Training good news/venting thread.

[Brattina88]

Bailey has really come around! She is much more confident and less anxiety, nervous energy. She now allows some strangers to pet her (on my terms) and is actually excited to meet new people. Also, I am now comfortable taking her to other people's houses and being offleash... This past weekend we spent 2 nights at a friends house, and she did fabulously Day one we had some pacing but she settled when I asked and day 2 was like she lived there her whole life Thanksgiving is going to be NO problem.. WOOT

Although, my fingers are really sore tonight she got pretty snappy when I was working on 'sit up'

[Dizzy]

Taught Fred bang! Took about 5 mins he's so funny, all paws!!!!

[Julee]

Em's doing super well with "sit pretty" and "bow". She's also getting her weaves pretty down pat!

Deke is learning "step up" and "stand" this week. He's doing wonderfully!

Copper is learning a "settle" cue, since she's decided zoomies and hound baying is best done around midnight. She's so-so at it thusfar, but definitely making improvement.

Bloo is relearning that chest vaults are only acceptable when asked for.

Shadow... well. Shadow's an old lady who isn't doing very much of anything.

[monkeys23]

I feel virtuous for tracking with Scout this morning.

[JustaLilBitaLuck]

Training success!

Whenever we have service people come over, I always put the animals in the bedrooms and sit with them while my mom deals with the service people. Sassy hides, Missy just lays by the door and waits, but Jack typically does not handle it well - running around, barking, wuffing because he can hear people in the house. Pays no attention to treats, toys, stuffed Kongs, nada.

We had people cleaning the furnace and vents last week, and then the plumbers this week, and he was SO MUCH BETTER. He had a few barky moments, but he was able to regain focus on me. We did a bunch of exercises, did a little shaping work, he calmed down enough to eat a Kong in his crate and he seemed so much less stressed about the whole thing. It was great! We've been doing a lot more focus work in the last couple months, and I think it paid off!

[sassafras]

For the very first time today, when we were scootering and came to an intersection where I did not give a directional command, the Mush Puppies stopped and looked back at me for direction instead of just picking the way we usually go.

[Dizzy]

Big day for Fred today. Took him back into town for some socialiation and training. He hates the car, so that's never a good start. Always throw bones and yummy stuff in there for him, but he hates it.

Took him to the pet shop first, then into town, then onto the beach then back into town.

He is still an anxious little mite, but we were out for a few hours and he did really well I got a lot of funny looks running him up and down the streets, and a lot of people staring and smiling. Very reserved in the UK, especially where I live

He was smashing though, and was walking to heel well when we practising, and even having a good tug on his lead afterwards. Initially he was just sniffing everything and pulling about. More because he was anxious than curious I think.

Made me much more confident he'll manage a large show well. Just got to get a lot more practice in before January and his show ring debut!

I wish I lived somewhere a bit more populated, socialising a puppy is sooooooooooooooo hard when you live in a village in the winter...

Next puppy is coming home in the spring fo SHO.

[Linds]

I love reading all of these, they give me warm fuzzies.

[sassafras]

This made me extraordinarily happy when we were practicing "cross your paws." Just... never thought I'd see the day that the cat didn't even get a second glance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omPeJdm5heU

[Southpaw]

Originally Posted by sassafras

This made me extraordinarily happy when we were practicing "cross your paws." Just... never thought I'd see the day that the cat didn't even get a second glance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omPeJdm5heU

That was cute

My neurotic dog was not so neurotic for a change.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9lKb...isOiDnxKFuIa5A

Ignore my stupid commentary. Just figure I should take some videos to keep track of what's going on and when.

Still looking over her shoulder all the time, but that's been a habit of hers for... forever. Since she was a puppy. So that doesn't bug me too much as long as I can refocus her attention.

So yeah, that focus/responsiveness has been missing for a very long time and it was nice to see it come back to her. At the end of the walk I was even able to drop her leash and run through some behaviors with perfect execution. When we were at this park a couple weeks ago.... I couldn't even get her to look at me or respond to her name.