Working through distractions

law1558 · 12-11-2011, 04:59 PM

When Beau and I are working at home, he is dialed in to me. We'll do some obedience inside and outside, with the kids playing, cats walking around, etc. I can call him name, I'll get a head turn, eye contact and full attention, almost without fail.

HOWEVER, when we're in our group training setting (7-8 GSDs per session), getting him to even LOOK at me is a challenge sometimes! I can literally shove the food treat in his mouth, but if he's interested in another dog, forget it. I can have a filet mignon tied around my neck and I won't be able to get his focus back to me.

Any suggestions?

doggiedad · 12-11-2011, 05:10 PM

train a lot around other dogs. set up training/play dates
with the people from your class or any dogs you can
fine that are safe to train around. i did a lot of training
at the dog park. you don't have to enter the park to train.
i use train in the parking lot. as my dog learned i moved closer
to the fenced in area then i use to train along the fence.
training along the fence is close enough to provide a lot of
distractions but not making contact with the dogs.

DaisyDog · 12-12-2011, 01:06 PM

I am so glad you posted this! My GSD, Daisy, is almost 11 months old and we have completed 2 levels of obedience training, clicker training. We are now starting a class with a trainer who used to be a police dog trainer and is very familiar with GSDs. But Daisy is having the same problem, she is hyper focused on the other dogs and so excited I can't get her attention. We've been trying the Look at That game, but her threshold is pretty low, so it's really taking some time. I feel like she is Jekyll and Hyde! At home, such an amazing dog, focused, well-behaved, and calm. In class a total nut case!

Sam
______
Daisy, GSD - DOB 1/20/11

12-11-2011, 04:59 PM	#1 (permalink)
law1558 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Southern CA Posts: 313	Working through distractions When Beau and I are working at home, he is dialed in to me. We'll do some obedience inside and outside, with the kids playing, cats walking around, etc. I can call him name, I'll get a head turn, eye contact and full attention, almost without fail. HOWEVER, when we're in our group training setting (7-8 GSDs per session), getting him to even LOOK at me is a challenge sometimes! I can literally shove the food treat in his mouth, but if he's interested in another dog, forget it. I can have a filet mignon tied around my neck and I won't be able to get his focus back to me. Any suggestions? __________________ ________________________________ Beau-GSD (Rescue) Kona-GSD (Always in our hearts...miss you) Zeus-GSD (1999-2011) Ica-GSD (1999-2008) Lobo-GSD (1991-1998) Cagney-Dobie (1990-1997) "In dog training, jerk is a noun, not a verb."

12-11-2011, 05:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
doggiedad Crowned Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Jenkintown,Pa. Posts: 9,846	train a lot around other dogs. set up training/play dates with the people from your class or any dogs you can fine that are safe to train around. i did a lot of training at the dog park. you don't have to enter the park to train. i use train in the parking lot. as my dog learned i moved closer to the fenced in area then i use to train along the fence. training along the fence is close enough to provide a lot of distractions but not making contact with the dogs. __________________ "Life Without A Dog Is A Life Unfulfilled" Last edited by doggiedad; 12-11-2011 at 05:14 PM.

12-12-2011, 01:06 PM	#3 (permalink)
DaisyDog New Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 11	I am so glad you posted this! My GSD, Daisy, is almost 11 months old and we have completed 2 levels of obedience training, clicker training. We are now starting a class with a trainer who used to be a police dog trainer and is very familiar with GSDs. But Daisy is having the same problem, she is hyper focused on the other dogs and so excited I can't get her attention. We've been trying the Look at That game, but her threshold is pretty low, so it's really taking some time. I feel like she is Jekyll and Hyde! At home, such an amazing dog, focused, well-behaved, and calm. In class a total nut case! Sam ______ Daisy, GSD - DOB 1/20/11

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