THE ADVANCED CLASS!

Dave · Enlightened One

THE ADVANCED CLASS!

Dave · Enlightened One

*mental note - must remember to keep forum posts up to date*

OK Folks, the advanced class continues!

Class 2 was a couple of weeks ago, prior to the class we'd been concentrating on target stick work and the 'down' command. When me and Ivor got to the class it was straight into the target work, I've gotta say my boy is pretty good at this now, he even tried to mug me as I get the stick outa my pocket cos he knows he gets a tasty treat everytime he touches the end, after a short session of this Viv then got us doing some 'heel' work but all with the target stick, the idea is the dog is so focused on the end of the stick, held at an appropriate place the dog will follow the stick whilst actually walking to heel, much to my surprise Ivor took to this new experience like a duck to water, he's SO focused on the end of the stick we were runing up and down the hall very well!

We then went on to the 'down' again Ivor has been really good at this whilst practising at home however he was a bit slow in class (different surroundings) which I was a bit disapointed in, top tip for Viv is to vary the times and places of our home training sessions!

Finally in this class Viv surprised us all and took out a jump!! She'd seen how well we were all doing the 'heel' work and decided to put a little obsticle in our path! Well this is where things all went a bit pear shaped, NONE of the bloomin hounds would go over the 3 inch jump!! It really surprised us all how such a small obsticle could REALLY get in their way and it was doubly amusing to see the dogs trying to sneak sideways round it!

We finally admited defeat on that one but I'm sure Viv will bring the jumps out in a few weeks time!

Well thats was Class 2, homework for this week was more revision amd lots more target training!

Class 3 was last week and with the return from holidays of Ty, Bruce & Lara we had a full class of 6 this week! Once again Viv surprised us all(!) by announcing straight off that we were going to combine a couple of commands we'd previously learnt, so without any fuss up we all got to do a 'down' then a 'stay'. Well again all the dogs surprised me by doing this VERY well although Ivor showed me up (again!) he likes his home comforts so we'd been doing the 'down' using a nice comfy duvet but Viv asked us to do the 'down - stay' minus the duvet! We'll Ivor decided that he was too good looking to sit on the floor and refused to do the 'down' until I produced his duvet! Still once in the down position he did the stay no problems, PHEW!

So onto the second half of the class and a new thing to learn! Viv wants us to teach the dogs the 'send away' basically an object is placed some way away from the dog and the idea is to 'send' them to that object, get them to stay there for a while then return! (sounds dead cool!)

Anyways small steps at first so to start this command we place an 'interesting' object just in fron of the dog, when they go to investigate the object and touch it the get a 'click and treat', we repeat this a few times getting a bit further away from the object. Now Greyhounds being sighthounds you'd have though they'd see the interesting object just a few feet in front of them and go investigate, erm NO!!! The cone Viv put down seemed to be a bit invisable to them so plan B was instigated, place a hot dog under the cone! That worked a treat, so well in fact Bruce attempted to eat the cone!!

Anyways, another great class and me and Ivor are busy practising the send away!!

More next week!!

Christine Young · GAL Newsletter Editor

Dave

The classes sound great fun for both dogs and owners. How funny it must have been to see them try to sneak round the jump instead of jumping it like they're s'posed to! Anyway great progress for Ivor and his classmates. Look forward to hearing how they all get on next week!

Christine

bluesmumanddad · Master

Love reading about the latest training classes. Makes me laugh that Ivor wouldn't lie down unless he was on his douvet only a grey/lurcher could get away with this!!

Also had a good giggle at Bruce trying to munch the cone.

Wish we had a suitable training class close by.

-- Edited by bluesmumanddad at 17:12, 2005-09-09

Dawn · Guru

Dave wrote:

Ivor decided that he was too good looking to sit on the floor and refused to do the 'down' until I produced his duvet!

Ivor your a star, I wish we could have 'stayed' (not a good word in my house!),and watched all the fun and games The classes are such good fun for dogs and owners alike, look forward to hearing the next installment.

Dawn and Mad Mac

-- Edited by Dawn at 20:11, 2005-08-07

Nicki · Big Cheese

Ivor, your brill, brought a smile to my face as my wee janie would of been exactly the same, doesnt do hard surfaces!!!!!!!

Looking forward to the next installment. keep up the good work.

love nicki and janie.x

Andy · Old Hand

A breakthrough tonight - Fiddie actually went through my legs! Very, very slowly at first and a fair sized piece of sausage as a reward but after thinking time he did it again and again.

I bet he'll never do it in the class though.

Viv · Old Hand

Oh well done Fiddie!

Get a picture!

Hope he can remember it on Thursday.

Viv

Dave · Enlightened One

Well Class 4 was last night and we did have some real good fun! More later!.....Ivor and I had an interesting weeks training, we started work on the 'send away' and Ivor really picked it up very quickly, I was using different shaped tupperware bowls turned upside down for his training and he really got the idea of touching the bowls then getting his 'click and treat'. I then introduced his command for this which is now 'GO' as I was lacking in imagination(!) He was getting on swimmingly then I made the fatal mistake of taking things too far too soon. Once Ivor touched the bowl I started to 'click' then wait till he came back to me to get his treat rather than throwing it on the ground for him. He seemed to be Ok doing this and I was quite please then during one training session he simply lost it!! He really had no idea what I wanted him to do, poor lad, so back to basics it was and we started all over again, Viv says the worst thing that we can do during training sessions is to take the dogs too far too soon and I guess I learnt that the hard way this week!

Anyways I had Ivor up to speed just in time for the class and when we all got up to do the 'send away' the whole class pretty much aced it, Ivor now waits at my side and when I say 'GO' he'll scoot off and touch the target, we experimented a wee bit in class and most of the dogs were able to go to the target about half way down the hall on command. I've gotta say at this stage that it was such a delight to see Bruce doing this exercise, I think out of all the other dogs in the class Bruce is the one that just down right enjoys himself to bits (and he's still trying his best to eat the target!)

So, this week we now have to extend the 'send away' a little bit, at the moment once the dog touches the target he gets a 'click and treat' with the treat being thrown in the opposite direction to the target. For this week we want to progress things so the dog will touch the target then stay beside it so as the dog goes towards the target we need to follow it and when he touches it he gets the 'click' but the treat is then witheld till we rach the dog and give it to him. By repeating this the idea is the dog will get the idea he's to stay at the target, once we crack that we'll then get the dog to do a 'down' next to the target after touching it(!) Phew, think this is going to be a toughie but I'm happy to say I've finally got 'pretty boy' Ivor to do a down without the aid of his duvet!!..

Next on the agenda was to see how the dogs were doing 'waking backwards'...oops, one of the things we were taught in the beginners class but we'd all kinda forgotten about(!) anyways much to my surprise even though we've not practiced this for a while Ivor and his classmates hadn't forgotten and were pretty good if a bit rusty...so mental note, start varying the training sessions and keep refreshing everything we've already covered!

OK then on to the fun!!...Viv decided to teach the dogs to give a paw, the method of this is to hold a treat in our hand at about the dogs chest level but to hold it in such a way the dog can't get to it, it's supposed to take a while but after some general sniffing about and lots of thinking the dog will (hopefully) try to paw at the hand for the treat, this is when he gets his 'click and treat', repeat the process for a while then add the 'paw' command and we're sorted....SO, Viv decided to try this out first on my boy Ivor, after a few minutes of sniffing you could really see Ivors brain starting to work, next thing is that Ivor starts to go into a 'down' all elegant like, front paws first....Viv gets quite excited at this point and immediatly 'clicks and treats' Ivor who stops mid flow to get an unexpected treat...you are all probably confused at this point but if you picture a big hound going down on his front two paws what you actually have is a greyhound taking a bow!!

So, Viv immediately decides to teach all the dogs how to 'take a bow' using the same technique and adding the 'bow' command after a while...after 10 minutes of this we had the whole class taking a bow, it was really cool to see this and a real fun thing to teach the dogs!

So that was class 4 and it ended on a nice note...so homework for this week is lots of revision, get Ivor bow'ing and to extend the 'send away'...PHEW!

Dave · Enlightened One

eeeeeekkkkk...well after Ivor's little visit with Auntie Rachel I've missed 'class 5' last week and he's only had 3 short training sessions since 'class 4' two weeks ago....We're just about to set off to attend 'class 6' tonight...I can see Viv already getting the big pointy hat with the letter 'D' on it for me..

Dawn · Guru

Dave wrote:

eeeeeekkkkk...well after Ivor's little visit with Auntie Rachel I've missed 'class 5' last week and he's only had 3 short training sessions since 'class 4' two weeks ago....We're just about to set off to attend 'class 6' tonight...I can see Viv already getting the big pointy hat with the letter 'D' on it for me..

Sorry Dave, Big Mac beat you to it tonight, I wore the 'D' hat all night, my big boy was doing his Mummys boy act most of the night. He has decided he likes the training in his own home..............mmmmmmmm, Mum working on that one!!! Maybe 'D' stands for Dawn or Dave!! Maybe thats why we wear that hat!!!

Dave · Enlightened One

well no need for the pointy hat!!..Ivor got himself back into things very quickly in what was a long exhausting class! Viv has us working on so many things Iluska was even sat in the class scribbling notes down so she could remember everything!

Last week we missed Viv teaching the dogs to walk through owners legs, I didn't think Ivor would do this but guided by a bit of hot dog he picked this up very quickly, he even ducks a little bit when going through to avoid any discomfort!

Viv also taught the class last week to do a 'twirl', that is the dogs doing a little 360 degree turn, again with the help of the good old hot dogs Ivor picked this up pretty quickly!

We then went onto the send away which Ivor decided to forget! Well I guess the couple of weeks he missed did have a bit of an effect, he did remember after a few minutes so it wasn't too bad!

SO, this weeks training is basically to shave the rough edges of everything, the 'DOWN' and the 'BOW' especially, we need to try to get the dogs up to speed with a bit less hand action and prompting with hot dogs!!...It's goany be a busy weeks training again!!

greyflintstone · Master

Dave wrote:

he even ducks a little bit when going through to avoid any discomfort!

......... for you or him?!!

Dave · Enlightened One

for me Sharon!!

Well, thats the second last class been and gone! One more to go, viv got us all up to see how we'd progressed this week with our 'downs' and 'bows' trying to get the dogs to do this by voice command only, the whole class had made good progress but hey you want to have seen Fiddie 'bow' he's a natural!!

We then went onto Viv's big 'surprise'..She'd asked us all to bring WHOLE hot dogs with us this week (of course I forgot!)...she then reminded us of the 'leave it' command, the one we'd done at the second week of the beginners class (and the one we'd kinda forgotten about!)..so each dog got up one by one, Viv holding a big hot dog which she allowed each dog to have a real good sniff of, Viv then moved a few feet away and laid the hot dog on the floor, we than had to give the 'leave it' command, well I was soo pleased, every dog fixed onto the hot dog but didn't budge an inch! We then moved a few feet away from the dog but again they all stood very still, it was really good to see, a few months ago Ivor would have pulled my arm off to get to the hot dog!!!

SO, onto this weeks training, well it's quite exciting cos we're taking our Bronze Award tests next week, this involves lots of basic doggie things like walking on lead round other dogs, the two 'big' bits to the test is the door work (going in and out of a door with yer dog not pulling to get through first!) and the 1 MINUTE STAY (eek!)....In addition to all that the test also involves the owner answering questions about dog behaviour and dog care.

Well big week ahead of revision and making sure Ivor's goany stay put for 1 minute! He's done it for that length of time before so fingers crossed but we'll mostly be working on that this week

Hopwfully we'll all get through the tests next week and get our certificates! I'll keep you all posted!!..

After next weeks tests that going to be it for Ivor and his classes, Viv will be doing a new beginners class and a new advanced class however I will be keeping his training up....the rest of the advanced class have decided to keep up the work in our spare time, I don't want to reveal TOO much right now but watch this space and be prepared to be amazed, all I will say is get your tickets early for the GAL Christmas show....

Christine Young · GAL Newsletter Editor

All the best to everyone taking part in the Bronze Awards. Can't wait to see what's in store for us at the Christmas show!

Christine

Andy · Old Hand

How is the one minute stay coming on?

Fiddie can do it sometimes when standing but it can be difficult. I'm considering super-glue.....

Dave · Enlightened One

Ivor is getting to about 45 seconds then gets that look on his face like 'what exactly am I doing standing here for anyway?' I'm now practicing using my will power to form a protective force field around him to stop him moving...

Dawn · Guru

Dave wrote:

I'm now practicing using my will power to form a protective force field around him to stop him moving...

Dave, I don't like to boast, but Mac managed to 'stay' for 45 minutes at training class lass week. Maybe we should swop dogs for the training classes!!!

-- Edited by Dawn at 21:05, 2005-09-06

Viv · Old Hand

Dave wrote:

Ivor is getting to about 45 seconds then gets that look on his face like 'what exactly am I doing standing here for anyway?'

Just a reminder that the stay can be a down stay if your dog preferres that.

Met the judge on Saturday and she's very nice.

Anyone with any last miniute questions?

Cheers, Viv.

Dave · Enlightened One

Ivor nailed 90 seconds tonight and didn't even budge when a fly landed on his backside, will power seems to be working..

Viv · Old Hand

Smashing.

.........."protective force feild"

I like that!

Viv

Dave · Enlightened One

OK, WE ALL PASSED!!!!....thats was the longest 1 minute stay ever!!...Will post some more about our adventures during the tests tonight later but for now I'm off to hang Ivor's Certificate and Rosette somewhere prominent!!!....

Viv · Old Hand

Many Congratulations to:

Andy & Iluska with "The Fidster"

Mr & Mrs Malcolm with "Emmy"

Dave with "Ivor"

Liz & David with "Ty", "Lara" & "Bruce"

All of whom passed the Bronze Kennel Club Good Dog Citizen Scheme examination last night.

I hope you are all very proud of yourselves and your dogs............I am.

Viv

Dawn · Guru

Well done to all the dogs, owners and Viv for all the work, thats fantastic

bluesmumanddad · Master

Well done all especially the dogs for training their owners so well

Nicki · Big Cheese

Congratulations to everyone and all the loveable hounds who have their owner so well trained now!!!!!!!!!!!!.

love nicki and janie.x

greyluvver · GAL Membership Co-Ordinator

Very impressive everyone - you must be so proud and pleased!!

Teresa · Enlightened One

many congratulations too all the dogs involved (see you can train people if you try hard enough)

Dave · Enlightened One

Well folks that was a very interesting night, I think all the owners were very nervous and that reflected a wee bit on the dogs(!) Highlight of the night for me was Fiddie who managed to go to sleep during his 1 minute stay, 40 MPH couch potatoes right enough!

We'll we all passed, it was such a relief, the 1 minute stays seemed to pose the hardest obsticle, a few of the dogs needed a couple of chances to do it but we all did! I must say the second hand on Viv's clock just got slower and slower as Ivor stood there staring at me.

Anywas I'd just like to thank Viv for transforming my 'angry' boy Ivor into my 'bestest behaved' boy!.

Hope you've all enjoyed reading about Ivors exploits, its been a great adventure and I do hope it's inspired some of you to enroll in Viv's future classes!

Now the inevitable piccies of the big night! (thanks to Iluska for taking most of these!)

This first one is the 'money' shot, Ty, Lara, Bruce, Fiddie, Emmie, Ivor (and Viv)

David shows off his walking skills!

'door work' - IN

and OUT

some controlled walking round the other dogs

Ivor 'recalls' to his daddy!

and the money shot again from a different angle

-- Edited by Dave at 23:23, 2005-09-09

Christine Young · GAL Newsletter Editor

Well done everyone! You must all be chuffed to bits at winning the Bronze Award. Well done too, to Viv, who's coached all the dogs to train their owners so well! The most important thing is that you all had fun while you were taking part. Great to see you all in action in the photos too. My favourite photo is the last one where all the dogs' eyes are shining like headlamps.

Christine