Games for brain stimulation

[Malfuss]

God, I feel awful now, knowing it definitely was me that started it. We've just had a nice little training session, I got him hunting a little bit, did some sit stays and a little bit of heelwork, no shadow chasing at all, so hopefully I haven't ruined him yet.

I have had a 1-2-1 with James at Bawdenflight (also his breeder) and am at puppy classes with him for the next 3 weeks. I have been told he is a dominant, headstrong pup that will keep our hands full. Not going to argue with that! I will be keeping on top of the training and 1-2-1's as I'm really keen to get it right.

By the way thank you to everyone that posted, I will be trying all the suggestions put forward.

[Rascal]

Sorry Malfuss, I didn’t mean to make you feel awful and sh1t happens so now you’ve just got to learn from it and deal with it. As I said don’t tell him off for doing it so as not to make a “thing” of it. When he does it simply distract him and in differing ways too, pop his lead on and take him a walk, toss a dummy and send him put him in a sit and try and keep him focussed on you, walk around him in a circle, that sort of thing.

It’s important you distract him by different methods so he doesn’t do it to elicit a predictable response from you and in turn cause another problem.

The reason I suggested getting him checked out was a few years ago my sister in laws young spaniel started it and in her case it was the beginnings of epilepsy. She became totally obsessed and hardly rested even, very distressing to watch. In the rescue I help out in we had a collie that did it too although no illness, the poor little blighter had just had a stressful time of it. That was hard to watch too and again the dog hardly rested and was very withdrawn but with a new owner that has started training agility with her she’s soooooo much better.

Good luck with his training he sounds like he’s going to keep you on your toes.

Rascal

[Malfuss]

Sorry Malfuss, I didn’t mean to make you feel awful and sh1t happens so now you’ve just got to learn from it and deal with it.

Hey don't worry about it, I would prefer to know than not. When I was playing with the torch I was thinking 'what a great way to teach him the hunting pattern'. It wasn't until the 3rd night and I saw how obsessed he was with it that it dawned on me it probably wasn't such a great idea!

The boys are now settled down with their yoghurt and banana frozen Kongs.

[Naj]

It's probably of little consequence now but the reason that clicker training didn't work was because you hadn't been taught how to do it correctly. As you've found out, looking at the training in terms of what high value reward (in your opinion) will work is doomed to failure before you begin, because it won't necessarily be the same as what the dog considers one to be, & in any event it shouldn't know whether it will be rewarded or not. So rather than concentrating on rewards, & there relative values, getting the dog wedded to the 'method' is essential if you are going to make any progress, then the value of the reward becomes inconsequential. Progress can only be made once the dog has made a strong connection between the click & the reward, & they all do, but the normal rules of learning will still apply.

Naj