Training

Clodagh

Clodagh

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How much time do you spend training your dog a day, or a week? I mean proper structured training sessions working towards an end goal, rather than trying to teach it not to go through the rubbish bin. (Not that that is a bad end goal!).
 
Ten minutes a day if I want to teach something new or improve a behaviour that is slipping. As they are all between four and eight and have each attended several training classes over the years they pretty much know the ropes now. I try and make sure they do not forget what they have learnt on a daily basis though. Very necessary to keep off the slippery slope with four headstrong dogs.

I am trying my hand at 'shaping' with clicker training at the moment, but that is more for my own (and theirs) entertainment than from necessity. Just something I have not tried before!
 
We go to classes every week for an hour. At the moment this is just general life skills classes but I want to start agility with him.

At home I try and do 10/15mins a day in the house, I'll normally have around 3 sessions in the week that will go on longer than this. I also train when out on a walk, a lot of recall and waits and 'watch me''s as he's slightly lead reactive (out of frustration) but is getting much better.

He's still relatively new (had him 4 months) so still learning lots of things. I think our training sessions are structured, but no set 'end goal' (yet). I think he'd ace agility so am trying to think of things that would aid us in that before I take him to classes. At the moment it's more an end goal of having general obedience and life skills.
 
I do 10 minute sessions too. I had a few lessons with our first labs breeder and she said 10 minutes was pretty much the best length of time. Puppy (4 months) gets 5 minutes every day, sit, stay, recall - absolute basics - adults get 10 minutes each twice a week. I agree planete a lot of it is just ongoing stuff out on walks and so on.
This morning I spent 10 minutes on heel with 14 month old lab (interdispersed with the odd retrieve), on a lead shes great, take it off and she walks further away so she can look at my face. Now, eye contact is good but I want her by my knee. Any suggestions?
 
Amye said:
We go to classes every week for an hour. At the moment this is just general life skills classes but I want to start agility with him.

At home I try and do 10/15mins a day in the house, I'll normally have around 3 sessions in the week that will go on longer than this. I also train when out on a walk, a lot of recall and waits and 'watch me''s as he's slightly lead reactive (out of frustration) but is getting much better.

He's still relatively new (had him 4 months) so still learning lots of things. I think our training sessions are structured, but no set 'end goal' (yet). I think he'd ace agility so am trying to think of things that would aid us in that before I take him to classes. At the moment it's more an end goal of having general obedience and life skills.
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Sounds like an end plan to me, just being a good dog can be an end plan.
 
Absolutely no time at all :o

Rufus always does exactly what's asked of him; 1st time, without question. Always has done from day one. He picks up new stuff practically instantly but I don't ask much of him.

Button is the absolute polar opposite to him and I've given up trying to change her (she will be 14 this year). Eventually responds but in her own sweet time. If you relied on her to be consistent, you would be waiting a long time!!

To be honest I don't demand much from my woofs (any of them). As long as they get off the furniture when needs dictate, don't torment people or other dogs and come back when I need them, I'm a happy bunny.
 
Just getting back into things after some time off.
At the moment, five or ten minutes in the back garden every morning, even if that is just a downstay while I have a cup of tea :p but mostly just lowering expectation and keeping everything pretty boring.
Mostly just a walk in the evening but if there is any sport going on that I walk past, I might throw in some heelwork and use the distraction if it is there.
Tracking between 2-3 times a week at the moment.
Two formal training days a week, although not doing much at the minute, would only ever be sessions of ten or fifteen minutes. Bits of obedience and a little bit of ring training or being used as a demo dog for others with younger dogs at the moment. Will start travelling in the next few weeks.
 
Ummm.... none.....!!

The three oldies are fab now & are never a problem. Millie the mad lurcher is in desperate need of recall training and will get some on a 1-2-1 basis when the clocks change

Bother that’s another downside of idiot ex staying, I was looking forward to them being properly obedient when he was no longer around to mess things up!
 
Zero. We did classes when she was younger, but then stopped as they were boring and we never moved on as it were.

But - she sits, stays, goes to, stands, pee pee's and has excellent recall. She doesn't do anything she shouldn't and is a lovely dog. I guess all our training has just evolved......
 
After reading some replies I might be strict with myself and make all our home sessions 10/15 mins long. I normally aim for this but lose track of time!
 
I was interested to see CC does maninly short sessions too, I did wonder if I was being a cop out (and I rarely have any more time available) but now I feel it has been franked!
Those who don't do any, tbh I never did when I had pet dogs, once they had mastered whatg was needed for day to day living I just stopped. I love it now though and do find it rewarding.

So - CC, how to stop eye contact and get a good heel!?
 
None. They just learn as they go, but definitely nothing structured. Mine are just pets though
 
agility-prob each dog 5 mins a day,something simple like a wing wrap or a distance tunnel etc even sending around a tree.
a friend comes once a week and we train 4 for about an hour.

always do some obedience while we are out and about,down stays,bit of heel work.
 
About 10 to 15 mins on an evening - he thinks its a game and loves it. Just run through the usual obedience commands - sit, down, stand, speak, watch, touch, off lead heel, wait, ring the bell, etc. - he knows about 20 different commands and could do more if I could think of different things to teach him (he is brighter than me :)). I hide things in the house and garden and he has to find them - "find it" is indicate, "get it" is bring it to me.

Now and again on a walk I will leave him in a down or sit and walk a good distance and ask him to change position by hand signal and then ask him to come.

I'm afraid I don't do any formal training or sports.
 
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Fizz does Flyball training once a week at the club....her session is 1.5 hours but the dogs don’t work for that full time. We then to 1-2 10/15 min sessions a week on Flyball skills and 1-2 ‘trick’ training sessions a week.

Dobby does 5 mins on every walk with me as a minimum and 2-3 10/15 min sessions on ‘trick’ training.
 
Clodagh said:
How much time do you spend training your dog a day, or a week? I mean proper structured training sessions working towards an end goal, rather than trying to teach it not to go through the rubbish bin. (Not that that is a bad end goal!).
Click to expand...

I do several short sessions a day...I will integrate training into walks, I'm doing Gundog training with mine so I do things such a blinds and memory retrieves on walks, whistle stops too, plus we may hunt up a hedgeline...structured training class for an hour and a half on monday nights and a 2 hour Gundog session fortnightly...so I spend alot of time training I guess...But since I gave up horses I'm finding I love the training side of things and it gives me a focus as given my age he'll most likely be the last dog I own!
 
maisie06 said:
I do several short sessions a day...I will integrate training into walks, I'm doing Gundog training with mine so I do things such a blinds and memory retrieves on walks, whistle stops too, plus we may hunt up a hedgeline...structured training class for an hour and a half on monday nights and a 2 hour Gundog session fortnightly...so I spend alot of time training I guess...But since I gave up horses I'm finding I love the training side of things and it gives me a focus as given my age he'll most likely be the last dog I own!
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I too have given up horses and taken on gundogs. A much better hobby, IMO. The training is so rewarding and enjoyable.
 
Ten mins for the young ones. Longer if we're working on hunting patterns/using the pen with the older dogs. Although I often have 2-3 at heel while hunting one so they're doing something even while not actively being trained
 
Mine train me every day. Especially the 12yo who knows everything!

Seriously, Aled came to is pretty well trained at 10. We still do some training, sit and wait to cross roads etc. His playtime is “find it” “bring it” “drop” etc. I think it’s fun for him and keeps him on his toes.

We do a lot of training/reminding with Luna. Mostly just basic stuff, fun for her, but both are pets.
 
Never trained a dog in any sort of structured way, never given a dog a treat either, I’ve got collies and they just train themselves !
 
Each walk is training, so daily. Gotta keep the little darlings occupied! Bear doesn’t need entertaining, I’d take him to the woods, but it’s just mush currently. Sprinkling of snow here, no heavy stuff, thank god.
 
I don't do structured training with my GSDs at the moment. One is ten years and one is seven years and we no longer attend working trials training. I do incorporate training in the way of manners and reinforcing stuff they already know into every day life. I do occasionally lay tracks for them too as they both enjoy it. (I enjoy handling the dogs on a track but hate laying them!)

My collie is three and while most are fully trained by this age, he has been very (very) late maturing (and is still fizzy) and so I have been giving him more time to grow up a bit. As soon as lambing is out of the way I will start taking him to the training sheep 3-4 times a week for 10 minute sessions to see if I can get him working calmly.
 
bonny said:
Never trained a dog in any sort of structured way, never given a dog a treat either, I’ve got collies and they just train themselves !
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well you must be doing something right if they are ok. the two collies that belonged to the woman I used to share a yard with were appalling.


Quarrie gets a training session at lunchtimes when he comes to work with me-anything from 4 times to twice a week 20 min sessions. with him we do a lot of work to keep him steady lol.
With Fitz (who gets similar length sessions but much simpler stuff) I only aim to keep it fun and totally pressure/anxiety free-once he has something he has it for good whereas Quarrie is somewhat more opportunistic and can lack a little impulse control. Almost all walks together and apart are training walks reinforcing heel work and recall etc.
 
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