OT- Training HoBo

[supermum_ms]

Hi Guy's and Doll's,

HoBo our Labradore cross Golden Retriever, is now 3 months old and has officially started his training, though his first trip up to the Murray River, gave us a good idea how he was going to go. For a little guy he was beyond good, we were sum-what stunned at how well he did, he basically slept the 5 hours in the car, which only took that long because we kept stopping to give him breaks (lol he owns us) by the trip home he'd worked out that stopping was time to pee. We really expected him to be freaked out by all the sounds, water, smells and other dogs but not this boy of ours, he was in heaven. LOL he even fell asleep on his first boat trip and by the second day down the River, he was swimming and diving off the back of the boat, fully submerged and having a great time.

Socially, he's a cool dude, big or small dogs didn't faze him in the slightest, he just played and played with his tail going a million miles a minute. People of both sexes, young or old, just fell in love with him and i think by now he knows he's cute, dh was seriously considering hiring him out to the single boys because he was such a chick magnet lol. He resisted the lead until he worked out, how much attention and play time he got when on it, now he loves the lead.

So his first day at puppy training was yesterday, i've never seen so many different types of dogs of all ages and training abilities all together in one place, some were just stunning. HoBo insisted he visit them all, if a dog was wimpering he was even more insistent to get to them, when that one was happy he'd move on to the next and the next. He took a real liking to a German Shepard, beautiful and so huge, she just licked him all over. A pit bull looking dog started barking and pulling his poor out of her depth owner around, HoBo hid behind the Sheppard who would growl at the pit bull then turn around to lick HoBo, growl at the pit bull and lick HoBo, it was so very cute.

There was only 3 pups in his group of first timers, all 3 months old, a sheppard, a stafordshire who was tiny and HoBo who was the only boy. They train with food rewards, i've resisted doing that with HoBo because he's been responding with out that insentive but they have a set program that works so we need to do what they recommend, so food rewards it is. First thing he did was climb into the drinking bucket, and try to mount the staffie lol naughty naughtly boy.

Comands covered were sit, stand and drop which DH had to do with him because i'd already fallen once and the puppy pen was waaaaay down the back of the park, so i was basically only up for sitting on my butt watching so I could do it with him at home, um HoBo not the husband lol. The dog is only ever on a persons left side and i had to ask the question because what if thats not a good side for you, left only until i threw in but what if you have MS and you can't do left. Well that had the trainer huffing and puffing because they only ever put the dog on the left side, but i've been a rule bender/breaker all my life and I aint going to suddenly start towing the line this late in the game.lol

I ended up letting her off the hook because it was more theoretical, I actually need HoBo on my left but i know some people would not be able to do left side and their disability should trump the 'rule' or bend them to suit the persons needs, it got her thinking about it at least. Hmmmm next week i'll ask if we can introduce hand signals at the same time, i'm sure thats a rule breaker too but i need the hand signals because i cant gaurantee i can get the word comands out lol I'm just as likely to use chair as I am sit even if i do say something, ROFL now thats got to confuse the poor boy.

I learnt HoBo for sure is smart, a social butter fly and he's going to train well. I also learnt that even as a 3 month old puppy he's strong enough to pull me over and judging how big and strong the 5 and 7 month female Labradores were, this boy is going to be too big and too strong for me to handle so i'd better get him to heel now. In truth he's always more gentle with me in comparrison to DH, when we were leaving he had no issue walking by my leg, only a few minutes of trying to pull away, then he settled into the walk so if his early stages are anything to go by, he's going to get this training game down without too much drama.

Now i'm all ears or I probably should say eyes lol for any tips any of you that have been there done that, can offer!!

Cheers........JJ  

[HVAC]

Great about Hobo. You have to find what works for you. Classes are just helpful not written in stone.

Alex

[supermum_ms]

Hmmm i think she said left side because your suppose to walk on the left side of the pavement and that puts you between the dog and other people walking past in the other direction. Traffic did get a mention but it was only after i'd said i need him on the left side because i vear and often fall that way, she mentioned him being good to have between me and the road because in a few months he'll be a good barrier and leaning post so i expect that could be part of the reasoning too.

Great Mary, i'm getting DH to locate and down load it as I type! I get what your talking about because our boy is a sucker for a 'good boy' and a pat, he's not really needed anything more. Well he does get a treat when he goes to the loo outside and not on his piddle pad, i catch him call out good boy and he comes running for his pat, then goes and sits were ever the bag of treats happens to be, tail wagging and calmly waiting, funny how he knows that ruitine lol if i catch him in the middle of doing a wee, and say good boy, he has this goofey grin he does with his tongue hanging out, when he's finished he really struts like he knows he's up for a treat lol

In 24 hours since, I tell him to sit and each time he automatically looked at my hand, first time since his first week with us that he hasn't imediately sat on command, i was a bit taken back but i did not give him a treat!! Its almost like different parenting styles, lol DH says we have to do food rewards because thats what the trainers say to do and i'm no you do what 'ever' works for the individual. LOL we have a Gifted Aspie and we already know that taking them backwards or teaching a one size fits all aproach because thats the way they always 'teach' isn't necesarily the better teaching method, doing what 'ever' works, usually is.  

Correct me if i'm wrong but isn't the point that eventually you stop rewarding and simply expect them to do the comands? Well if it is, he was already doing a lot of comands with out constant rewards, no food just a calm 'good boy' and or a pat. I do not want him excited and over praise and food makes him a hyper pup, he is so like my kids in that way ROFL.  I would like to continue the way that already works with him, not introduce something that he hasn't apeared to need, i'm totally open to food rewards if necessary but not as a blanket rule. lol i'm a rebel!

Comands he repeatedly does now:

Sit, stay, come, waiting until comanded to 'eat', outside, get your chew or ball, fetch, gentle.

Comands he's getting better at but its inconsistent:

Walk, heel, down, show me, drop as in toy/stolen item and not his physical body, ouch - if I say it he stops and licks me.

The inconsistent commands are better with me than with DH or DS, i think its simply because hes with me all day long and he plays rougher games with DH and DS. I also think my voice is gentler and he responds in a calmer manner with me than with anyone else because I really think he sort of knows i need him too. I know he sort of sounds a little too good to be true, but promise it is all true lol i keep waiting for the 'problems' but he's really good with and for me, he digs and mounts everything at a moments notice so he's not a saint lol

I know for a 3 month old he's already doing a lot, almost all of the comands we really didn't expect results more a case of the more we say it, the more he'll eventuraly get but he's responding already. I figure if he's constantly repeating the desired behavior on comand then he gets what he's suppose to do and its not a fluke.

Hmmm after all this, i wonder if I should be the one he trains with because i can't do what the trainer expect, lol it would kill me though and i'd have to wear a crash helmet lol for all the times i head but the grass.

Cheers........JJ      

[dogmum]

I think the left side training rules are a carry-over from how dogs should be trained for the show ring.  The dog has to run on the left side of the handler.  Based on the left side thing, there are certain collars used to keep dogs from pulling that if used backwards can injure the dog. I worked for someone who showed and trained dogs and we never agreed that it was necessary for my dogs to stay on the left and he finally gave up.  My solution, not to use those kind of collars.  

I'd say with perseverance and a decent book like the ones Mary suggested, you can do it yourself.   Because, like kids, dogs are all different, and I've yet to hear one dog trainer admit that their method isn't one-size-fits-all.

Sounds like Hobo is a sweet and empathetic doggy.  Glad you got a good one! :)  

Have fun!  
Laura

[twopack]

I understand what you mean about resisting the food reward system.  I had the same situation with my Bella when she was a pup and started classes.  She was more than willing to learn everything I presented to her for calm praise.

The instructors started handing out treats (for no reason) from the get-go and wanted heavy duty praise from every handler for even the smallest accomplishment of their dog.  Bella soon leaved to pay more attention to their treats than she did to me and became overly excited with the lavish praise they insisted on.

I knew their methods weren't working for us but let my desire to train in an environment with distractions derail what had been working all along.  It was a mistake I can never undo.  I don't know what is right for you.  Just saying to please think carefully before your next class.

If you do decide to proceed on your own there is a resource guide out there you might want to consider.  It is comprised of two volumes.  The first is titled "Teamwork" and the follow up is titled "Teamwork II: A Dog Training Manual for People with Disabilities".  They could be very helpful for a petite woman who is training a progressively powerful pup.

You can find both on Amazon where their "Look Inside" feature allows you to get a better idea of the content.  I also found them for sale online in a downloadable digital version.  Seems that would work best for an Aussie and anyone else wanting to save a few bucks on both purchase and postage.  You can always print it off after download and have it spiral bound for easy use.  Let me know if you want it but can't find it.

Anyway, I'm glad you are enjoying your new adventure.  Thanks for sharing.  It brings back nice memories.  I only wish I had it in me to have another go at the training with a 'sibling' for Miss B.

Sit, stay, snooze :)
Mary

[Sailorsong]

Sound like you've got a keeper for a dog. LOL That left only rule got me to thinking. I wonder if that is left over from horses? Or maybe as a safety thing for when cars approach from behind while walking along a road?

Dennis