Jo's Old Site

After I had tea with my parents last night I let Ilse out for a run and a ball game. But instead of giving her treats to encourage her to come back to me with the tennis ball I had a rope toy, and I let her tug on the rope toy whenever she came back to me with the tennis ball.

Though Ilse was still inclined to run with the ball and play by herself. Or if not that she then got distracted by a smell on the ground. But then once Ilse realized that she got the chance to tug on the rope toy too if she got the ball and brought it back to me Ilse then eagerly returned to me with the ball.

Also once she was so keen to tug on the rope toy that she returned without the ball that I’ve throwned. But then I told her get ball and she went and found it and brought it back. It is also so good to know that I can use another type of reward other than food to get Ilse to do this. And also even though Ilse likes chasing after the tennis ball and carrying it, and she likes food I realized that the rope toy has a high value from Ilse’s point of view. 

As finding out what a dog considers is high value and low value is important when their trainers are trying to get them to do things. Also playing games with dogs teaches dogs to focus more on their trainers. And also having cue words is another important thing that a trainer has to work out. And then once the trainer’s dog is familiar with whatever cue words their trainer decided on, using them and especially the ones they use when they are playing with toys can really turn a dog on.

Also to get a dog used to playing with their trainers, of course their trainer has to play with their dog more often. But their trainers should always end the game before the dog that they are training decides that it is over.

Ilse my miniature schnauzer doesn’t bark much. But when she does she can be quite noisy. And I was told that it is a schnauzer thing. I was also told that Ilse is quiet for a schnauzer, and mum and I were also told that our shelties were quiet too. As shelties are another breed that tends to be barky. Also most of the time Ilse barks because she knows that I’m going out somewhere, and when she does this I cannot say anything to her as it just eggs her on and she becomes more noisy. So I just leave and after a short while she just accepts that I have left.

She is also quite noisy when I return home, and again I can’t say anything as it just eggs her on. But then yesterday mum fed her tidbits until I went inside my flat and this stopped the excited barking. Mum also told me to leave Ilse outside until I have finished unpacking my groceries, which I did. And I’ve also read somewhere sometime ago that food has a calming effect. Mum has also been telling me stories about a behavourist that counsels dog owners that have trouble managing their dogs. And from what I’ve heard from mum this behavourist that she sees on TV has some quite good ideas on ways to manage our dog’s behaviour better.

As one of this behavourist ideas that my mother told me about is when a dog barks because someone had knocked on the door that people are better off saying to their dogs “thanks for that.” As saying this doesn’t make people sound angry. And then after they have rewarded their dogs with a tidbit they then can go and answer the door.

Lately I’ve been taking Ilse to the ring runouts, and I have noticed that Ilse has settled down on the stand for exam exercise. As she is more aware of what she is suppose to be doing. And what I have been doing that must be working is telling Ilse to stand and then give her food then I tell her stay and then as she is eating I run my hand over her and I got this idea from a person at training.

Today when I threw Ilse’s grey and black tennis ball ten times and told her to “get it” she went out and came back all at the same pace as I’ve been feeding her jackpots when she returns to me with the ball.

I also find that incorporating play in my training really works with Ilse. And when I do heel work I try to remember to praise Ilse as she is working, and afterwards I reward her with jackpots.

Someone also suggested to use the word “work” as a command to me. But I haven’t worked out an effective way for her to recognize this as one of my commands so don’t use it.

Instead I use the word “ready” and she sits and as I also say it before I throw her ball I think what it means to Ilse is that I’m about or we are about to do something. And besides another reason why I don’t use “work” as a command is because it sounds too much like a reprimand to me.

Ilse has also got quite a few other toys too, and the amount made my mother laugh the other day, as she pointed out that I had two or three boxes just for her toys. And her favourite toys are the ball and the tug toys, and of course toys that make a squeaky noise. 

Also although I know that some people don’t recommend playing tug with a dog, I also have seen the usefulness of teaching this skill to a dog.

As getting a chance to tug on a rope toy can be another form of a reward for doing something when looking at it from a dog’s point of view.

For instance, a  dog’s owner can reward their dog by giving them a chance to tug after their dog had responded to them calling them. And learning to tug can also give the dog a chance to learn other useful things like opening doors, and pulling off socks for owners who find it hard to do it themselves. 

Also using different types of rewards while we are training, or interacting with our dogs can stop a dog from only accepting one type of reward.

As some dogs become too food oriented if their trainer only uses food as a reward for their dog. And when I train Ilse I make sure I switch over to food or a toy when I get her to do things. And also remember to not forget the praise either.

As a lot of people using food or toys as motivators forget the praise, and just thinking about this has made me think that this is why a dog only seems to be working for food. As by using praise as a way to motivate our dogs can help them become praise motivated dogs.

My miniature schnauzer Ilse did her first sit out of sight, mum had Dita and Ruebens doing it too. And apart from a bit of sniffing Ilse stayed in position very well. So did Ruebens. Then after a minute or so mum came back insight and as she was returning Dita moved her rear end up to her front legs, and mum didn’t see her do it but knew that I saw it. I’m still training Ilse myself and we are going well and Ilse is walking at my pace more now but mum suggested and I given her permission to handle Ilse in the ring for me until she gets her  CCD as the lead gets tangled up with the walking aide and I can’t really prevent it. And then I’ll be trialling Ilse in novice. I did a bit of off lead heeling with Ilse this week and she kept up very well.

Also been throwing her gray and black tennis ball and mum laughed and then commented as Ilse ran to get it that the tennis ball is the same colour as Ilse. I then told mum that’s why I got it and then another activity that I also been doing is taking Ilse for walks.

I’m going to try to fit walking as a way to exercise more into my normal routine this year. As normally I do it for a while then there are gaps where I don’t do it. I also got a book on a form of yoga and I’m pleased that I can do the first three exercises. And my mum found out via the internet and told me that they are trying to encourage people with cerebral palsy to do yoga.

Mum has just finished training my miniature schnauzer named Ilse. And Ilse was heeling along nicely off lead. I also know that Ilse isn’t a one person dog and I’m not bothered by this at all as I think this is more an advantage rather than something to feel annoyed about.

As my mother can do things with Ilse that I find hard to do, like stepping over her and this is done to dogs to make them more steady on the stays. Also because I have never objected to Ilse interacting with others I find when I go out now she accepts it a lot quicker. Mum and I have also been told by people that Ilse is quiet for a miniature schnauzer. And people have also made this remark about our shelties which we no longer have.

As my mother and I are both dog trainers, and trialers mum sometimes tries to give some advice. Like for example we have both become aware that although Ilse my miniature schnauzer comes when called at a terriffic pace, she does jump up on me than she sits at the end.

I also have to admit that I have been reluctant to correct this behaviour, as I don’t want Ilse to become confused, and lose motivation for coming in fast whenever I call her.

I also seen on DVDS about dog training that some people stand with their legs apart, and when their dog get to a certain point the dog’s trainer/handler then throws a tennis ball through their legs. This helps the dog to not just focus on food as other objects can be used just as effectively in training too. It also helps dogs to come in fast and straight which gives higher points in the trial ring for this exercise.

However not everyone is able to do that with their dog, as some people have problems with their balance. And so have to use other methods such as food to get them in. And I have always given Ilse jackpots for coming in regularly. Also I only do three or less recalls when I decide to train her, and found that she has always been enthusiastic.

Mum has also suggested to me that I should start dropping food on the ground and telling Ilse, “leave it” before she gets it then say “okay.”

But I don’t want Ilse to be sniffing the ground for food when she gets to me. So I have been trying to think of other alternatives like saying “down” as Ilse jumps up. And I also say “ah” at times. Then other solutions to try when a dog tries to jump up is to tell them to sit. Repeating the exercise if she jumps has also worked as I have noticed that it gives Ilse a clear message that she is not to jump up. And because she has always been jackpotted for coming when called she is still willing to try without jumping up.

On our way to Plainlands Shopping Centre yesterday mum and I spotted a woman walking with a long, flat, and narrow bit of wood. Mum spoke first and said she obviously has some trouble with dogs on her walks. And I answered yes, and that would provoke dogs. My mother then agreed and said yes it would she then said I find throwing bits of food at approaching dogs works the best.

On Tuesday mornings a small group of dog triallers get together at Laidley, to train our dogs. And this week with the aid of using the canadian crutches, I was able to stay in class for a whole session: which made me very pleased.

This week we did some heeling, where our dogs have to walk beside us on the left side in either normal, slow, or fast pace. And inbetween the instructor tells us halt, stand, or down our dogs. We also took turns doing the figure of eight where we have to go around two people in the figure of eight pattern. Then we did stand for exam where we get instructed to stand our dogs, then leave our dogs, and while we are standing in front of our dogs the instructor run their hands over them and the dogs aren’t suppose to move while this is done nor are they to move when we return back.

Then the last two exercises were the recalls, and the sit and down stays, and as mum and I had to be somewhere else later that day, we only stayed for the first session.

As it is the second week of the school holidays, it is my two nieces turn to spend some time with us. They go back home tomorrow but while they are here they helped mum and me train our dogs. Mikayla and my youngest niece (forgot how to spell her name) acted as distractions for our dogs. As while Ilse, and I were going around them (as we were doing the figure of eight) they were eating chips. Then mum showed the girls what to do for the stand for exam and as I had my Pet Extendable Target with me with some peanut butter on it Ilse stood very well while mum and the two girls ran their hands over her. And Ilse only moved once when I walked back around her and then Ilse did two really good recalls with my two nieces standing on either side and on the second one mum knelt down beside Ilse as a further distraction.