Leisure Training? - Page 2

Hello again Keith, The purpose of my original Post was to see how people who are seriously interested in working with their dogs view their leisure walks. I never 'switch off' from my dogs and our leisure walks are also learning and responding opportunities for the dogs to get good physical and mental exercise. I am surprised that you mentioned the right and left ball game. This is all it was - a game. I am afraid I was disappointed with the Schutzhund Obedience work - the standard was not of a high calibre. I think this is because the sport is designed to cover a variety, obedience, tracking and manwork. Therefore the standard in this one area is not necessarily highly focussed. I use some of the training for 'protection work' that an Uncle taught me who trained dogs in the 'Forces'. It helps the control and mental discipline of the dog. (Particularly to 'out' while in full flight and just a short distance from the barrage wielding foe). So I prefer to further progress their precision and response in obedience with a little protection work to stretch their connection and responses with me. I do hope you find someone who will help to extend and progress your knowledge and interaction with your dogs. All good wishes, Vixen

Hi Vixen, I mainly do AKC Obedience for lack of SchH clubs in my area. I have taken some agility and tracking classes for fun and plan to do some rally OB which has just become a titled event in AKC. Mosly I enjoy spending time with the dogs especially my girl who has excellent drive and loves to work. I take them swimming and to the field to run almost daily. I try many different things like that to mix it up. I never have a problem with my girl listening instantly. All I have to say is "this way" and she will jump over and through things to get a visual to see what I want. She still impresses me with that. My boy leaves more to be desired in the drive and attention span department (AM bred), but he listens pretty good and is very good at following her. Sometimes I make her "finish" before I give her the toy, or like you said I'll return to her, or give it while she's in front. I have to do that differently all the time or she will start anticipating. We had a problem in novice with her anticipating the finish. The right and left thing sounds fun, I'll have to try it. Thanks, Melanie

Vixen, I see no big difference in the day-to-day interaction with my dogs and when I let them off-leash to run and romp. I expect that my dogs respond to me otherwise, they would not be off-leash. I also would not let them play with one another if they no longer paid any mind to me. In the USA it is simply too much of a liability plus I certainly don't want the off-leash time to detract from the rest of our work. It is all a part of the same parcel. I by the way, only allow my dogs to interact with other dogs in a very controlled environment, one in which I have control. I just would not want something to happen that forever brandmarks my dogs as being "bad". As I also do protection work with them, I guess, this additionally would be a strike against us, if indeed something unforeseeable happened. If they kill anything, cat, aggressive dog, we will be the ones having to qualify our training etc. And they will be the ones being put to sleep.