Hey guys; feel free to linky me to the threads that answer my questions; I searched and couldn't find it; so here are my questions.
Dora is doing pretty good I think for a 7 mos. old mastiff (south african); however we've hit a sticky point and it might just be a growth stage.
She's got a bit uppity, wanting to be on furniture, sleep next to bed; whining to be out of her crate. (my fault; maybe I let her sleep next to me; have more freedom than she's ready for)
Obedience has gone downhill.
She looks away for recalls (may take 120 seconds to actually click on and stand up and meander over), can't do a finish to save her life, stands are like the tinman when rusty.
Sit and down are still fast. I'm upbeat in attitude, the food rewards are rockin' and she's very food driven. She still performs commands like I'm going to beat her (and no I haven't).
I'm going to go to a clicker; maybe there is simply too much going on in her head -- I am very careful not to nag; one command and wait. But maybe the clicker will make it easier to grasp - command; response, click (no good girl, good dog - maybe she can't handle too much information at this point) and a quicker reward.
She also performs better in class than she does at home; so maybe the dominance thing is kicking in.
I think I remember both my other dogs going through this; sticky responses; my old APBT and Kim.
Should I throw in more NILIF to help Dora want to respond?
I don't want to depress her more; but she seems to want to ignore me and pay more attention to anything except school (reminds me of my daughter).
I work with my trainer; so on Monday we will be talking to her; but since she exhibits very little of these behaviours in class; we may not be able to show exactly what is going on.
Suggestions are very welcome; Dora is going to be doing competition obedience and hopefully Schutzhund. Tracking training will begin in the Spring; but I would like to get her over this hump of mastiff disdain or unplugged brain.
Dora is doing pretty good I think for a 7 mos. old mastiff (south african); however we've hit a sticky point and it might just be a growth stage.
She's got a bit uppity, wanting to be on furniture, sleep next to bed; whining to be out of her crate. (my fault; maybe I let her sleep next to me; have more freedom than she's ready for)
Obedience has gone downhill.
She looks away for recalls (may take 120 seconds to actually click on and stand up and meander over), can't do a finish to save her life, stands are like the tinman when rusty.
Sit and down are still fast. I'm upbeat in attitude, the food rewards are rockin' and she's very food driven. She still performs commands like I'm going to beat her (and no I haven't).
I'm going to go to a clicker; maybe there is simply too much going on in her head -- I am very careful not to nag; one command and wait. But maybe the clicker will make it easier to grasp - command; response, click (no good girl, good dog - maybe she can't handle too much information at this point) and a quicker reward.
She also performs better in class than she does at home; so maybe the dominance thing is kicking in.
I think I remember both my other dogs going through this; sticky responses; my old APBT and Kim.
Should I throw in more NILIF to help Dora want to respond?
I don't want to depress her more; but she seems to want to ignore me and pay more attention to anything except school (reminds me of my daughter).
I work with my trainer; so on Monday we will be talking to her; but since she exhibits very little of these behaviours in class; we may not be able to show exactly what is going on.
Suggestions are very welcome; Dora is going to be doing competition obedience and hopefully Schutzhund. Tracking training will begin in the Spring; but I would like to get her over this hump of mastiff disdain or unplugged brain.