Adventures in Training the Beagles

Positive reinforcements trainers who aren't

It constantly amazes me how people who claim the teach positive reinforcement when they trained dogs don't use the same techniques on people.

I got slammed in the face with it Thursday night.

I freely admit that beagles are difficult to house break and mine aren't. The youngest is a particular problem.

I was confronted on Thursday by a trainer and owner of a indoor training facility that just relocated and told in no uncertain terms that my dog has to wear diapers in order to train there.

Wonder if that violates her Karen Pryor clicker training certification. Bet you that it does.

Rally

I went to a rally seminar and was reminded why I don't like these things. I would say a good 20% of the tome was spent arguing about the rules.

About equal to the working to which was sad.

Other than not enough working time it wasn't bad.

Dulce–Better every day

I’ve finally gotten my office cleaned up enough for a good puppy.  There are still plenty of things for bad puppies to get into.  Also, we need for Dulce to learn that she is almost a year old and she is NOT a puppy.

So a short video of her being good.

We came home from a training session.  I came up stairs and she came with me.  After a short time she disappeared, found her in the back yard and now she is back upstairs.

Being a good puppy.

Off Switch

Had a decent Rally class but have to tell the funny first.

Three other dogs were in Rally class tonight.  All of the herding breed variety.  The instructor was commenting on how calm the Terv was (Belgium Tervenan for the non-dog people).

I mentioned that it was much calmer than BC's and I'd had three.  I then said, the reason I like my beagles is that they had an off switch, and Macy immediately dropped into a down, rolled over on her side, with her ears spread behind her.  She did everything BUT fall asleep.

She actually quit working in the middle of a try at the Rally course, so I put the food away, and sat down and watched the other dogs.

We had a dog that was new to training, and the instructor was trying to talk her into clicker training.  I offered to do a demo, since she volunteered me at the beginning of class to show the left about turn.

I did a few touches with Macy and the target, then tried the new dog.  Ended up handing Macy to the instructor so Macy wouldn't grab the other dog, and then handed the stuff to the other student to try.

Man, oh man, did Macy hate that and she did a fabulous job at the next two passes.

Was a good night and I learned something really important.

Private Lesson at Dog City Training Center

I've been intrigued by "Crate Games" ever since the DVD came out.  I've watched it, but there is a lot I don't get, and having someone else's eye is also good.  Especially someone who has successfully implemented it.

Thus, I went to a "Crate Games" class put on by Paula Weir when Dog City first opening.  She's awesome.  Willing to adapt to physical needs -- I have a very short dog and bending is hard on my knees.  She put a small crate on top of a table for Macy and I to work with.  It worked great.

I've been working on it from time to time since then,and have made some progress, but wanted some more feedback, so I scheduled a private lesson with Paula last week.  By the way, the class was practically private lesson as it was, but having her undivided attention was nice.

We're making a lot of progress, and I'm insisting on the behavior in the crate in the car, and most of the time in the house. 

If you get an opportunity to see the DVD, or better yet, take a class with Paula, DO SO, it's quite interesting.

By the way, the purpose of Crate Games is to teach the dog to stay in the crate on his own.  I'm not 100% sold on the purpose, but I don't think it hurts anything that is already being trained and it might help.

Interesting observation

I can put my dogs in crates, leave the house and they are fine.

However, if I am home they scream their heads off.  Taking a few seconds every minute or so, quiet checking to see what I am doing.  No matter where I am in the house, if I head in their direction, they stop screaming.

Same thing happens when we are "out" somewhere like at an agility trial.

I wish I could leave them in the building and have peace and quiet and I'm sure everyone else does to. As a result, most of the time i leave them in the car (weather permitting).

Or should I say, my dog.  Though Maggie is just as bad.

Good progress

Last two days have been a whirlwind.

Agility class was match style, we all showed up anytime after 7:30, walked the courses and took turns.  Macy did fabulous on the teeter, had some trouble with the chute, and did a good job on the jumpers course.

Nothing that my losing a few more pounds wouldn't fix!

We also had a super class at @DogCityTrainingCenter.  We are doing rally on Friday nights.  I got tickled because the instructor wanted me to fade food on the course.  Well, if we ever get any of the behaviors on cue, mabye.....  But I'm still very much training.  We must be doing a good job of faking that we know what we're doing.

Why I like training at Dog City Training Center

I'm trying to drum up some business for a training center near my house.

Why?

Well, it's near my house.  It's actually in Carrollton, just north of Beltline, just west of Midway, and takes me less than 10 minutes to get there.

As opposed to training with the area's best agility instructor, which on a good day takes 45 minutes and I've spent as long as two hours in the car getting there.

The agility instructors are young and have good ideas.  I know Emily the best, as I have trained with her the longest, as fellow competitors.  She's a USDAA judge and has several different sized dogs.  Michelle I don't know as well, though we have been in classes together.

The greatest part, is that the center is inside.  

I plan to start my next dog there, and wait until we have a good foundation before I start training with Elizabeth -- which I would have to do anyway.

It's a really great place to work out problems -- like my teeter issue, I posted about earlier.

I also really like Paula as a dog trainer.  She's very patient, puts up with my "no force" ideas, and is really great with dogs.  She teaches a lot of the basic classes, especially reactive.  I've done a "Crate Grames" class with her, and plan to do another one during break.  She's super at clicker training, which I think is the best way to train dogs.

I'm taking a Rally class on Friday nights.  I don't work really hard on it right now, but we are having fun playing with it.  One of my biggest issues with Macy right now is calorie issues, she's willing to train all day, but she'd turn into a very round beagle, it's hard to find the right balance of calories in and calories out, so I have to really maximize what we're working on.  Plus I find agility the most fun.

We even took Traci Murdock's Hollywood Dog class -- and that might even pay off soon.

So if you are even mildly interested in dog training in Dallas, check out Dog City Training Center.  They are at http://www.dogcitytrainingcenter.com/