Dexter's training class (warning - long)

lmtoth2 · 01-18-2009, 03:06 PM

Dexter started advanced class today (the class is intended to prepare them for the CGC test). Well the class was half good and half bad.

I'll start with the bad. Dexter was clearly freaked out badly by something. There are only 2 things I can think of 1) A golden retriever growled at Dex on our way in. It was not what I would consider a terrible encounter so I don't think that was it. 2) I bought a new martingdale collar for the class because you cannot use gentle leaders. Me as a bad doodle parent chose to use the collar for the first time today in class. About 5 minutes into the class Dex started crying and climbing into our laps (like he does at the vet). It got progressively worse until he refused to move from the corner of the training area. It was so sad to see him like that - he never gets scared! We tried everything...my husband took him outside, walked him around the store. Nothing helped. His tail was down and he was shaking in the corner. We took off the new collar and put back on his GL. Finally the teacher stopped the class for a 5 minute playtime. We let Dex off leash. He still wouldn't move from the corner of the area. The instructor started jumping around and making high pitched sounds and finally Dex got excited by this and moved a bit. He played a bit with the other doodle in the class. After this, things improved a lot.

Now for the good. Dex did exceptionally well with his sit stays, with greeting a stranger (aka our instructor), did not jump on her when she greeted him. It's amazing...he knows how to behave in class

I want to make sure this doesn't happen next week so we plan to make several trips to Petsmart this week. I think I'll continue using the GL for another week but then will just use his plain neck collar. I suspect he choked himself badly w/the martingdale and that scared him, but who knows.

The funny thing - he's the oldest one in his class. The other dogs are all 1-2 yrs old. The other labradoodle is absolutely adorable!

Lucee&Rusty · 01-18-2009, 03:44 PM

Sorry to hear about your scare Dexter, things can only get better from now on.
Hope you start loving your classes like our two do. They get soooo excited when we go to class.
We now arrived 15 minutes early so they can get all the excitment out of their system before class starts.

We use plain collars on our dogs for training and have no problems.

tuffystar · 01-18-2009, 04:11 PM

I am sorry but I need a book explaining all of the abbreviations CGC?

I am glad things got better. I hope next time all goes great!

Raleighsmom · 01-18-2009, 04:50 PM

Aww Dex....I'm so sorry you got so scared....but I'm glad to hear you did so well once you warmed up to the situation...Great job Dexter!!!

gene · 01-18-2009, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tuffystar

I am sorry but I need a book explaining all of the abbreviations CGC?

Canine Good Citizen http://www.akc.org/events/cgc/

Leslie....with Dexter it's a;ways a mixed bag of tricks, huh?? Next time will be better....I have faith in both of you!

**MaxandMe** · 01-18-2009, 06:25 PM

aww poor dexter, this is all new to him the collar etc.......hoping next week is better for him from the start of class
but really HAPPY to hear how well he did w/his 1st class in training for CGC

question...can you use a martingale collar for CGC test? i forgot

annieG · 01-18-2009, 06:45 PM

Poor Dex. Glad that the second part went well though. We'll be waiting for a report on the next class. Maybe he will be more comfortable then. Did you take Kirby along for moral support?

01-18-2009, 06:45 PM

Ah poor Dex. Hopefully next week will be better!!

doodledash · 01-18-2009, 06:53 PM

Oh dear please do not worry too much.
Next week is a new week a new start,things will be good.

lmtoth2 · 01-18-2009, 08:18 PM

Yes you can use a martingdale for the test. I figured Dex could use a little restraint.

We did not take Kirby. It would have been a distraction he wouldn't have needed

Anyway, there are 10 aspects to the CGC test. Today we worked on: 1) Accept a friendly stranger (instructor approaches and talks to you without the dog breaking position 2) Sit nicely for petting (instructor pets dog w/o dog jumping), 3) Loose leash walking, 4) Walk through a crowd (easy to practice in petsmart) we walked past other dogs too 5) Sit stay (we did for 20 seconds - Dex would have stayed for a long time).

She said next week we will go out into the main store area and try sit stays. Amazingly I have some confidence Dex will pass. He knows when to behave...smart little devil.

I really like our instructor (we've had her before). She took a few minutes and worked to get Dexter mentally back into the class. We will take him back to Petsmart this week. I want to get him back in the training area and make it a very good time (treats, etc).

Calimom · 01-18-2009, 08:32 PM

Cali sends kisses to Dexter after his scare. Best wishes for a more confident Dexter next week.

blueteal · 01-19-2009, 03:41 PM

Glad the second part was so much more happy for him ...great job...........

seazr · 01-19-2009, 03:51 PM

Awwww, poor Dex!! So glad things finished on a high note!! I'll be watching for updates as Dakota is sorely in need of some refresher and I'd like him to get his CGC as well. He is really getting lax. Maybe he needs another round of supervised training . . . or isit better to say maybe I need another round . . .

mtd885 · 01-19-2009, 04:19 PM

Leslie, get rid of the gentle leader for training purposes immediately!!! Make sure your Martingale collar is high up Dex's neck by his ears. When you walk him and he starts to pull , CHANGE DIRECTION. In a couple of days he'll get the message that you dictate direction and pace. Great idea taking him to pets mart etc for socialization. Home depot and places like that with lots of noise and distraction should be the next step.

MySweetDoodle · 01-19-2009, 05:03 PM

Not to hijack Leslie's thread, but I have to ask, why "get rid of the gentle leader for training purposes immediately!!!" I'm guilty of relying on the gentle leader too. Lily can walk beautifully OR she can pull like a freight train and so when we are out at the store or the park, I put the gentle leader on her - she walks so well with it, it's like walking a *feather*.

I love the gentle leader (for just this reason) but if I shouldn't be using it, I'd really like to know. Are there times when it's okay to use? Just not for training? I also have a martingale, but it doesn't work nearly as well as the gentle leader, even when in the correct position. Any tips would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

01-18-2009, 03:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
lmtoth2 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5,920	Dexter's training class (warning - long) Dexter started advanced class today (the class is intended to prepare them for the CGC test). Well the class was half good and half bad. I'll start with the bad. Dexter was clearly freaked out badly by something. There are only 2 things I can think of 1) A golden retriever growled at Dex on our way in. It was not what I would consider a terrible encounter so I don't think that was it. 2) I bought a new martingdale collar for the class because you cannot use gentle leaders. Me as a bad doodle parent chose to use the collar for the first time today in class. About 5 minutes into the class Dex started crying and climbing into our laps (like he does at the vet). It got progressively worse until he refused to move from the corner of the training area. It was so sad to see him like that - he never gets scared! We tried everything...my husband took him outside, walked him around the store. Nothing helped. His tail was down and he was shaking in the corner. We took off the new collar and put back on his GL. Finally the teacher stopped the class for a 5 minute playtime. We let Dex off leash. He still wouldn't move from the corner of the area. The instructor started jumping around and making high pitched sounds and finally Dex got excited by this and moved a bit. He played a bit with the other doodle in the class. After this, things improved a lot. Now for the good. Dex did exceptionally well with his sit stays, with greeting a stranger (aka our instructor), did not jump on her when she greeted him. It's amazing...he knows how to behave in class I want to make sure this doesn't happen next week so we plan to make several trips to Petsmart this week. I think I'll continue using the GL for another week but then will just use his plain neck collar. I suspect he choked himself badly w/the martingdale and that scared him, but who knows. The funny thing - he's the oldest one in his class. The other dogs are all 1-2 yrs old. The other labradoodle is absolutely adorable! __________________ Leslie

01-18-2009, 03:44 PM	#2 (permalink)
Lucee&Rusty Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 1,028	Re: Dexter's training class (warning - long) Sorry to hear about your scare Dexter, things can only get better from now on. Hope you start loving your classes like our two do. They get soooo excited when we go to class. We now arrived 15 minutes early so they can get all the excitment out of their system before class starts. We use plain collars on our dogs for training and have no problems. __________________ Ingrid, Lucee & Rusty A dog may look at you with its eyes, but it sees you with its heart - anon

01-18-2009, 04:11 PM	#3 (permalink)
tuffystar Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Utah Posts: 2,292	Re: Dexter's training class (warning - long) I am sorry but I need a book explaining all of the abbreviations CGC? I am glad things got better. I hope next time all goes great!

01-18-2009, 04:50 PM	#4 (permalink)
Raleighsmom Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: South Windsor,Ct Posts: 4,617	Re: Dexter's training class (warning - long) Aww Dex....I'm so sorry you got so scared....but I'm glad to hear you did so well once you warmed up to the situation...Great job Dexter!!! __________________ Kathie,Raleigh & Molly! "Who can believe that there is no soul behind those luminous eyes!" ~ Theophile Gautier

01-18-2009, 06:25 PM	#6 (permalink)
MaxandMe Super Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Upstate, NY Posts: 15,103	Re: Dexter's training class (warning - long) aww poor dexter, this is all new to him the collar etc.......hoping next week is better for him from the start of class but really HAPPY to hear how well he did w/his 1st class in training for CGC question...can you use a martingale collar for CGC test? i forgot __________________ *Annmarie, Max,& Peanut* "Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." Anatole France uncondtional love: what a dog always does for us and humans strive to do but can we?

01-18-2009, 06:45 PM	#7 (permalink)
annieG Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: South Carolina Posts: 2,929	Re: Dexter's training class (warning - long) Poor Dex. Glad that the second part went well though. We'll be waiting for a report on the next class. Maybe he will be more comfortable then. Did you take Kirby along for moral support? __________________ AnnieG & Tanner

01-18-2009, 06:45 PM	#8 (permalink)
Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Dexter's training class (warning - long) Ah poor Dex. Hopefully next week will be better!!

01-18-2009, 06:53 PM	#9 (permalink)
doodledash Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 513	Re: Dexter's training class (warning - long) Oh dear please do not worry too much. Next week is a new week a new start,things will be good.

01-18-2009, 08:18 PM	#10 (permalink)
lmtoth2 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5,920	Re: Dexter's training class (warning - long) Yes you can use a martingdale for the test. I figured Dex could use a little restraint. We did not take Kirby. It would have been a distraction he wouldn't have needed Anyway, there are 10 aspects to the CGC test. Today we worked on: 1) Accept a friendly stranger (instructor approaches and talks to you without the dog breaking position 2) Sit nicely for petting (instructor pets dog w/o dog jumping), 3) Loose leash walking, 4) Walk through a crowd (easy to practice in petsmart) we walked past other dogs too 5) Sit stay (we did for 20 seconds - Dex would have stayed for a long time). She said next week we will go out into the main store area and try sit stays. Amazingly I have some confidence Dex will pass. He knows when to behave...smart little devil. I really like our instructor (we've had her before). She took a few minutes and worked to get Dexter mentally back into the class. We will take him back to Petsmart this week. I want to get him back in the training area and make it a very good time (treats, etc). __________________ Leslie

01-18-2009, 08:32 PM	#11 (permalink)
Calimom Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: The Woodlands, TX Posts: 2,408	Re: Dexter's training class (warning - long) Cali sends kisses to Dexter after his scare. Best wishes for a more confident Dexter next week. __________________ Meg and Cali

01-19-2009, 03:41 PM	#12 (permalink)
blueteal Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 8,334	Re: Dexter's training class (warning - long) Glad the second part was so much more happy for him ...great job...........

01-19-2009, 03:51 PM	#13 (permalink)
seazr Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Sacramento Posts: 2,971	Re: Dexter's training class (warning - long) Awwww, poor Dex!! So glad things finished on a high note!! I'll be watching for updates as Dakota is sorely in need of some refresher and I'd like him to get his CGC as well. He is really getting lax. Maybe he needs another round of supervised training . . . or isit better to say maybe I need another round . . . __________________ Diane (and Dakota) http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e304/seazr/

01-19-2009, 04:19 PM	#14 (permalink)
mtd885 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: FLORIDA/San Francisco Ca Posts: 1,358	Re: Dexter's training class (warning - long) Leslie, get rid of the gentle leader for training purposes immediately!!! Make sure your Martingale collar is high up Dex's neck by his ears. When you walk him and he starts to pull , CHANGE DIRECTION. In a couple of days he'll get the message that you dictate direction and pace. Great idea taking him to pets mart etc for socialization. Home depot and places like that with lots of noise and distraction should be the next step. __________________ mtd/renee/Abby Doodle Dandy CGC/dr spike katz DBS DOODLE ON! DOODLES OF AMERICA UNITE!

01-19-2009, 05:03 PM	#15 (permalink)
MySweetDoodle Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 327	Re: Dexter's training class (warning - long) Not to hijack Leslie's thread, but I have to ask, why "get rid of the gentle leader for training purposes immediately!!!" I'm guilty of relying on the gentle leader too. Lily can walk beautifully OR she can pull like a freight train and so when we are out at the store or the park, I put the gentle leader on her - she walks so well with it, it's like walking a feather. I love the gentle leader (for just this reason) but if I shouldn't be using it, I'd really like to know. Are there times when it's okay to use? Just not for training? I also have a martingale, but it doesn't work nearly as well as the gentle leader, even when in the correct position. Any tips would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

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