K9 Force Vic Workshop

[Erny]

Erny, didnt get to meet your dog but she looked sooooo quiet and placid! Wish i could have.

Thanks Phatdex. I take that as a real compliment, because she is the one I speak of who, when I adopted her, was fear aggressive to other dogs and (to a lesser extent and technically speaking) to people.

I brought her there in the afternoon for 'socialisation' purposes only. I grab every opportunity I can to do that - I've determined she has critical period issues, which means I have to keep adding layer upon layer upon layer of good association.

I was pleased to see her relax enough to roll on her side/back for a tummy scratch.

I had to leave quickly to go to an evening seminar, elsewise I would've loved to have spent time with her saying "hello" to everyone. I'm sorry I also missed Goukie exhibiting his hidden talent for walking/heeling on a loose lead! What a bonus to achieve that! Hope his training continues to go as well.

[phatdex]

He had his first "lunge" on his prong collar today at the park, I wont go into huge detail, but I can assure u, he wont be doing that again. I did no pop of the lead though, he corrected himself quick smart!

He is also going absolutely nuts for his prey item, I am making him sit and lie down while chasing it, but he takes a long time still, he is slowly realising he will get it quicker if he sits etc.

Gotta watch it though as he is nearly taking my hand off trying to get it, but if he makes contact with me he realises and pulls his bite. I'm swinging him in circles in the air off the item though. He hasnt let go once yet, even when he doesnt have a good grip. I have taken all his other toys off him too, so he can focus on just the one prey item for the moment.

Please correct me if I am missing the idea. That he will soon sit quick smart as he will know that will get him his prey item. At the moment he is still thinking about lunging at it or sitting.

[Purple Julie]

Phatdex, I am a bit confused with what you are doing with Gouki in prey drive. Of course he's going to lunge at the item when you're moving it! Is he still lunging at it when you are holding it still? If so, hold it out of his reach, then when he sits, give him the ball. I don't think that at this stage you should be expecting him to sit while the ball is in motion. Of course, I'm not the expert and I may also have misunderstood what you are saying.

[phatdex]

Him lunging at it is when I am getting him excited and trying to raise his drive. Ie teasing the crap out of him with it and doing some bite work etc.

Then when I walk him around all excited in a circle like julie did, then hold it close to me and ask him to sit when he is on my left hand side heeling, u can see his mind ticking over whether to try and jump at it or sit. But then he slowly sits after about 10 seconds.

Yeah, I do stop moving it when I ask him to sit. Basically doing exactly what Julie was doing with the chasing it in a circle, holding it still and then asking him to sit, but he is still so focussed on the item he takes a while to sit, that is all.

I guess he will learn that he will get it when he sits.

I think steve said the dog will take longer to do the command than normal in prey drive at first and then they will catch on?

I am using a bite bar thing, not a ball.

[Lablover]

Great to meet everyone. Thanks for all your kind wishes. It was fun, fun, fun for us. Hopefully we all learnt something as a result and more importantly are better educated to train our dogs and they have MORE fun too!!!

[Steve K9Pro]

H:

Loved it ok.gif

Huge thankyou to Steve and also to LL for having us!

K9: thanks it was great to meet you.

P:

He also tried a collar on him and I nearly cried how well he walked, heeled and sat, so I just had to buy one!

K9: He is a nice dog with good drives & steady nerve, he has a lot of potential.

NickyP:

When are you coming back K9?

K9: well there were emails organising that before I even got back, I would say early next year...

Slim1:

Steve....what can i say.

K9: here are a few tips

Excellent, fantastic, legend.. anything along those lines would be ok...

P:

Couldnt believe it after 30 seconds of walkinghe was doing everything asked of him!

K9: its called Pack Drive.... Isnt it awesome?

Pippi:

Julie how did the video turn out? Congratulations on your training with your labs too, very impressive black boy, sorry forget his name - great demo.

K9: His name is Stamp, & he is one of this countries top retrievers...

**************************

K9: I had a great time too, it was great to meet you all, some for the second time around.

[Erny]

I've already emailed Steve, but unfair to keep my testaments 'under wraps'. I commend Steve on well thought out and sensical training methodologies. I enjoyed his approach to training and methods to achieve high excellence (and fun) in that field.

As a trainer of many different dogs (breeds and temperaments alike) for many varied people with many varied lifestyles and requirements, I know I will be able to (in fact, I've already started) implement his methods, either as a whole or by the adoption of segments (depending on what suits the dog and owner/family at the time).

As I said to Steve, I left the daytime workshop and evening seminar richer for the knowledge and deeper understanding I gained that day.

Thanks again.