PSA video - Page 2

@koots heres my 10 yr old GSD doing a carjack at the mock trial. I just told the decoy not to fight her hard since shes 10 and all her teeth r broke. Just wanted to give the old gal a treat she loves to bite ;-)

That's awesome - good for her. The old gal still has it!

with regards to my above post that was edited:
Each scenario, depending on the construction of the surrounding behaviors within the scenario, the Muzzle fight points can vary. Gee I will PM you the specifics for this particular trial. 

This is a video of a PP dog training for PSA at the end of his foundation. Second session on the suit working his grip and bicep/tricep targeting with a couple drag-in's and sends. He's had a sport foundation. The dog is fairly balanced and naturally civil.
Second session was for working on environmentals and distractions.
Throughout a dogs training when introducing something new or if something needs to be worked on or the dog is a little slow to progress in an area I will go back to the sleeve to build up the dog faster and higher.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7eTQWcTcig

 

 

Confined spaces and distractions - always good to see.
Thanks for posting.

R
Gee

Gsdfan you are saying that handlers allowed in the mock trial to correct the dog. That is good. I have found out that one of the biggest obstacle for dogs performance is that during competition the dog does not get corrected. Dogs then learn that this is what is going on during the trial and dog will become "trial wise". I admit I have had problem with that myself. It is akin behavior problem in the house where dogs learn that I will be slow to correct when I am on the phone> Thus when I get on the phone they turn into little "devils". I know how to correct that> I just put the person on the phone on hold and correct the dog and that teaches the dogs that when I am on the phone that they can do whatever they want. However during the trial that is not possible. Mock trial is a good way to go yet I have learned that dog can tell real trial from mock trial. Any suggestions. ( Honest question)

Hans: Mock trial is a good way to go yet I have learned that dog can tell real trial from mock trial. Any suggestions.

GSDfan: Mock trials are not offered very often so it is designed to be a surprise to the dog as the "trial picture" (people/setup/fencing/decoy numbers) to the dog it looks like a trial. I would assume if you did a mock trial more than a few times the dog would get wise.

A dog who one would say can tell a mock trial from a real trial I would say is more "collar wise" than anything. One way to get around this issue is to leave the e-collar on the dog all the time (or for long periods) so you are not just always putting it on JUST before training. However due to the long metal contacts if they are left on tight they will create a hot spot then a serious wound so this I don't like this. One can mess around with dummy collars with no contacts to try and trick the dog etc but any deviation would be an indication to the dog something is amiss. The theory behind this is the dog is conditioned with the constant wearing of the collar so the one time you take it off it will take a while to figure out he can't get corrected.

The dog has to go on the trial field with a fur saver on the dead ring.

If one creates a training habit, a pattern of behavior, strict enforcement of any deviation from correct in every obedience session the dog is more likely to work without conflict and not be disobedient at trial. A handler who allows and even rewards sloppy work in obedience, ignores or does not correct autonomous behaviors (minor example: like going from a down to a sit when the handler returns before commanded to) there will always be conflict in the work and the dog will always push to see how much he can get away with. Nagging or ineffective corrections will desensitize a dog and just make him harder to handle. As a trainer this attention to detail and pointing out when a handler is allowing sloppy or inattentive behavior, poor timing for correction and reward, ineffective corrections, etc is a constant topic during each session especially with new handlers. If your dog is allowed to be sloppy during training, on a known field, with correction collars on...you cannot expect perfection on the trial field.

With that being said I do not treat obedience in my house the same way I do on the field (depending on the dog). I prefer to address the "competitive obedience routine" with positive motivation, reward and correction, team oriented with very little display of handler dominance (unless necessary of course). House manners involve more handler dominance without "reward" so to me it's apples and oranges.

You question is hard to answer because every dog is different but for arguments sake we will be referring to a head strong dog who is "hard" (excessively resilient to correction) with a poor handler relationship or generally with little desire to please. The dog is in it for himself (he's in it for the ball/tug/bite on decoy). A dog who is "Trial wise"....The problem really is more in the training. I will say these dogs are challenging even for the best handler, but if you can manipulate the reward and sufficiently hard corrections and NEVER allow the dog to reward himself it is manageable. Don't trial the dog more often than needed. Dont' do two trials in one weekend.

But the thing that i've seen work the best but is the least popular and is often a last resort with hard dogs (not something one should do in front of pet people), is physical correction (slap with the leash). If the dog knows the collars are off, but knows you can get still correct them physically you are less likely to see defiance on a trial wise dog.

But im certainly no expert in obedience.

I like the last 2 sentences in your post. Not only that they help me to realize that unexpectedly switching correction would be good way to go, but also it took some guts to say that here. Hats off to you.

Nice work, GSDFan.