Session today

Debbieg · 01-02-2012, 09:45 PM

Last month I posted about some reactivity issues I was having with Benny asking if they were genetic and got some good objective ideas

reactive agression genetic or environment?

Today I had a lovely 2 hour session hike with our trainer who we started with when Benny was 13 months. It had been a year since our last real session although we have gotten together to talk about dogs ( is there any better topic)

and have kept up with eachother.

She believes Benny's reactivity is genetic but that he has an over all good temperament and is definitely malleable. My instincts were telling me the same thing but good to hear it from an expert. She recommends really tightening up Benny's obedience so that "Down" means to instantly hit the deck and not take 10 steps first and "Come" means race to me and not "Just let me sniff this bush first"! She said think of obeying a command on a scale of 1-10 and anything over a 7 gets enthusiastic praise . Anything below requires a do over!

She suggested using our cat and all the distractions as training opportunities.

The idea is that Benny, under stress tends to react impulsively so I can utilize this to make him impulsively obey.

He did really well today but I could see him thinking. "Yeah she threw my ball and I got it and am running back to her, but I know she is gonna yell "down" and make me stop before I reach her!"

Here he is at the entrance to the park.

Anastasia · 01-02-2012, 09:51 PM

Benny is a beautiful boy and really lucky to have someone that loves him enough to "walk the walk" with him.

**Cassidy's Mom** · 01-02-2012, 09:53 PM

Awesome!

A training session with Lisa always makes me feel better about my knuckleheads, lol!

bianca · 01-03-2012, 03:25 AM

That sounds really positive

Debbieg · 01-03-2012, 08:49 AM

When our trainer said she believes it is in part genetic she meant that many GSD's tend to be quick to react to a situation. Not a bad thing at all. Benny's tendency to get very easily amped up is genetic; Sometimes it is fear based and sometimes just excited about life. "PARK FOOD PLAY" HELP I'M AM EXCITED GONNA BLOW"

The idea is to get his obedience so tight that his impulse is to instantly obey a command, even when he is not thinking clearly.

She said to train him the same as if I were going to show in ob.

codmaster · 01-03-2012, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Debbieg

When our trainer said she believes it is in part genetic she meant that many GSD's tend to be quick to react to a situation. Not a bad thing at all. Benny's tendency to get very easily amped up is genetic; Sometimes it is fear based and sometimes just excited about life. "PARK FOOD PLAY" HELP I'M AM EXCITED GONNA BLOW"

The idea is to get his obedience so tight that his impulse is to instantly obey a command, even when he is not thinking clearly.

She said to train him the same as if I were going to show in ob.

Sounds like your trainer knows GSD's! Good advice!

Our current male GSD has been called "Low Threshhold" by a couple of pros (Behaviorist and head trainer of ScH club). And he is very fast to react (both happy and protective). Also "most self confident dog she has ever seen"! Fun to train this kind but sometimes more than fun!!!!

Not bad but needs to be anticipated for sure!

01-02-2012, 09:45 PM	#1 (permalink)
Debbieg Elite Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Calif Posts: 1,157	Session today Last month I posted about some reactivity issues I was having with Benny asking if they were genetic and got some good objective ideas reactive agression genetic or environment? Today I had a lovely 2 hour session hike with our trainer who we started with when Benny was 13 months. It had been a year since our last real session although we have gotten together to talk about dogs ( is there any better topic) and have kept up with eachother. She believes Benny's reactivity is genetic but that he has an over all good temperament and is definitely malleable. My instincts were telling me the same thing but good to hear it from an expert. She recommends really tightening up Benny's obedience so that "Down" means to instantly hit the deck and not take 10 steps first and "Come" means race to me and not "Just let me sniff this bush first"! She said think of obeying a command on a scale of 1-10 and anything over a 7 gets enthusiastic praise . Anything below requires a do over! She suggested using our cat and all the distractions as training opportunities. The idea is that Benny, under stress tends to react impulsively so I can utilize this to make him impulsively obey. He did really well today but I could see him thinking. "Yeah she threw my ball and I got it and am running back to her, but I know she is gonna yell "down" and make me stop before I reach her!" Here he is at the entrance to the park. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Benedict GSD 4/13/09 Angelina Pit adopted 8/11/09 Jake Borzoi 12/3/10 Waiting at the Bridge Eli GSD Chopper APBT Raphael GSD http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1007494 http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/...ee/610245.html

01-02-2012, 09:53 PM	#3 (permalink)
Cassidy's Mom No Stinkin' Leashes Moderator Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 24,942	Awesome! A training session with Lisa always makes me feel better about my knuckleheads, lol! __________________ -Debbie- Dena 9/12/04-10/4/08 Forever would have been too short Keefer 8/25/05 Halo 11/9/08 Cassidy 6/8/00-10/4/04

01-03-2012, 03:25 AM	#4 (permalink)
bianca Knighted Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Australia Posts: 3,328	That sounds really positive __________________ Miss Molly Moo (aka The Piranha/The four legged Mouth) GSD 31/10 Raennik Hassan (Cooper) GSD 19/10/11 Paris Tabby Cat 15 years Texas Tabby Cat 15 years

01-03-2012, 08:49 AM	#5 (permalink)
Debbieg Elite Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Calif Posts: 1,157	When our trainer said she believes it is in part genetic she meant that many GSD's tend to be quick to react to a situation. Not a bad thing at all. Benny's tendency to get very easily amped up is genetic; Sometimes it is fear based and sometimes just excited about life. "PARK FOOD PLAY" HELP I'M AM EXCITED GONNA BLOW" The idea is to get his obedience so tight that his impulse is to instantly obey a command, even when he is not thinking clearly. She said to train him the same as if I were going to show in ob. __________________ Benedict GSD 4/13/09 Angelina Pit adopted 8/11/09 Jake Borzoi 12/3/10 Waiting at the Bridge Eli GSD Chopper APBT Raphael GSD http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1007494 http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/...ee/610245.html

01-02-2012, 09:51 PM	#2 (permalink)
Anastasia Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Burlington County, NJ Posts: 256	Benny is a beautiful boy and really lucky to have someone that loves him enough to "walk the walk" with him.

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