trainer shaming

[Fran101]

I haven't devoted the time to training that I should have after his basic manners, and now it's time to kind of deal lol I signed up for a fenzi class and we found ourselves in BASIC FUNDAMENTALS Which for a dog that has had the sheer AMOUNT of professional trainer hours poured into him was like ooof (and trust me, it isn't their fault lol)

Merlin knows a lot, he just doesn't know a lot perfectly and I've gotten lazy with playing training games with him and we are just so rusty.
And boy was that a tough pill to swallow because to most people, Merlin is a well trained dog (he doesn't jump or bark, he waits, he does tricks, he settles down)

I did the bad thing, the bad thing that super cool dog owners with herding breeds aren't supposed to do where they teach their dog how to be polite good house pets....and then get LAZY, and training begins to lull...

And to accept that he's had every advantage and it's because of ME and my lack of practicing with him and doing the "boring stuff" like proofing and adding distance and distractions.... that we have kind of fallen in a rut...sucked.

So today training taught me that you are never too good to work on sit :rofl1:
It feels so good to be working with him again properly, even just on basics, and going back to do things right...it just feels so shameful! LOL so that's my trainer shame of the day. Feel free to share yours or commiserate with mine

 

[meepitsmeagan]

I've had my puppy for almost a week and she knows nothing except how to behave in the crate. >.<

We have been on several trips, getting the hang on pottying outside, and network, but yeah. Nothing too structured. I haven't even touched the other two outside of fun stuff in several months.

 

[PWCorgi]

My puppy is 18 months old and we are working on HOUSEBREAKING.

I think I win this.

She hasn't had an accident in over 3 weeks though!

 

[BostonBanker]

she knows nothing except how to behave in the crate. >.<

That impresses me more than almost anything else. Good crate behavior is seriously one of my biggest priorities.

My dogs have been doing a whole lot of hiking and walking lately, and pretty much nothing else. I have a list of about 6 things I want to focus on this summer with Gusto, and I haven't touched a single one of them. I'm hoping the list is enough to get it done without any actual effort on my part.

 

[Finkie_Mom]

Jari greets people by attempting (and sometimes succeeding) to rebound off of their stomachs. Yeah. He also STILL can't contain himself seeing other dogs while we are working.

Sometimes I feel like I shouldn't be teaching training classes, but then the dogs I work with/teach can do it all just fine so that makes me feel better. It's just my own dogs that struggle apparently.

 

[meepitsmeagan]

That impresses me more than almost anything else. Good crate behavior is seriously one of my biggest priorities.

Husband works third and I have homework, so it's pretty crucial here. Plus prepping for trials. She caught on quick which was nice. I'm not worried about it too much. We are just kind of having fun and learning each other for a few weeks. I've got several years to worry about serious stuff. I regret not spending more of Harlow's puppy years that way.

 

[Southpaw]

Ew proofing is the worst.

Which is why I pretty much just don't do it.

 

[*blackrose]

Abrams is almost 14 months. And he knows....nothing. He knows the very minimum basics, and those aren't proofed. At all. I am a horrible person.

He can sit. Down. Hold attention. His stay is amazing. He knows his name pretty darn well, too. And his crate manners are impeccable when in my own home. But that's about it. LOL

 

[sassafras]

Hahahaha I have a Squash. And while when he's in certain contexts he is "ON," in everyday life his manners aren't always so good.

 

[Julee]

I haven't worked on anything new since I've been home. Whoops.

 

[noludoru]

What don't I have to be ashamed about?

 

[LostAndConfused]

Hudsons don't need training. Hudsons do what they want.

 

[Elrohwen]

I go to dog shows and easily have the most wild dog there (at least in the groups I hang with). He knows lots of things and we've done a million classes, but he only does them when you make him, and then only for a short time. "Sit? Ok, I've got this. Sitting is so easy. Omg another dog!!!!" He's a wild child. He also sat in the conformation ring and during a photo with th judge, partially because I never train him for confo stuff and partially because when he's done, he's done and you can't make him. His breeder tried to sell it as him being an "obedience dog" which cracked me up.

In public most people seem to think he's better behaved than their own dogs, so I guess I haven't completely failed him. It's just in dog circles that we get "the look" from the other owners and trainers.

 

[teacuptiger]

Uh... my dog is FIVE YEARS OLD, I've had her since two months before she turned 1, and she still cannot be alone in a crate.

I win this.

 

[katielou]

Abe's are always practically perfect in every way *cough*

 

[Elrohwen]

Uh... my dog is FIVE YEARS OLD, I've had her since two months before she turned 1, and she still cannot be alone in a crate.

I win this.

Oh yeah, I have a big time crate screamer. He will settle at home, when he's tired, after about an hour of barking (no barking if he's left loose, only in the crate). He barks much longer in different places or if he's in an active mood - we got out on Wednesday nights and I've watched him (via webcam) bark for 4 hours. I've gotten him to the point where he's very good in a crate at shows if I sit next to it, but he will scream if I move even 15ft away. I've had him since 8 weeks and we've worked on the crate since day 1. Thank goodness he doesn't hurt himself or try to get out - he just faces the corner and barks.

 

[teacuptiger]

Roxie broke out of her metal crate (and broke a tooth!). She's fine in her van crate, since y'know, we're going places with her and all she wants is just to be included.

But she does this super pathetic bark that's like, "hey... you've forgotten me. please. I don't like to be alone! please let me out. please. please. I still love you, human. please let me out of here. please don't forget about me!" when she's in her new crate. Plus the scratching in the front part of the crate. The barking isn't loud, but it sounds like her heart is breaking

On the other hand, it's a lot better than how she was in her metal crate. I video'd her once (the night she broke out, actually!!) and she was spinning, screaming, scratching, pulled my pj pants into the crate, and ended up pulling a bottom corner apart- then got the crate pan out, and somehow got the side to fall apart and then escaped.

 

[Red.Apricot]

Elsie steals.

Constantly.

 

[SpaceMutt]

What don't I have to be ashamed about?

This.

My dog, who is now officially over a year old and has his CGC and has been to so many classes that he should be trained to an elite level by now, leapt on a guy in the elevator this afternoon and slimed all over him. Drool everywhere - there was literally froth coating the walls and long spit danglies hanging off the ceiling. The guy was like "it's ok, I like it!" and proceeded to wrestle with my dog, completely rewarding him for being a butt, and what did I do...?

Nothing. I thought it was cute, deep down, even though there's a part of me that's super annoyed when people undo the "sit for petting" routine that I've worked on him with (and which he follows to a T when everyone is on board, meaning it's completely my fault as a trainer...I could totally enforce it with other people, and I don't always).

It's not just people that he greets obnoxiously, oh no...other dogs are in for a treat when they meet him as well

Basically, he has no control over his love, and I am not a strict enough trainer to make him control it all the time. He's a big obnoxious drool bucket. I should totally work more with him on self control, but instead, I just do a ton of nosework because it's fun

 

[Melle]

Just going to say Nina is actually the worst.

I mean, I got her as a training-less 10 month old, but ten months later she...

• Still can't be alone in her crate without raising hell (Can you hear the sonic screech of doom and desperation?)
• Still tries to lunge me across the street to meet other dogs (LAT? What LAT? I cant remember what it is, Ma!)
• Goes banana when she sees anyone else in the household
• Still not completely housetrained (she knows not to go in the house, but lazy family members wouldn't take her out during the middle of the day, ugh)

She's an angelic lazy sausage in the house and a flubbering whale of omygosh! in public, unless it's so extremely busy that she can't chill. I mean, we have good days, but when bad days surface? ;P