trust him!) but it took a while. I just had to make sure I was far more interesting than the other dogs, and the occasional tail grab came in handy! lol
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Postby pitbullmamaliz » June 30th, 2011, 12:03 pm

:doh: Duh! I didn't even think about that. I just kept thinking to myself "a long line won't work in class because the room is long and skinny and she'd be able to reach the close dogs" but it finally registered that I can hold the shark line at a normal leash length so she couldn't go anywhere but wouldn't realize she isn't on leash. I'm going to do this again, just because I need to: :doh:

Now that my brain has turned on, where can I find shark line? And I assume I would need gloves to handle it unless I want shredded hands when she lunges at a dog?
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Postby mnp13 » June 30th, 2011, 12:20 pm

mine all have a small wooden toggle at the end for the handle.
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Postby pitbullmamaliz » June 30th, 2011, 12:55 pm

Where'd you find 'em?
"Remember - every time your dog gets somewhere on a tight leash *a fairy dies and it's all your fault.* Think of the fairies." http://www.positivepetzine.com"

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Postby mnp13 » June 30th, 2011, 2:38 pm

http://www.dog-training.com/ppdogequip.htm

That's not where I got them, but that's what I have.
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Postby pitbullmamaliz » June 30th, 2011, 2:43 pm

Thanks!
"Remember - every time your dog gets somewhere on a tight leash *a fairy dies and it's all your fault.* Think of the fairies." http://www.positivepetzine.com"

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Postby pitbullmamaliz » June 30th, 2011, 5:47 pm

"Remember - every time your dog gets somewhere on a tight leash *a fairy dies and it's all your fault.* Think of the fairies." http://www.positivepetzine.com"

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