More training with distractions video

[Ravenbird]

When we get distractions I try to use them to my advantage. Yesterday we got 3 dump loads of rocks for the dirt driveway, so big machines & plenty of noise . E-collar was on because she was outside the front yard fence with me while the two guys were hanging out waiting for the truck to show up with the rocks. She was grumbling a bit, but no explosive barking, then ignored them. I only had to use the vibrate button once to remind her to mind her manners. No use of the e-collar at all in this video. Some days I'm really proud of this girl!!!

 

[JanS]

Nice!!!

 

[Doberman Gang]

When we get distractions I try to use them to my advantage. Yesterday we got 3 dump loads of rocks for the dirt driveway, so big machines & plenty of noise . E-collar was on because she was outside the front yard fence with me while the two guys were hanging out waiting for the truck to show up with the rocks. She was grumbling a bit, but no explosive barking, then ignored them. I only had to use the vibrate button once to remind her to mind her manners. No use of the e-collar at all in this video. Some days I'm really proud of this girl!!!

Nice, she is a good girl. Love her intensity when you call her.

 

[jazzies mum]

Great job there. Did you ever think you would have this degree of focus from her when she was a youngster and super sassy? They do us proud but make us work for it!

 

[Rits]

Love it! She is ready to go! Whatever you say she's there for you. I love when they are that intense but it's for YOU. Makes your heart sing. She's come a long way thanks to all your hard work.

 

[Gpcoguy]

Good job!

 

[EricA]

When we get distractions I try to use them to my advantage.

Awesome!

 

[MyBuddy]

Wow, very impressive! Your hard work paid off!

 

[Ravenbird]

Did you ever think you would have this degree of focus from her when she was a youngster and super sassy?

I have to admit that there were way too many times that I thought it would never happen. And truthfully it's still not 100%. Machines and noise are not as hard for her as people and personal space invasion situations. She is STILL super sassy I need to get a video of her sass-back bark.

 

[Kswoodssue]

Absolutely impressive. I am always motivated by you 2!

 

[EricA]

Great job there. Did you ever think you would have this degree of focus from her when she was a youngster and super sassy? They do us proud but make us work for it!

I noticed that focus too.

That dog was down right eager to follow commands and waiting for more!

 

[Cferg]

Asha and my dogs behavior is shockingly similar in the video. I mean everything down to the last detail of her slamming into your leg in the air to spin her butt into the heel. Haha
This isn’t the first time I’ve had this observation. You posted a video of someone coming into the agility arena when you guys were working. When she charged and barked Asha is the only other dog I’ve heard make that same exact sound.

 

[Ravenbird]

Asha and my dogs behavior is shockingly similar

Clones, I tell ya, they're all clones!

 

[strykerdobe]

Great job!!!!!!!!

 

[Josette]

When we get distractions I try to use them to my advantage. Yesterday we got 3 dump loads of rocks for the dirt driveway, so big machines & plenty of noise . E-collar was on because she was outside the front yard fence with me while the two guys were hanging out waiting for the truck to show up with the rocks. She was grumbling a bit, but no explosive barking, then ignored them. I only had to use the vibrate button once to remind her to mind her manners. No use of the e-collar at all in this video. Some days I'm really proud of this girl!!!

What a good girl !

 

[Ravenbird]

A couple of months ago the electric company sent out a crew to check/test all the electric poles in the forest, I'm assuming for forest fire safety and the one by our house was flagged for replacement. They showed up the other day - two big trucks and a pickup truck, a crew of 4 and of course Asha went nuts barking and carrying on. So we did obedience with ball reward on the porch on and off for about 20 minutes, then went to the barn area where I worked on a project and she stayed with me where she could watch them, but by then she was not interested in barking at them. It took about 3 hours for them to finish and leave and she was totally OK with them and their noise.

I think teaching reactive dogs how to accept harmless distractions by doing simple things that they know (sit, stay, down etc) with their very favorite rewards teaches being Neutral to it. The distraction is there, it's not going away, you don't have to bark at it, you don't have to be afraid, you can have great fun while it's here.

 

[JanS]

Nice job Asha and you!

 

[BGpa]

A couple of months ago the electric company sent out a crew to check/test all the electric poles in the forest, I'm assuming for forest fire safety and the one by our house was flagged for replacement. They showed up the other day - two big trucks and a pickup truck, a crew of 4 and of course Asha went nuts barking and carrying on. So we did obedience with ball reward on the porch on and off for about 20 minutes, then went to the barn area where I worked on a project and she stayed with me where she could watch them, but by then she was not interested in barking at them. It took about 3 hours for them to finish and leave and she was totally OK with them and their noise.

I think teaching reactive dogs how to accept harmless distractions by doing simple things that they know (sit, stay, down etc) with their very favorite rewards teaches being Neutral to it. The distraction is there, it's not going away, you don't have to bark at it, you don't have to be afraid, you can have great fun while it's here.

Great tip!

 

[Ddski5]

You know this but just saying:

With Ragnar, I always let him go protective mode, walk the perimeter- let him do his job so he feels empowered. Then after he’s done his thing, call him back, go through a set of obedience commands and keep him close until he settled. This let him know that I was confident and in control.

Once his breathing normalized, he calmed down…then he was set free but still closely monitored. That asshat had to be supervised.

On the other hand, Freyja just needs to be reminded that I am here and I’m control. She’ll growl, bark and come back to me for a nose-fist bump. If she is with my wife or girls, she will take control and go beserk.

 

[Ravenbird]

I always let him go protective mode, walk the perimeter- let him do his job so he feels empowered.

Same! I'm glad you brought this up.

I think once you get your puppy through the growing up/out of control mode, they level out and you both can come to some kind of agreement. At least I did with Asha. I don't think it's fair to purposely go out and get a dog hard wired for defense of space then shut them down. So when two giant trucks and a pick up come park in the yard and 4 workmen are out and about - yes, I let her bark & tell them what she thought from our fenced yard. I had put the e-collar on, but never had to use it. I just said Enough! and went out the gate to talk to the guy in charge as she watched me "take control" of the situation. Then I came back to her and we did some fun exercises while the workers did their thing. Probably about the first 5 minutes Asha was torn between watching them and watching me but soon found I was much more fun to watch because I had the ball and the men were totally wrapped up in their job not looking at her at all.

That said, she never gets defensive/explosive barking in public anymore and I never let her if she thinks about it. That's kind of our agreement and I think it's fair. I use the e-collar because if she breaks her end of the bargain - at home that means when I say "enough" I mean it, and in public if I say, "nope, don't even think of it", I mean it.