josebrwn
11th February 2004, 19:37
I am unsatisfied with progress we're having at SchH club in the Protection phase. OB and TR are fine, we're even setting up an Agility course, but PP isn't working out very well.
I'll have to describe, last week was a perfect example. We did some work with the puppy class, then TR, and finally PP. The trainer wanted to work the dogs on the poles. We have I can't remember, 14-16 tie-outs on either side of the field. Dog tied to each one on a lunge line, trainer goes around to each dog doing drive work.
My Presa hates this. She doesn't want to be tied to a pole and stands there looking forlorn. She will work with me, a little, but she just hates being tied to the pole. She is a weight puller and likes to hit very HARD, but you can't do that on a pole, plus the line always gets under her or wrapped around a leg, and so on. I don't know how else to put it, she hates the pole and just wants to be let off it. She couldn't care less about anything else.
So the trainer walks past her pole with a toy, she looks at him miserably and won't interact with him. I mean, she knows the guy, she knows the drill, she hates this part, "screw this", she says. So he gives her ZERO time, week after week. "Just work with her", he says.
Completely different when I'm posting her mind you, she pulls so hard to get at the toy or sleeve she chokes herself in a harness. Another thing my GSD trainer doesn't understand, "how could a dog choke in a harness?" (answer, the PP harness isn't designed for competitve weight pullers, they are a different animal).
What he does with the GSD's is a pantomime. He approaches the dog from far out, with a sleeve or toy, and whip. Dog barks. "Oooh, that's scary, I'll run away a little and hide my face. Now I'll come closer." Dog barks again. "Golly, that was really scary! I'll just edge in a little closer." Dog barks again. "Oh gosh, I sure am scared, here's a sleeve." Dog bites sleeve.
My Presa just looks at him like he's crazy.
Do I need a private trainer? We are not getting anywhere.
I'll have to describe, last week was a perfect example. We did some work with the puppy class, then TR, and finally PP. The trainer wanted to work the dogs on the poles. We have I can't remember, 14-16 tie-outs on either side of the field. Dog tied to each one on a lunge line, trainer goes around to each dog doing drive work.
My Presa hates this. She doesn't want to be tied to a pole and stands there looking forlorn. She will work with me, a little, but she just hates being tied to the pole. She is a weight puller and likes to hit very HARD, but you can't do that on a pole, plus the line always gets under her or wrapped around a leg, and so on. I don't know how else to put it, she hates the pole and just wants to be let off it. She couldn't care less about anything else.
So the trainer walks past her pole with a toy, she looks at him miserably and won't interact with him. I mean, she knows the guy, she knows the drill, she hates this part, "screw this", she says. So he gives her ZERO time, week after week. "Just work with her", he says.
Completely different when I'm posting her mind you, she pulls so hard to get at the toy or sleeve she chokes herself in a harness. Another thing my GSD trainer doesn't understand, "how could a dog choke in a harness?" (answer, the PP harness isn't designed for competitve weight pullers, they are a different animal).
What he does with the GSD's is a pantomime. He approaches the dog from far out, with a sleeve or toy, and whip. Dog barks. "Oooh, that's scary, I'll run away a little and hide my face. Now I'll come closer." Dog barks again. "Golly, that was really scary! I'll just edge in a little closer." Dog barks again. "Oh gosh, I sure am scared, here's a sleeve." Dog bites sleeve.
My Presa just looks at him like he's crazy.
Do I need a private trainer? We are not getting anywhere.