Training hijinks

[Citrus007]

Originally Posted by Gempress

Just a lighthearted thread here. What is the funniest/oddest training moment you've had? Did you get an unexpected outcome from your methods? Did your dogs outsmart you? Or was it just one of those days?

Here's mine:

With my old golden retreiver, Tigger, we always had her in front of us when we positioned her in a "sit". From then on, she always sat directly in front of us. She could be across the yard, but would come running to sit directly in front of us when we said "sit". Although it made our attempt at teaching her "heel" into a total disaster, we didn't bother teaching her a formal recall.

My dog does that too? She won't do it there but will ocme over. Its still early so I'm going to try to change it. Also when I say down she rolls right onto her back for a belly rub because she knows she gets praise for doing well.

[RD]

When Dakota was younger, we went to obedience class regularly to demonstrate. Dakota was usually really good, but this one time there was an ACD in class and that dog was doing his very best to outdo Dakota. When Dakota realized that someone was giving him competition, he went berserk. He would stop in the middle of everything to crouch and stare at that dog. He was soooo jealous that he was being outdone.

I had a quick chat with him and told him to shape up or that other dog was going to beat him... I don't think we've ever had a better night at OB class. He was absolutely perfect.

At the end of class, Dakota kept his eye on the other dog and as soon as he was released from his sit-stay, he went over and HIKED HIS LEG on the ACD.

It was so embarrassing and hilarious at the same time. Dakota really is convinced that he's the top dog.

[StillandSilent]

RD- I'll give you one better. I trained spaniel mix for our shelter. He was very dominant. The first class, he hiked his leg on the trainer! I about died, but Perry just turned around an marched off. Evil little bugger
As far as my own dogs go, my Radar went to a group training class at petsmart. He weighs around 12lbs. There was a very large Rott in the class. Everytime the Rott so much as looked at Radar, Radar would scream like he was being killed. Then the entire store would look at us. The dog never so much as took a step toward Radar, but that didn't change things. Much as I love my little guy, I will admit that he is quite the weenie.

[Renee750il]

Brattina, Missy was just trying to get you to understand that SHE doesn't need to be talked to like a dog - You ask your German Shepherd, please and thank you I got taught that one early

When Purdue was five years old I got hit with myasthenia gravis and just did not have the strength to be pulled and tugged on by His Exuberance, so we went to obedience school.

It was an unmitigated balls-up. The instructor had a Belgian, HATED German Sheps with an unconcealed passion, and hated Purdue in particular. The dog we were next to in the little tiny room had lunged at me and Purdue got between us and snarled - like he should. Well, she marched up to me, waggled her finger right in my face and started yelling at me about what a horrible dog he was and how I should put him to sleep. So he snarled at her too. So did I, for that matter, lol!

For the rest of the six weeks, she wouldn't let us do any of the exercises that involved being around the other dogs. Not a single time. The other dog who started the ruckus bit the Sheltie and had the temerity to try to bully the Irish Wolfhound pup, but she never said a word about him.

The night of the final exam we had another trainer doing the final evaluations. Of course, Purdue and I had to go last I made use of the time to sit down and talk to Poo, nose to snout (the first of many ) and explain to him that he knew how to do all of this stuff and he should make a fool out of the snide bitch.

When his turn came to do all of those exercises that he'd never been allowed to practice even one time he did every single one of them letter perfect. He got the top marks in the class and I heard the evaluating trainer remark that he was more in sync with me than any other dog he'd ever witnessed.

Someone got a big ol' steak for dinner.

And someone else learned the value of talking to her dog

[Brattina88]

Originally Posted by Renee750il

Brattina, Missy was just trying to get you to understand that SHE doesn't need to be talked to like a dog - You ask your German Shepherd, please and thank you I got taught that one early

...


And someone else learned the value of talking to her dog

No doubt! I only wish I would've realized it sooner! Instead of telling commands like everyone else was doing in class I realized that if I talked to her like I do at home, regardless of where we are, I'm going to get the best results.
For the longest time she would not sit when we were doing loose leash walking with sits at stops. She just stood still, I'm guessing she really didn't see a reason to sit - and I agreed with her! So, we were walking (and she does that so well ) and when I stopped I casually said "Sit, please" not even expecting her to sit (I know, I know, I wasn't being a very good trainer lol) and to everyones sureprise she sat. Without thinking I said "Thank you" and we went on our way

[Renee750il]

You really do feel like you've been dense when you realize how it works, don't you? I felt like such an idiot

[Brattina88]

Oh yea, same here! I was like *DUH!*

[Renee750il]

The funniest one was little Bimmer. He was playing Hellspawn one day, pinching me on the butt, running amok, yanking clothes out of the hamper and "decorating," TPing the house, just creating general mayhem. It was the only time he ever acted like that and I couldn't take anymore as I was trying to work on a case. I finally just looked at him, exasperated, after telling him to sit, to lie down, to go to bed, etc. and asked him, "Just where are your manners?"

He plopped that little butt right down in front of me and looked at me with that smarty-grin of his as if to ask what took me so long

He has done that ever since, and he even taught Buffy, Shiva and Kharma to do the same thing