input and output training MY Standard

[on-the-coast]

Hi everyone,

I am just sharing my experience with getting my Standard, now 6 months, over the first obedience and house/life-training hurdles.

With much help regarding training from Matt, and much encouragement that I have in my ear, when we Schu came into our life from many forum members, .... we have achieved in having a dog, that tends to no longer poo and pee in the house, answers to recall, unless caught up eating irresistable roo poo at our farm, who plays hide and seek with me in the house to our enjoyment, while the 'stay' gets better all the time.
We play football together and Schu's look, when he looks up into my face, when he puts his paw on the ball, is a great pleasure and fun.

I am strictly following a lure and reward system.
And I lure: 150g of mince and heel .... every morning in circles through the house without disturbances, several days later under the heat blowing air con ... between 6 and 7 EVERY morning, 7 days a week, 7 days a week for the last 2 months.

And yesterday: Schu, my only one dog, walked on the leash, with next to no pulling, barked at a neighbour, when we stopped, I touched her arm and told him she is a friend, when Schu hesitated, shut up, dropped to the ground and waited till we stopped chatting for about 10 minutes. Wow...was I impressed and was so aware I was reaping the benefits of our training mornings.

To sum it up: it takes time, time and time again.
And it never stops.
Every time, everytime we go out to the farm, we practice recall, before he is allowed to run off.

It takes patience - I suspend all feelings and my desire for constant forward moving.
Some days it goes forward, on others it goes three steps back. And suddenly, I can leave the room without my dog blinking. (Nobody knows whether it will still work tomorrow...but I am cool with that... because now I know HE CAN DO IT and HE WILL DO IT AGAIN!)

While basic obedience is important what also counts is: how does Schu fit into our life?
Will he go to bed when we need him to do it?
Will he allow to wipe his feet before he gets into the house?
Will he be pissed off when I deny him today what I allowed the last three weeks?
Will he allow to pluck hair out of his ears?

Also we try and make sure my husband and myself do pretty much the same thing.

It is much experimentation ..... and OFTEN good fun.

Schnauzers are great dogs. Thanks everyone for being there for us.

And regarding more traditional training systems:

He gets mad, when you check him (short jerks on the leash..not sure whethr that hurts me more than the dog)
He ...seems he gives himself up, when you treat him harshly.
He does not respond, when you growl at him.
He runs away, when the voice is hard.
He shuts down completely, when you get agitated and nervous.

So it is lure and reward

Making training pleasant and fun
Tickling his interest
Repeating as often as needed


The dog that ran away, when I sang, now sits on my lap, I go (giggle) "hop-hop-hop" (giggle) and sing a nursery rhyme... and he allows it.

(He doesn't YET allow enough handling to groom and wash him etc)

So far sOoooo good - (clap) thanks everyone (clap)

(clap) (clap) Thanks Matt!!!! (clap) (clap)

[puppypower]

Wow you and Schu have done well and it has given me some encouragement I really feel lost and alone with Jaspers training, I know I have not done enough and now I am unsure where to start, I have booked some dog psychology session to help with a few issues but not sure where to go from there, may be the mince would be a goood way? Do you repeat heel or something as you walk about?

I think id have a trail of dogs after me if I walked round with meat in my hand lol schauzer, husky and jack russel who may be old but is like lightening when it comes to food (dogrun)

[on-the-coast]

Now what I have learnt and Matt may read this and contribute his knowledge:

It doesn't matter where you train. When they have it, they have it. I do this training in my Yoga room because it is winter here and too cold outside.
We do most training in the morning. I struggle to juggle the (bloody) mince...but Schu is teething and while I am asking him to heel, I stop and get him to sit, shove some mince into the dog and we are off again. No time for extended chewing. We are briskly walking around in circles.

When out on the farm there are toooo many distractions. He doesn't heel YET!
Works in the garden, works on the footpath, works in the village, works in the house.

Dog psychologist?? Do you write about it somewhere?

[mookie&me]

Wow you and Schu have done well and it has given me some encouragement I really feel lost and alone with Jaspers training, I know I have not done enough and now I am unsure where to start

Check out a couple of dog training classes near you (they are usually happy for you to sit in on a class at first, without your dog) and then go every week. That's a great start! You will pick up tips from the trainers, find that Jasper is better than other dogs at some things, and needs catching up on other things, but if the class is good, the atmosphere should be non-competitive and supportive.

Astrid lives miles away from the nearest *good* training class down there in Oz, so her training has to be quite solitary at the moment. A few members on here even drive up to 1.5 or 2 hours away for their classes, but I'm sure you can find something locally to suit you and Jasper.

I can't recommend classes enough really. It does more than train your dog. It strengthens your bond together, gives him something to look forward to (seeing his classmates every week), builds your own confidence handling your dog etc.. and the trainer is there to give you specific advice too.

Sorry if I'm missed previous posts about Jasper's issues (you mention a psychologist?) but if he's your average, happy-go-lucky, cheeky, slightly disobedient but loveable 15 month-old dog, try training classes first!! (bigthumbs)

@ on-the-coast: well done for your achievements!! Sounds like you're moving forward, even if you don't always feel it (cool)

[puppypower]

Thanks Olivia, I think he is the average 15 month-old schnuazer it more like I need the help understanding my dogs language (he is just fine with it lol) she suggests both training and dog psychology working together so I will try and find a local trainer though it would need to be local id drive for hours but Id not be able to do the class or get us home, he knows when I am really tired and plays up, I need to know how to manage him and myself at those times.
I can imagine there are many benifits of a class, one to one works best for me, but does not get Jasper to socialise he is great off lead, just not on the lead.

ps you didnt miss any posts on Jaspers issues.

[sugarbear]

Well done Astrid. A lovely post to read first thing in the morning. You have accomplished a lot with Shu in just 2 months. He is going to be an amazing dog.

[Darwinsmum]

A lovely post to read Astrid, you've come so far, keep it up.

[on-the-coast]

Thanks, guys...
It is good to see Schu happy with this process, too.
He still plays wild games all involved in an imaginary chase and hunt.
The more we train, the more he looks at me for entertainment.

Our life is getting better. And I benefit from the routine too.
EVERY morning, 7 days a week, I get up at a quarter to six and work with Schu until about 7.30, then he is happy to sit back and have another nap, when I start MY work.
My freedom has increased over the last month.
We still take him everywhere.
Dog training course 1 is finished and there is nothing else in sight.

PUPPYPOWER: Maybe you want to open a topic on Jasper's training and you will find an amazing response over time from the forum. They are fantastic people with a lot of ideas and knowledge.
There is not much that the guys in the forum have not experienced with dogs and Schnauzers respectively![/b]