DanL
09-20-2007, 08:06 AM
I found out a couple of guys from the dog club do training during the week as well as our Sunday sessions, and they both live real close to me, so last night Gunnar and I went over to the one guy's house. It was me and Gunnar, and one other guy and his dog. We got 4 bite sessions each, nice short ones. We're also looking to do something Friday. If we can keep 2-3 days a week, Gunnar is going to progress nicely. It was dark, a new environment, lots of distractions as the guy has 5 GSD's in kennels which were barking at us the whole time, but he did great.
I really like this guy too- he's all about bringing the dog along slowly. He said at this point we should be working nothing but grip, drive, and focus, for the next couple months. So that's what we did. No obedience during the session, just build him up and let him win. He likes doing short sessions, only 3-4 bites each, to keep him wanting more, but he does more sessions so the length of time is about the same.
He says Gunnar is working in a high defensive mode which is what we want. His focus is right on the decoy, not on the sleeve. He really could care less about the sleeve, he'll run 1 circle with me after he wins, but as soon as he is back facing the decoy he drops it and wants to get after him again. The decoy would do stuff like make him miss a couple times, then give him a bite, at which time Gunnar would really engage as he was frustrated by the misses. He told me exactly what he was going to do and what he needed me to do as well, and I like that. I want to know why we're doing things so I can understand their impact and results.
On the last session, he gave Gunnar a couple bites, then made him miss 2 times and had me put him up on that. Gunnar still won, because the decoy ran away- to teach him that winning doesn't always mean biting, but having the bad guy run away is a win too. Plus, it keeps him wanting to get after the guy when he has to leave without that last bite.
I'm hoping to get together with him again tomorrow. They will train in different locations and under different conditions too so it exposes the dogs to many situations, not the same field with the same decoys.
Then on Saturday, we go up and teach our OB class at the other facility, where he'll be used as the demo dog, then Sunday, more protection work with the club. We will be working out 4 days a week now!
I really like this guy too- he's all about bringing the dog along slowly. He said at this point we should be working nothing but grip, drive, and focus, for the next couple months. So that's what we did. No obedience during the session, just build him up and let him win. He likes doing short sessions, only 3-4 bites each, to keep him wanting more, but he does more sessions so the length of time is about the same.
He says Gunnar is working in a high defensive mode which is what we want. His focus is right on the decoy, not on the sleeve. He really could care less about the sleeve, he'll run 1 circle with me after he wins, but as soon as he is back facing the decoy he drops it and wants to get after him again. The decoy would do stuff like make him miss a couple times, then give him a bite, at which time Gunnar would really engage as he was frustrated by the misses. He told me exactly what he was going to do and what he needed me to do as well, and I like that. I want to know why we're doing things so I can understand their impact and results.
On the last session, he gave Gunnar a couple bites, then made him miss 2 times and had me put him up on that. Gunnar still won, because the decoy ran away- to teach him that winning doesn't always mean biting, but having the bad guy run away is a win too. Plus, it keeps him wanting to get after the guy when he has to leave without that last bite.
I'm hoping to get together with him again tomorrow. They will train in different locations and under different conditions too so it exposes the dogs to many situations, not the same field with the same decoys.
Then on Saturday, we go up and teach our OB class at the other facility, where he'll be used as the demo dog, then Sunday, more protection work with the club. We will be working out 4 days a week now!