Next Training for Jax

[JoeLacy]

Originally Posted by lizzybeth727

The thing with passing the therapy dog test, though, is that IMO the dog should ENJOY doing the work. Because it can be very stressful, being around people who are sick, stressed, and depressed, and dogs definately pick up on these emotions. It's one thing to "tolerate" being around other people and "tolerate" being petted and all that - almost any dog can be taught to "tolerate" being a therapy dog, IMO - but the dogs that actually enjoy it are difficult to find. And if he doesn't enjoy it, why should you make him do it? It's just something that you will need to self-evaluate - how relaxed and happy is he throughout the training and the work.

The service dogs that I train do work that's similar to therapy work.... they're out in public a lot, meeting new people, getting petted and talked to by strangers, etc. It is extremely difficult for us to find dogs with the right temperment to tolerate these situations, and occasionally we will find dogs that will tolerate the work but clearly don't enjoy it. We consider it extremely selfish to ask a dog that doesn't enjoy the job to do the job every day for the rest of his life. Even if he can do it. So we find a job that's more suited to that dog.

Good points. I'm not sure Jax would enjoy it or if I would even do it. The purpose would be for my own use. It's just another layer of basic training the way I look at it. I don't actually plan on visiting hospitals, it's just more training for Jax.

I actually spoke to one group over the phone, they said they had plenty of teams. I live in a huge metro area and we have many people and dogs. I just see these as training goals to mold Jax into an even better dog.

[Jynx]

I have to laugh, because some people have called my aussie "air jynx" LOL..

Obedience/rally will NOT turn him into a robot,,the dogs I've competed in obedience with (and yes we find it rather boring, but it's a learning experience and must admit after the first level (CD) I move on to other things like agility with them),,are not robots outside the ring, my first gsd, was bored with it, but did it, cause it was something we both did, I moved onto agility with her,,my aussie, she LOVES doing obedience, (go figure it's that "not a serious bone in the body" mentality) My new gsd likes obedience but would rather be tracking..

It doesn't have to be "precision" unless your planning on making a career out of it, (which I do not),,but it is a new learning "thing", and good bonding experience ,,Rally is a lot more fun and upbeat,

[JoeLacy]

Rally might work. I do need another level though if we plan Agility. I spoke to what I understand to be the Queen Trainer of Dallas Agility today and she said Jax wasn't ready. After she insulted my dog, I had to admit she was right.

I'm joking, she didn't really insult him she just asked a couple of questions and I had to honestly say what he would do and wouldn't. She gave me a few things to work on and then said to come back. If Jax ever got accepted there, she would be "my" agility trainer and nobody else. It would be easier to get Jax accepted at Harvard.