help! any obedience trainers out there?!

[beth2]

thanks furlongs. read the article and we live it everyday. LOL.

Miya is a stinkin' smart, friendly, fun, goofy, pushy, headstrong girl who deep down wants to be in charge. She is ALL aussie! LOL!!!!!

So , she is the last to come in and out the door, last to be acknowledged when we arrive home, even over the cat, last to be fed, has to earn every treat or bone given to her, has to get up and move when we walk in the room if she is in the way, etc etc.....we have to because she is so rambuxious for one and this helps keep her in control of herself and also because in the past she has challenged us with a growl: not wanting to be corrected, not wanting to give up a bone, not wanting to move from "her spot" under my husbands' legs, etc...now she has to lay in a designated spot that we chose for her. Now she gives up food, bones, toys etc without trouble, and is even apologetic at times when she knows she has done wrong.

 

[Jynx]

beth, I find my aussies anyhow, to be such a different type of dog than I grew up, I have always had the gsd's, which to me, were soooo easy to train, so "into" me.

Don't get me wrong my aussies are to, but in a different way, they are more
"I'll do it but whats in it for me?" and I have also found, if there is something they do NOT want to do, they stick to their guns ..

As doberluv posted about her hiking w/her dogs checking on everyone, my herders do that to,,they are always "checking in"...they don't have to be on top of me, as long as I'm in site ..

I would continue doing what your doing, I have always found with ALL my dogs, short fast training sessions with lots of play, rewards whatever in between make things much more interesting for them..To much repetition and they start to shut down and will downright refuse,,they get bored with repetition. I , at one point, did use a martingale collar on Jynx, but switched back to flat buckle,,it doesn't take much for them to "get it"..You might want to try a martingale.

Congrats on the win,,those aussies definately keep things lively
diane

 

[beth2]

thanks for the input and encouragement. yes aussies are amazing and boy they are sometimes too smart for their own good....knowing they dont have to if they choose not to....urg! My first dog was like that. She hated obedience work and I was in 4H at the time showing her, or trying to. she was smart enough to know she didnt have to heel off leash once in the ring with the judge and she would just stop and sit and watch me do the patturn alone! She looked so pleased with herself!! Needless to say she was great in the junior handler competitions...I could bait her. when she got loose outside she would hide and I would look for her sometimes for an hour...I would eventually find her...jsut a couple yards away ducked down under a bush or in the tall grasses...when Id find her she would dash off to where I had originally called her from and look soooo smug and happy with herself!
Once she lost her hearing and she had to rely on me she became the best dog Ive ever owned!!! LOL!

I took Miya to two of her very favorite parks tonight alone without the family. She was absolutely perfect on a loose leash the whole time and heeled for me when asked....I did use hotdogs...which we had phased out awhile back...but will start again.
She got her reward of running free and swimming to her hearts content...and was so thankful for it.
now to "bring in the family"......let cha know how it goes.

just a high light of how good she can be: when I let her loose to go and run she dashed into the woods...suddenly she met up with a deer and since it ran she ran after it...it was her first deer,,,I called her and she came without any trouble...she can be such an awesome dog...

 

[beth2]

update: took her out to the park and lake tonight this time with the kids.
Went with hotdogs in hand and a prong collar for a backup. She was near excellent for her loose leash walk at the park despite her excitement and concern for her family's location. Only needed a prong collar on to remind her to take her leash walking seriously...got lots and lots of praise and hotdogs. We were able to switch out the prong for her regular training collar after a few minutes. She stayed undercontrol and got the reward of running free.

We then upped the distraction and went to the lake ( a number one exciting area for her) She got one pop of the prong and she was again near perfect for a loose lead walk then heeling excersizes with my husband. She earned her freedom and swam her heart out....I am so pleased....

we went with a prong because I had read about dogs bolting ahead suddenly with a gentle leader on and snapping their heads back sharply....didnt want to risk it...and miya did that tonight she bolted for the water when I wasnt ready for her and she hit the end of the leash full force and got herself a sharp correction from the prong...she walked in complete control of herself from then on...and we were able to switch back to her nylon slip collar too. If she had been wearing a gentle leader type harness she would have snapped her head back pretty good...the lightest weight prong was the best choice so far for miya and our needs. I hate using them, but Im glad we have it for now. Miya is responding well.