We had our first group training session...

blackcob

blackcob

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...and she was amazing. Absolutely, can't-bloody-believe-it well behaved, attentive and calm. :D

As we drew up and she saw all the other dogs getting out of cars and heading for the field she stuck her head out of the window and started howling (:o) which, coupled with pulling like a train from car to field, filled me with dread.

However, once we'd got into a big circle and started off with everyone doing 'watch me' and so on she just chilled right out, ignored all the other dogs including a neurotic barking lunging collie and just sat and stared at me the entire time. She's not normally a foodie but between a bag of boiled chicken and a ball-on-a-rope I had no trouble at all in holding her attention for longer than we've ever managed.

She only disgraced herself once when we were out on the long lines practicing recall, when I called her back and she hurtled towards me only to skip round me at the last second and plant herself at the feet of the instructor standing behind me, who had a bumbag full of tuna cake. :o

We worked closer and closer to the other dogs and by the end were letting them go up to each other, sniff, then recalling both dogs back off each other - I am so pleased because this is something we've never been able to do, I usually end up dragging her back. :)

In the three days since I have noticed a marked improvement in her behaviour on walks, she is more attentive in general and far less desperate to get to other dogs that we meet (in fact she now totally ignores all but the very excitable).

This morning we went up to the big field and she brought me a stick; we played a sustained game of fetch, I'm talking 20-30 throws when I'm usually lucky to get five, including her delivering it nicely to hand and working hard to track it if I threw it into cover rather than losing interest and buggering off. I nearly had a bit of a sniffle there and then because she was so engaged and wanting to do stuff with me instead of just disappearing over the horizon. :o

Smug smuggity smugness, I know, but I bloody well love my dog today. :p
 
It sounds like you have found the training class you needed. I think you are a credit to husky owners, well to all dog owners really!

Hats off to the amount of effort you are putting in to training her :)

BTW now that you have praised her to the skies she is 100% guaranteed to ignore you completely in the most embarrassing way possible :D ;)
 
Brownmare said:
BTW now that you have praised her to the skies she is 100% guaranteed to ignore you completely in the most embarrassing way possible :D ;)
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Oh of course, we've just been out for a last hoon before dark and she buggered off down the other end of the field and only met me back at the gate in her own sweet time. :p

I'm still smug as we passed a lady with a collie on the way home - we've met her before and she goes on about all the agility and obedience this collie does - the buggering thing completely ignored her repeated whistles and came and jumped all over me. In fact I'm rather angry, the damn thing has plastered me with mud, had to strip off when I got home and bung everything straight in the wash! She did at least apologise a bit. :rolleyes: If I'd known how muddy I was before I got home I'd have had a proper go.

Anyway, point being, my dog isn't as bad as her dog. Ner ner ner. :p

The only annoying thing is that the training class isn't a regular thing, they just hold monthly workshops for different things - this month's was recall, next month's is dog on dog aggression. They do home visits but at eye-watering prices. Starting in two weeks they're holding a weekly beginner's agility session though and the trainer actually suggested that we were ready for that... :confused:
 
Yay well done Dax, and well done BC, sounds like you have found a decent training group. You are determined to prove those of us doom merchants who lectured you when you first got her aren't you? Just waiting for the post about her first agility competition.:)
 
MurphysMinder said:
Just waiting for the post about her first agility competition.:)
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I will eat my hat if that ever happens. :p

I'm not convinced by the agility thing, I don't think I could ever take her into a ring in a new exciting place, let her off and have her undivided attention - but, as the trainer pointed out, it's only £5 for the hour and it's an opportunity to practice our obedience type stuff amid distraction if nothing else. Plus if the bugger can learn to jump I might not have to keep hefting her over stiles. :rolleyes:

My old Spike was a corking agility dog, it would be lovely to get back into it, but he was very far removed from a husky and easily motivated by Bonios. :p
 
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