Lucy's Colleen
Bratty Ratty
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| 05/26/2007 8:10 PM |
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Lucy's trainer is having us work on gettin our dogs all worked up and she wants us to get them to get really exciting. Lucy is having a problem with this one, she gets in her training mode and knows she has to behave to get a treat. All she can think about is how to get that treat, not on bouncing around like a goof. All she does is just sit and stare at me. I can get her all revved up on the floor when I'm playing with her, but I haven't been able to do so standing up. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to do this? I know, it's a very strange question. She just is too preoccupied by the food, maybe I should try a toy. I don't know. Suggestions please? |
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Colleen
Flickr account:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7797281@N05/ |
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rattytatty
Newbie
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| 05/26/2007 10:12 PM |
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| Bailey gets much more revved by his toy than he does by food. If Lucy has a favorite toy... take it with you and use it as a motivator. At this point, Lucy probably is confused about what you want from her... it's up to you to be her "cheerleader"... be very animated and silly. (This was tough for me... but it does work!) |
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Lucy's Colleen
Bratty Ratty
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| 05/26/2007 10:18 PM |
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| I agree. I think she is confused. She is picking up on the other homework the trainer sent us home with. She has gotten really good at "Touch". Putting her nose on my hand. Although sometimes she gets a little excited/confused and will slap my hand then put her nose on it. Needless to say my hands are all scratched up on the back. |
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Colleen
Flickr account:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7797281@N05/ |
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Morgan
Moderator
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| 05/27/2007 12:00 AM |
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| This may be a stupid question, but why does your trainer want you to practice getting Lucy excited? |
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-Morgan (Bella's Mommy) |
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rattytatty
Newbie
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| 05/27/2007 6:37 AM |
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| It's not a stupid question, Morgan -- there are NO stupid questions (unless I'm the one asking them). She's taking agility classes with Lucy. The goal is to get the dog revved up so she will WANT to do it ... instead of MAKING her do it. It's different from obedience training which is very "calm" and "matter of fact". Agility is more FUN and the dog and handler work as a team... totally in sync with each other. The dog has to WANT to please... WANT to do the obstacles.... and the way to get a dog to want something is oftentimes to get him revved up. Many dogs (border collies, shelties, aussies... most in the herding class... ) are naturally revved up, but some dogs aren't. |
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Morgan
Moderator
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| 05/27/2007 10:45 AM |
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Ohhhh ok. I had completely forgotten that Lucy was doing agility. I was thinking obedience....I was like hmmm?? Makes more sense now though, haha.  |
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-Morgan (Bella's Mommy) |
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Lucy's Colleen
Bratty Ratty
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| 05/27/2007 2:02 PM |
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| That is where to difficulty comes in because she wants to behave and I'm trying to get her to basically go nuts. She does it a little with her Wubba Kong toy, but she expects me to throw it. I think this will be the item I use. |
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Colleen
Flickr account:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7797281@N05/ |
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Paul
Feisty
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| 05/27/2007 2:12 PM |
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Yeah, I think each individual dog owner has their own "secret weapon" to use as that Wind-Up item. When I took Darmok to agility classes, it was funny at some of the things people would use as the energizer item for their dog. One lady had an old work sock of her husband's that she twirled around in front of her Dalmation to get him all worked up and wanting to play! As soon as the obstacle course was run, she gave the sock to her dog and played "tug" with him---it worked for her!  |
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"Train now, or forever hold your leash"
http://www.flickr.com/photos/doberdad/ |
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Rockstar's Mom
Ratterific
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| 05/27/2007 6:45 PM |
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Rockstar and I are doing flyball training and we have to get revved up too.
Its not always the easiest thing.
What my trainer said to do was to buy a specific toy that is only for special play. Play with your dog with the toy for a few minutes but take it away while he/she still has interest in it. Bring it out often, but only for short, special play. This way your dog will get really excited and 'revved' when he/she sees that specific toy! |
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Ahleah
Mom to ratties Rockstar and Cash |
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Lucy's Colleen
Bratty Ratty
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| 05/27/2007 6:55 PM |
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| That does sound like a good idea. I think I will try that. Maybe I can take a break from studying and go to the store to get her something. It will make for a productive form of procrastination. I hate finals. Thank you for the advice. I will definitely try a special toy. She does lose interest in her toys. |
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Colleen
Flickr account:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7797281@N05/ |
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Lucy's Colleen
Bratty Ratty
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| 05/27/2007 6:56 PM |
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| By the way, what is flyball training? |
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Colleen
Flickr account:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7797281@N05/ |
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anacodia
Ratterific
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| 05/27/2007 8:41 PM |
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Hey Colleen,
I get my agility toys at cleanrun.com. They have all kinds of toys for all different motivation types, maybe you could get a toy that you fill with treats for her?
http://www.cleanrun.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=494&ParentCat=22 like that. I got my dog a rabbit fur toy that she likes, but what she really gets excited about is tugging on her leash before or after a run. We do a sequence, I clip the leash on, and she gets all excited about it and tugs away.
http://www.cleanrun.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_ID=149&CFID=590457&CFTOKEN=22284025
It's one of those. Both of these ONLY come out during agility training time. It may take a little while to figure out what it is that gets your dog psyched up. Another technique we use is either the trainer or me holds the dog back while we say to her "Copper!!! Are you ready!?!!!! Are You READY?!!! one!!!!! two!!!!!!! threee!!!! GO!!! and she about launches herself onto the course sequence. Getting them revved up will help with the dog doing the obstacles at a faster pace too, instead of a non-revved up dog who will really struggle to make it up the a-frame (for instance), if they are just barely trotting.
I love doing agility with my rattie! It's so addicting. Good luck with your training!
Erika
*Edited to fix my links. I'm kind of a newbie here. Sorry! |
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Lucy's Colleen
Bratty Ratty
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| 05/29/2007 11:17 PM |
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I have bought a kong toy that is actually called a teaser and I think it might work. She got the duck. It's a rope, stuffed animal with squeaker, squeaky kong ball all in one. She does get excited over it too.
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Colleen
Flickr account:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7797281@N05/ |
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