I have a confession...

maxfox426

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#1
... I have not been keeping up with Morgan's leash training.

*cries*

After all that work I was doing, all the progress he made, all the great advice I've received from you guys ... and a few weeks ago I just stopped.

It started when I was sick. I had a bad sinus infection for two days and just couldn't bring myself to do anything. But since then, I just never picked back up with his training.

Right now, I am really kicking myself.

Of course, I am getting right back on it, now that I've realized how long I let this lapse. Now I am just terrified to find out how much progress we have lost by me not doing my job.

This is an almost entirely pointless post, but I've been feeling terribly guilty about it. I just had to get it off my chest.
 
R

RedyreRottweilers

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#2
Most trainers go through these periods.

We shall not discuss why Penny is not competing for or already earned her CDX, mmkay?

:D

He's very young, just start again and have fun.
 

maxfox426

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#3
Most trainers go through these periods.

We shall not discuss why Penny is not competing for or already earned her CDX, mmkay?

:D

He's very young, just start again and have fun.

Thanks, Red. It's still rough, though, just because I'm a perfectionist and I really had the best intentions, and yet I still dropped the ball. However, I feel a little better hearing this from you. :)

Just out of curiousity... what does CDX mean?
 
R

RedyreRottweilers

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#4
CDX is the Open obedience title. The intermediate level.

Heel free and figure 8.
Drop on recall
Retrieve on the flat
Retrieve over the high jump
Broad jump

Stays are with handlers out of sight.
3 minute sit
5 minute down

You must pass each exercise with a total score of 170 or better out of a possible 200 points, and you must do it 3 times to earn the title.
 

maxfox426

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#5
CDX is the Open obedience title. The intermediate level.

Heel free and figure 8.
Drop on recall
Retrieve on the flat
Retrieve over the high jump
Broad jump

Stays are with handlers out of sight.
3 minute sit
5 minute down

You must pass each exercise with a total score of 170 or better out of a possible 200 points, and you must do it 3 times to earn the title.
Neat! I really would like to get Morgan to do something like that... or at least get him his CGC... Guess I'd better get back to work!!

Oh, and this morning I took him back out for a 20 minute walk. He didn't seem to lose too much... pretty inconsistent, but towards the end he was doing an okay "heel". Still needs a lot more practice, and now that I've learned my lesson, he'll get just that. :)
 

skittledoo

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#6
Red is right... most anyone if not all people who are training their dogs go through these periods... I'm still in a funk with Bamm's training right now. He's just been driving me nuts because he doesn't want to listen at all lately. I feel like I'm doing more harm then good because I spend more time yelling at him to get off the couch because he's not allowed up unless invited... or to not chew on the cats legs... or to not eat the cat's food... or to not do this or that... I've spent so much time trying to stop him from doing the negative things that I haven't been spending as much time focusing on the positive things he does if that makes sense... so I've just been in a super funk with his training...
 

maxfox426

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#7
Red is right... most anyone if not all people who are training their dogs go through these periods... I'm still in a funk with Bamm's training right now. He's just been driving me nuts because he doesn't want to listen at all lately. I feel like I'm doing more harm then good because I spend more time yelling at him to get off the couch because he's not allowed up unless invited... or to not chew on the cats legs... or to not eat the cat's food... or to not do this or that... I've spent so much time trying to stop him from doing the negative things that I haven't been spending as much time focusing on the positive things he does if that makes sense... so I've just been in a super funk with his training...
Oh, I hear ya. These past few weeks have been purely my own lack of motivation, but in the past I have definitely had those days where I just want to look Morgan in the eyes and scream, "WHY CAN'T YOU DO ANYTHING RIGHT????"

I haven't, of course, but man oh man I've wanted to.
 

skittledoo

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#8
last night was a good example...

I sit down on the couch. He jumps up. I tell him to get down because he's only allowed on the couch when invited up. He gets down and chases Goober... he likes to nom nom on Goober's back legs, but I don't allow that so I tell him to leave the cat alone and come here. He doesn't listen so I say it louder. He comes running over to me and will sit with me for a minute but then gets right back up and goes after the cat again. He loves the cat and the cat does taunt him back all the time... but when I say come here and leave the cat alone he needs to learn to listen to me and stay until I tell him he can play.

Then he hopped on the couch again and kept putting his paw on my head. He acts like he thinks it's a cute game and I'll admit it is cute... but also annoying because I'll put his paw down and he'll put his paw right back on my head with a huge smile on his face. Brat...

then on the leash... oh my.... he used to be great on the leash... unless he saw another dog or a squirrel or something... but lately he's a freak on the leash. He sees a tree that's like 5 feet away and decides "oh I am soooo going to pee on that tree" so he'll get down low to the ground and pull with all his might to try and get to that tree... in my mind I'm saying, "if you want to pee on that tree... can't you just wait till we get to it?" but no...

Then he gets really nervous around some strangers. Others he's fine with and will just whine when he sees them because he's so excited... but sometimes when we're out for a walk he'll see someone else walking and growl at them....

we have a long ways to go as far as training is concerned... I knew this adopting a dog that had kinks to straighten out... but... though having a reactive dog can be really hard sometimes... it's so rewarding whenever we overcome any challenges in our training.
 

adojrts

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#9
I agree, happens to most of us. Although there are folks that are OCD when it comes to training, I think those are few and far between.
I know it really helps to keep a training journal and in my opinion one the important things to add to those journals is to list nothing less than 3 positive things that went RIGHT in your training. People tend to focus to much on the what went wrong or didn't happen and that applies to training and competing. And it doesn't have to be huge things either but something like an amazing fast sit or down, one incrediable recall, that one lightening fast contact for agility or that perfect heel that only lasted for 8 ft etc.
The positives will keep you motivated especially if you highlight them.
 

maxfox426

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#10
I agree, happens to most of us. Although there are folks that are OCD when it comes to training, I think those are few and far between.
I know it really helps to keep a training journal and in my opinion one the important things to add to those journals is to list nothing less than 3 positive things that went RIGHT in your training. People tend to focus to much on the what went wrong or didn't happen and that applies to training and competing. And it doesn't have to be huge things either but something like an amazing fast sit or down, one incrediable recall, that one lightening fast contact for agility or that perfect heel that only lasted for 8 ft etc.
The positives will keep you motivated especially if you highlight them.
That is a really good idea! Thanks! :D

I wish I had this idea sooner... it would have been nice to have pages to put in his puppy scrapbook. :p
 

skittledoo

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#11
The training journal is actually a REALLY good idea. I had one a little while back and just set it aside which was dumb on my part... I may pick it up again... I also want to set myself some new objectives and my plans on how to try and work towards achieving them...

I obviously really want to work on the major important things like his leash manners, heel work, reactivity, etc...

But I think one big thing we've been running into is I'm focusing sooooo much of my attention on trying to fix the behavior issues and wearing myself down that I haven't been teaching him anything fun as well.

Maybe if I also include a couple fun tricks for him to learn as well it'll help make training sessions less stressful maybe???
 

maxfox426

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#12
Maybe if I also include a couple fun tricks for him to learn as well it'll help make training sessions less stressful maybe???
That actually is one thing I have always tried to do... I am always trying to be sure I have one "fun" trick to work on at the same time we are doing all of the manners stuff in training. I think Morgan picks up on the fact that things like "shake hands" and "roll over" are WAY more fun than "heel" and "stay", because I often feel the same way. It's easier to teach/learn the fun stuff, and it helps boost my motivation to do the harder, more serious stuff, too.
 

adojrts

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#14
Another thing that I think is critical, use a timer (on a watch or an egg timer).
Set it for just few minutes, I usually set mine for 5 mins. You would be amazed at what you can get done in 5 mins. And when it rings, you are done. No matter what has happened or whether you are successful or not. Finishing on a good note is great, BUT it can often have its downside as well, creating stress and that JUST ONE MORE to end on a good note.
So what happens when JUST ONE MORE goes for a crap??? Now what?? For me it still ends, I can always find something that my dog does well and is happy doing, even if its just a sit or focus. With this method you avoid drilling and burn out and leave your self and more importantly your dog wanting to do more.
Petie actually HATES to leave the agility ring, in his opinion we don't train enough lol. Given a choice he'll sit down and not leave the ring (not an option lol) but it guanantees that the next time we train he is more than willing and ready.

Remember when you were in school?? If you were having a problem learning something and the teacher was working with you, if the bell rang and class was done, the attitude was you would continue the lesson the next day.........not getting it right at that moment, staying longer or finishing on a good note.
In my opinion, finishing on a good note is stopping before I get discouraged or frustrated too :D
 

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#16
Same here...we're going through somewhat of a rut, too. The timer sounds like a really good idea! I know our trainer has emphasized what you can get done in five-minute periods, and I just seem to put it off some days...much easier to play with her...:p
 

Gena

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#17
But I think one big thing we've been running into is I'm focusing sooooo much of my attention on trying to fix the behavior issues and wearing myself down that I haven't been teaching him anything fun as well.

Maybe if I also include a couple fun tricks for him to learn as well it'll help make training sessions less stressful maybe???
I've found with Pedro that he is more of a brat if I don't do any training at all for a couple of days. I think he's simply bored out of his mind LOL! There are days I feel like all I have done is said "knock it off!" "leave the dang cats alone!" "don't eat my shoes" "get out of the trash" etc etc etc. Then I realize...we've not done ANY training sessions in a while. I kind of look at it like him telling me to get off my butt and DO something with him. He's less bratty and I'm less stressed if I just take 5 or 10 minutes and work with him. It doesn't have to be anything important like heeling or staying. 10 minutes of targeting is enough to work his brain a little bit...and targeting is fun for both of us. Then I get to enjoy being around him again :)
 

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