Went training today

Clodagh

Clodagh

Playing chess with pigeons
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Took Scout up to meet a friend who I picked up with a few times this season. She used to compete in working tests and the odd trial with spaniels. She has a lab pup 2 months older than Scout.
Where I’ve been a bit flummoxed with S is he isn’t mad on the dummy. He likes it well enough if there’s nothing better but not in a ‘this is my world’ way the girls had. I’m not sure if it was because he was a boy! Friend said that he has had too much pressure put on him as a pup (not by me, but I suppose his breeder had to decide who to keep). So he has got worried about making mistakes and therefore appears diffident. So no more steadiness training, no more dummy, it’s all balls and running in and excitement. You could immediately see a huge improvement. He’s a good little chap so I’m sure the manners will come back when needed.
Then he went to lunch at the golf club, quite the man about town!
 
You social butterfly! Lunch at the golf club! Do you have to be a member to get on? It's not something that would occur to me! We're taking the boys to a big pet superstore at the weekend. A far cry from the golf club!
 
Cinnamontoast said:
You social butterfly! Lunch at the golf club! Do you have to be a member to get on? It's not something that would occur to me! We're taking the boys to a big pet superstore at the weekend. A far cry from the golf club!
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It’s a funny little one near mums, you can get two mains and two small wines for £17! No I’m not a member, none of us have ever played golf in our life. It’s a cheap place, home made food and easy for mum to get to . ?.
 
Spotherisk said:
I wonder if that was part (although obv they were chalk and cheese!) of the reason he didn’t understand play with Rew? Fingers crossed he enjoys his fun time ?
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Could be, he didn’t play with friend’s pup for ages either and then only a bit before coming to heel (hadn’t been asked to). Feeling sorry for trials dogs everywhere today.
 
Clodagh said:
Could be, he didn’t play with friend’s pup for ages either and then only a bit before coming to heel (hadn’t been asked to). Feeling sorry for trials dogs everywhere today.
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Thinking about this though, I don’t actually encourage or want him to play with strange dogs. We were training yesterday so it was straight out of the car, on the lead, to heel. Playtime was when we had finished so his energy may have been flagging too.
In case he sounds like a sad little chap SAujila has met him and he’s fine. ?
 
Clodagh said:
Thinking about this though, I don’t actually encourage or want him to play with strange dogs. We were training yesterday so it was straight out of the car, on the lead, to heel. Playtime was when we had finished so his energy may have been flagging too.
In case he sounds like a sad little chap SAujila has met him and he’s fine. ?
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Our Lab isn't keen on playing with 'strange' dogs. She has 2/3 close friends' dogs that are now her friends. Other than the select few, she prefers to mooch along on her own.
 
Clodagh said:
Thinking about this though, I don’t actually encourage or want him to play with strange dogs. We were training yesterday so it was straight out of the car, on the lead, to heel. Playtime was when we had finished so his energy may have been flagging too.
In case he sounds like a sad little chap SAujila has met him and he’s fine. ?
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I was recently given a different view on this by a trainer. Out of car, on lead, sniff, pee and settle. Train, break half way, quick play then train again.

Her rationale was that dogs tend to remember and learn from the last thing that they've done, so you always end on a positive note and put them back in the car to rest and learn from their session. She says quite a bit of learning (the thinking bit) happens in the hour or two after the session
 
Lab dogs can be sensitive souls, they often come across a bit bolshy but can take things to heart, especially when they're unsure during adolescence. The same trainer that I mentioned above (bred Scouts dad) also says build all the drive before you add the steadieness
 
Clodagh said:
Thinking about this though, I don’t actually encourage or want him to play with strange dogs. We were training yesterday so it was straight out of the car, on the lead, to heel. Playtime was when we had finished so his energy may have been flagging too.
In case he sounds like a sad little chap SAujila has met him and he’s fine. ?
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We don't encourage/allow ours to play with strange dogs. They have never shown any inclination to do so - but the Rottweiler would ahve had a fit if the Labs, as pups, had tried to do so.
 
Clodagh said:
Thinking about this though, I don’t actually encourage or want him to play with strange dogs. We were training yesterday so it was straight out of the car, on the lead, to heel. Playtime was when we had finished so his energy may have been flagging too.
In case he sounds like a sad little chap SAujila has met him and he’s fine. ?
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He's absolutely brilliant! He was so fearless in and out of the water as well. I don't think he is bothered much about other dogs, he's more interested in exploring and having fun. Might as well include a picture for no reason whatsoever! S on the left and Clover on the right :D

20220202_111706.jpg
 
Thistle said:
I was recently given a different view on this by a trainer. Out of car, on lead, sniff, pee and settle. Train, break half way, quick play then train again.

Her rationale was that dogs tend to remember and learn from the last thing that they've done, so you always end on a positive note and put them back in the car to rest and learn from their session. She says quite a bit of learning (the thinking bit) happens in the hour or two after the session
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That’s what we did, we had a mid way play. Well, the other dog did!
 
Thistle said:
Lab dogs can be sensitive souls, they often come across a bit bolshy but can take things to heart, especially when they're unsure during adolescence. The same trainer that I mentioned above (bred Scouts dad) also says build all the drive before you add the steadieness
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Drive has never been an issue, I am sure from first sight of a puppy dummy the others were hooked. Still, it would be dull if they were all the same. I got him so excited this morning he ran round the garden throwing the ball in the air and catching it. Best we try for a happy medium ?
 
I’m not sure ours would cope with pub lunches just yet, Mitch still is excited pee puppy occasionally! I’m definitely going to do that eventually, tho. Roll on summer. ☀️
 
Cinnamontoast said:
I’m not sure ours would cope with pub lunches just yet, Mitch still is excited pee puppy occasionally! I’m definitely going to do that eventually, tho. Roll on summer. ☀️
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We started by taking ours to sit outside, then got them used to sitting inside on 'dog-friendly' flooring, on a picnic rug which we take everywhere with us, so that they know where to sit, whether they are on the grass or inside. Several cafes near us have conservatories that dogs are welcome in. I don't know about the Golf Clubs, though:p:D
 
His return is getting much better. He’s very keen to please so if he stops engaging I just blank him. It’s worked really quickly. As a description that doesn’t make sense!

Am also doing hold conditioning with Ffee as she will duck her head on the return. I find it very boring, but she’d do it all day. I think there’s a glimmer of improvement.
 
Clodagh said:
Drive has never been an issue, I am sure from first sight of a puppy dummy the others were hooked. Still, it would be dull if they were all the same. I got him so excited this morning he ran round the garden throwing the ball in the air and catching it. Best we try for a happy medium ?
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It may, or may not, be down to gender with your boy but I have found my girls have tended to be quicker on the uptake and keener to play and train from a younger age than the males.
 
Moobli said:
It may, or may not, be down to gender with your boy but I have found my girls have tended to be quicker on the uptake and keener to play and train from a younger age than the males.
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I’m desperately trying to strike a balance between not rushing him and hoping he can work this season! I just got a partridge shaped dummy and he loves it, and his ball in an old sock so I think it’s better not to use what he’s used to.
I agree he is very different to a girl though!
 
Went to a trainer today, first time I have met her. She’s over an hour away but was very good. She made all the right noises about my dogs ?. I took Ffee and Scout as I was at a complete dead end with them and had got dispirited.
Basically in summary I’ve got to be harder on Ffee, as she needs it and can take it, and softer on Scout as he can’t.
They are both asleep now and I’m most aggrieved as I want to go and throw things for them.
Feeling motivated!
 
A good training session always helps the motivation....I seem to remember suggesting Ffee wasn't as soft as you thought previously ;)
 
druid said:
A good training session always helps the motivation....I seem to remember suggesting Ffee wasn't as soft as you thought previously ;)
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?. That’s why you train and I’m trained. No, you are absolutely right. She’s got the ingratiating look down pat but she doesn’t mean it.
 
I’m now wandering round the house looking for things to make puppy training tools with. Yesterday I used OH’s slippers as Scout loves them but as a long term plan I’m not sure it will work.
Im going to hit the charity shops for slippers and soft toys ?
 
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