I feel AWFUL! Poor Bogart!

lindamarie · Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 9:18 pm Post subject: I feel AWFUL! Poor Bogart!

I can't forget what just happened and I've never seen anything like this before with any of my dogs. Either I hurt Bogie physically or hurt his feelings.
We learned a new technique last night for getting a dog not to pull on the leash. It's hard to explain, but you give the dog six feet of his leash to walk next to you.
When they get at the point of a pull, you are to pop the leash off the back of his neck. It was working really well for my husband.
Then I immediately practiced the next task of getting him to sit without saying sit. Yopu kind of pull up on the collar around the neck like a choker until they sit. Then tell them to stay.
I did SOMETHING WRONG!!

Once he was in the stay position.......NOTHING would release him. No treat, no ball NOTHING. He sat there staring at me and my husband.
We started thrwoing the frisbee, playing catch..........nothing would move him!
Finally, my husband said that we should upstairs and see what happened. He just sat there. We turned the lights out.........he sat there. I waited a minute more and went downstairs again and he sat and stared at me. I sat on the couch and called him with a treat. Nothing.............then he laid down!!.........all still in the same spot!!

I finally threw a treat about 6 feet from him. He waited another 2 minutes and finally came to pick it up.
We then played and it was allright!!

Honest to God! My heart was breaking!...and still is! Can anyone help me figure this out?
Was he physically hurt or did I hurt his feelings? Are doodles really sensitive?
He appeared confused and traumatized! I feel SO AWFUL!! HELP!!
_________________
Linda & Bogart
Dogs=Unconditional love
"We have it all! Just like Bogie & Bacall!"

lmtoth2 · Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 9:26 pm Post subject:

I think it's possible you may have (accidentally) caused him some pain if you popped the collar too hard? I think he will get over it, but I would check back with your trainer to make sure you are doing the technique properly. In the mean time, make ammends with Bogie (i.e. give him some treats) Wink

_________________
Leslie M

lindamarie · Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 9:30 pm Post subject:

He got TONS of treats after that...........and tons of hugs and smoochies. When he was back to normal, I had tears in my eyes and was hugging him profusely!! The thought that I hurt him makes me soooooo freakin' SAD!
I definitely will talk to the trainer either by phone or at next Thursday's class. I don't even want to attempt to do that move again until they can tell me what happened!!! Crying or Very sad

_________________
Linda & Bogart
Dogs=Unconditional love
"We have it all! Just like Bogie & Bacall!"

annabelles mom · Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 12:23 am Post subject:

awwwwwwww pooor Bogie and you

sounds like you may have inadvertently hurt him and he probably was afraid to move that he would be hurt again.

I have read that it is very easy to hurt a dogs neck if you pull to hard on their collar, can hurt their trachea so I'd be leary of that type of training, maybe clicker training would work for Bogie - I've not used it, but have read on here from a few people that have used the clicker with good results

I'm glad that Bogie went ahead and finally took the treat you offered, I hope he's ok
_________________

Mary & Annabelle
Zippity Doodle, Zippyity ay, My O My what a WonderDoodle Day !

http://www.picturetrail.com/luvlabs

seazr · Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 12:50 am Post subject:

Please don't feel tooo bad!! Things do happen very inadvertantly but it is usually unwise to pop the leash anytime if you can avoid it--it can hurt. Maybe go to a different type of training--our initial training stressed training by reward. And when I had Dakota in more stringent training, they didn't even allow correction with a lead -- only advancing by reward.
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Diane (and Dakota)
http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e304/seazr/

annieG · Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 9:37 am Post subject:

Don't be too hard on yourself, you were just doing what your trainer instructed.

I too would try a different type of training. I think it is just too easy to injure your dog. Many trainers now strongly advise against the pop the leash method. I like using treats and rewarding and encouraging.
_________________
AnnieG & Tanner

Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole. ~Roger Caras

lindamarie · Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 10:08 am Post subject:

Thanks everyone! I still feel bad!
When this leash pop was introduced, I felt strange about it. In fact, one little French Bull Dog at the session was really upset!!!
I can see how it can work, but it's something that has to be done very carefully! I may not have done it right! Crying or Very sad

In fact, when you pop the leash, you're suppose to bend down on one knee.....like the old genuflect....I may have done it without the knee bend. Rolling Eyes

All in all.....I don't like it!
_________________
Linda & Bogart
Dogs=Unconditional love
"We have it all! Just like Bogie & Bacall!"

sdrudge · Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 10:13 am Post subject:

Don't take it so hard. I know you feel bad. But Bogie may have been hurt or just startled. But I bet he was better after all the treats. And you know what he has forgotten all about it. Smile

_________________
Samantha, Cacao and Beau

annabelles mom · Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 12:09 pm Post subject:

How are you and Bogie doing this am
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Mary & Annabelle
Zippity Doodle, Zippyity ay, My O My what a WonderDoodle Day !

http://www.picturetrail.com/luvlabs

Napathedoodle · Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 12:35 pm Post subject:

I like the idea for the leash pop on walks. I think it works rather well, but I'm not sure I like it for sitting. We use a treat that's at the tip of his nose and then I bring the treat back towards his tail, but at the tip of his nose. They instinctively sit. It really worked well for Napa.

Best of luck with training, hope Bogie feels better.

Oh, and I meant to say that Napa does that every so often too, especially early in his training. For Napa, I think its more a "I'm not sure what to do" moment. He knows that when he moved the last time before being "released" got him in trouble, but he doesn't know what release means. I know its really hard, but perhaps he just didn't understand that he could move without you getting upset.
_________________
Kristen and Napa-doodle, the chocolate doodle!

blueteal · Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 12:41 pm Post subject:

Ahhhhhhhhhh poor baby
Try not to feel to bad your heart was in the right place.
Denver is very sensitive to any reprimand so I have to be very
careful even with words.............for those of you who remember the bears ears story and pictures.................I felt bad for a long time and
it was just words...........so sensitive.

annabelles mom · Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 1:16 pm Post subject:

Ooooo Denver you are pitiful baby Crying or Very sad

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Mary & Annabelle
Zippity Doodle, Zippyity ay, My O My what a WonderDoodle Day !

http://www.picturetrail.com/luvlabs

blueteal · Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 2:01 pm Post subject:

Mary
I have never told him to stop eating his toys since............
i felt so bad with that look he gave me.
Does he know how to play me or what??????????
bahahahhahaaaaaaaaaaaa
_________________
Sue & Denver
http://blueteal.net/denver.htm
A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.
- Josh Billings

annabelles mom · Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 2:25 pm Post subject:

MaxandMe · Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 2:47 pm Post subject:

Peanut is supersensitive and when i correct her it's with a soft sweet voice or her feelings are hurt so easily and she crumbles.
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Annmarie, Max,& Peanut
Forum BLOG ARTICLE LINK http://blog.labradoodle-dogs.net/

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." Anatole France