Well, tonight was Sweetheart's first obedience class. As my sigh indicates, it went less than stellar. She was so totally focused on the other dogs that she pretty much ignored Les and I the whole time. I was rather disappointed at first but then I thought "for the last nine months she was either tied to a tree and dying, at the vet's office trying to stay alive or recovering at my house with little outside interaction". The mall event this month and last month and tonight's obedience class make it three times she has been out in public (the vet's office doesn't count because that wasn't fun). I was proud of her for the fact she didn't bark or whine, she didn't try to wiggle out of her collar to get to the other dogs and she didn't growl or raise her hackles. I liken training her to trying to train a cat. :) No loyalty and fiercely independent. :)
I know I need higher value treats (hot dogs, cheese, chicken), patience and I need to work with her EVERY day!!!
Sweetheart did do lovely at the mall this Saturday. She didn't get annoyed with the other foster and adoptive dogs who were there and that is great. She growled once when they were checking her out at first and then after that she was fine. She LOVES the people who come up to pet her. She will wag her tail and lean into them. People are always surprised at how sweet and loving she is after I tell them about her horrific past.
Hope everyone had a nice Valentine's Day! Having Sweetheart with me was the best Valentine's Day gift I could have given myself.
I'm sure she will do better. Like you said, this is still new to her. Besides, she is probably wondering what those other 4-legged things are. You know, greyhounds really do like their own kind!
ReplyDeleteWe've taken four of our five Greyhounds through obedience with varying experiences each time. Treat would completely ignore my husband all week while he tried to practice with her, then turned it on and was the star of the class every Sunday. It was so frustrating for me because I was working with Hawk. He LOVED obedience, but was firmly convinced that our instructor was Satan incarnate and would have nothing to do with performing like he did at home at all. Blueberry did well in class and still likes to practice at home, but she's very sensitive and if she thinks she's disappointed you, she shuts down. She'll even go into a crate and lay down with her back to you. Bunny did a great job in class and graduated tied for first place on Graduation Night. I'd suggest experimenting this week to find something that she REALLY loves -- and I mean something she'd jump through hoops of fire for. The trick is, you only crack it out for class, though. Practicing at home won't require the same level of concentration for her. I'd also try to take her out as much as you can -- short trips to Petsmart to pick up the food, walks through the park now that it's warming up, or just anything that gives her a chance to go out and be with you. Of course on the first night with all those new and exciting things she would be distracted. I'd have been surprised if she wasn't, but the way to get over it is to take the novelty away. She'll get better at it!
ReplyDeletethe first time I took Barbie to class she was highly distracted, then I got her to work with me for 20 minutes until she zoned out because she didn't have the stamina to concentrate for that long. Now she can deal with an hour long training session with breaks of course, no problems!
ReplyDeleteCami is rather good with basic things, Jakka is useless.
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It sounds to me like Sweetheart did very well. I am sure as she get's use to the group, she will soon become top of the class.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that you can even take her to an obedience class is AMAZING!
ReplyDeleteTyson has grilled chicken strips in the freezer section that you can just thaw out. Also my grocery store sells plain rotisserie chickens. I buy those and cut the meat off for treats. Also, frozen section often has cooked Swedish meatballs that just need to be thawed. Those treats work pretty well in the greyhound obedience classes I teach. I tell everything to absolutely do NOT bring dog treats. Must bring real food!
ReplyDeleteOh, and don't be discouraged by her being so distracted. Just let her exhaust it... don't let anyone say hi to her or give her any treats. Don't beg for her attention either. Just let her watch without any reinforcement... and when she gets bored and turns towards you, click & treat.
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