I went to dog school today

[orlaka]

To observe a group adult dog class that I had been tipped off to by a co-worker who has a rescue lab cross. Now Joel has a car those out of the way church halls are no barrier so we drove out (without Loot) to meet them and see what they did.

I don't really know how I feel about it? What should I be looking for in dog class? It was terribly distracting having someone talk at me for 45mind while cute dogs did stuff in the background.

I had expected it to be quite regimented but it felt like everyone was doing their own thing a bit - I think maybe three times in the class the female trainer got them to *do a thing* but the thing varied from dog to dog - some sat some lie down some staying still some ignoring their hooman and sniffing about. This week was 'grooming' so they all demonstrated how they groomed their dog and she went round talking to people. She spent quite a while with a cocker spaniel I did note all the other dogs but two had very short hair.

One of the other long hair ones was a houndy looking little thing who may have been a beddy cross and she was NOT HAPPY WITH PEOPLE NEARBY. I was really impressed by the other trainer (who I think is the trainers son?) who explained to the owner that a stranger walking directly at someone is agressive (so she shouts) but walking past someone and circling in sideways is not scary (she doesn't move from being laid down on the floor). He kept talking to the owner and sat down a safe distance away then laid a treat trail from the floor up to his shoe with the last treat on his hand. Ignored her entirely - talking to owner not looking at her - while she snuck up to eat the treat. She wasn't brave enough to take the treat on his hand tonight but ate the one on his shoe then went and hid behind her mom twice.

I was trying to hold a conversation with the guy who talked at/to us while this went on but was so impressed by this dude letting her learn he wasn't out to get her. I later saw him giving THE best skritches to a staffy cross further down the room. I didn't hear anything the designated talking man said for about 5minutes the staffy was loving it so much!

So Loot seems to have let out all the stops in the last few weeks - he learnt how to open the bin then (when we put it in a position he couldn't get at it) how to knock it over, has countersurfed a massive knife a screwdriver and the gravy jug (full of soapy water) out of the sink... Shredded a package for my housemate and a full roll of tin foil, as well as getting up between midnight and two to sing us the song of his people or shout at thin air (sometimes).

He is no longer shouty reactive at dogs except for staffies that pull and dogs bigger than him with curled up tails - then anything nearer than 20ft makes him grumble (if not shout) but these days approaches dogs in the park by running at them full pelt. This is usually greeted with at best a brief joining in of run before tailing off and staring at him and at worse shouting as he leaves a sonic boom behind him.

He is also getting the hang of playing more and will shout at me when I am slow throwing the ball or getting it out from my pocket to play. He has only once brought a toy back to me inside (usually it gets taken off to bed to murder) but I try to find ten minutes every day to play almost-fetch because his face when he of done chomping the ball and waiting for me to throw it again make some laugh so much.

I am excited at the prospect of being able to go to dog school with Loot but don't know what effect it will have on the 'random acts of anarchy' he is currently acting out. I asked if I could bring him for 5-10mins at beginning/end to see how he coped in room with 7 dogs they said I wasn't coming to trial, if I brought him to class and he barked constantly next week might be better.

I guess now I am not baffled the answer was no that is actually quite a good approach but at the same time I want to know how much I'm letting myself in for... After months of patience and safe distances I don't want to commit paying for 10weeks of dogs being TOO NEAR unravelling all the time we have spent.

All in all despite his hijinks he is still a superhound. Leaves looks like squiggles so he has been extra chasey lately but we had a dubious encounter with two off lead strange dogs in the dark the other day - they were zipping around us too fast to tel if agressive or friendly and I could see his eyes switching from argh dogs to running playfully to following me nicely cycling through the choices... Got quite prancey, busted out his mega leap (covering the 6ft from one extreme of the lead to the other without tensing it laterally) but had a big shake and stuck to me whilst glancing about cautiously as they strange dogs buzzed off to chase eachother.

Loot can already do everything we saw tonight except stay so am concerned this is pitched too low for his brain. I think that I need to get a handle on new improved excited confident Loot and think dog training advice for me may help but starting to wonder if actually 1-2-1 would be better approach. So... Thoughts?


Ps. Don't know how to do pictures on my phone!

[2tuxedos]

Did you go back with Loot? I wondered if it was a misunderstanding and the following week was just a bad time, certainly not right to expect someone to sign up to a course if may not be suitable for the dog. Seems a bit OTT to talk at you for 45mins when i've sat in they left me to watch after a short chat. Its not good if there appears little trainer time with each client or covering just a few things as it can be boring for dog & owner.

It sounds like it might have been a KC Good citizens class with the grooming/handling that you saw, it has bronze, silver, gold levels so if can already do bronze they may ask you to do the test & then start silver for example. It can be harder with the higher distractions of a class situation than at home but equally it needs to be challenging to keep you interested. Some classes have their own curriculum instead. www.thekennelclub.org.uk/training/good-citizen-dog-training-scheme/

Perhaps a qualified behaviourist would be better suited if you feel there's some socialisation issues (not quite clear from your post) rather than just basic obedience and offer a personalised training plan. Not all dog trainers truly understand/read dog behaviour well or may use methods which can do more harm than good especially with sensitive dogs. Classes can be stressful situation anyway for a dog that's not socially at ease as often held where dogs don't have enough personal space nor the room to move far enough away if needs be. Its worth taking it gradually with socialisation as they can easily be set back with bad experiences (which can appear minor to us).

It can be interesting to observe what methods they use & also how they deal with a dog that's nervous or barky. Not an expert but from going to different classes, one trainer we saw seemed limited in solutions if the method didn't work for our dog & she ignored a barking dog not offering owner any help with it so every class it barked. Whereas a different trainer used 2 chairs & sheet for a visual barrier from the next dog & quickly got the dog calm & able to work again.
The location & class size is important, you want to have plenty of room and also fewer people so you have plenty of assistance & calmer atmosphere. trainer + assistant between 6-7 dogs was much more successful than 1 + less involved assistant between 12 & even though the course was shorter (5 instead of 10 weeks) we covered so much more in the time. Sometimes we would do slight variations to suit our own dogs but generally would follow a explanation, have a go while the trainer & assistant went around to check on us, then trainer would give more instructions.The real work goes on at home.
Interestingly the better class didn't encourage dog greetings in class or while waiting outside so the dogs got used to each other from a distance, which makes sense when potentially have a mix of nervous & over enthusiastic dogs & owners that are likely bit clueless on body language or distracted.

I've found clicker training to be successful with my dogs Its non-forceful and allows the dog to work things out and i find it also makes more sense to me in order to break task down into smaller steps. dogmantics.com/about-clicker-training/

[gramps]

Try to find a training school with other sighthounds as they are in a class by themselves, a lot of greys can't even sit as it is uncomfortable for them with there bony bums. This can upset some trainer if they have not come across it before and they want "the standard finish" and get cross if your dog won't do it. I have known people to take a dog bed with them so their dog can conform to what is taught there.

Patience and treats are the way to go, good luck.