Update on Gunny's Training
Training Gunny has been a real challenge...I guess that is the kind of dog I like...the ones no one else would work with...or keep. I have had a very difficult time unlocking the keys to this dog, and motivating him to work...to the point of asking myself if I should give up on him. In July he took off from me, in a park, and would not listen to my "Come" command at all. It scared the heck out of me! I thought he was going to get lost or hit or both....again his life flashed before my eyes
He also took off on me at a training facility I use for agility...and totally ignored me...again his life flashed before my eyes. I did a lot of work with him..and thought he was making progress...I could even call him off squirrels in the back yard! So we went to a CPE Agility Trial; he did 4 obstacles and took off...thank goodness the ring was fenced! This was getting very frustrating, as I know Gunny knows the meaning of come...and was choosing not to.
My biggest fear was Gunny getting away from me. I have never had a dog that refused to come, and it was not acceptable....whether I ever showed him or not. I had wrestled for a long time about using an e-collar on him, for reinforcement on the come command...and finally decided to give it a try. I had used it on him minimally, for barking in his crate and it had worked well...would he understand that this time it had to do with COME? Had I not spent extensive time working on the come in a variety of situations, I would never have considered this. And it did work...but at what price? I felt it was eroding our our relationship...but he had to come...what else could I do?
And so I started thinking...really thinking hard...about the circumstances of his taking off. It happened when I was working on weave poles several times, and when I was pushing him...maybe beyond what he understood or was confident in. I made mental note of his body language...he was arched away from me, looking back over his shoulder...and appeared worried...or was he scared??? This body posture was present even before i used the collar...was it an indicator of why he was taking off? I had to assume it was...and I felt awful...
So...no more e-collar...we started over this week...building our working relationship. It started with my version of "crate games", where I opened the crate but made him wait inside until I released and called him. We started with him coming to me, doing a trick, and going right back into his crate, as I went on to the next dog (I have 3). We progressed to coming out and doing a trick, then a jump, then back in, the two obstacles, to heeling across the agility field off leash. We worked leash of, no sniffing, leash on, stays with no sniffing, stays for 1 or 2 obstacles. I kept each work session short, and alternately motivating with his toy - a purple Wubba - and treats. I looked for any holes in his understanding, including contact behavior, weave poles and tunnel exits! Gradually I have been able to increase the length of our work sessions, without him feeling overwhelmed. His confidence has already grown by leaps and bounds...and he has not tried to leave me once.
A previous agility instructor has a motto, "If he knew it he would do it." Think of any behavior you ask your dog for...sit, down, etc. that they give you automatically every time you ask. His lack of confidence in his ability to do what I asked of him, and fear that I would be angry are what are causing him to leave. Instead, I am now inviting him to partner with me...and I think he is accepting.
