Kira taught me a lesson in confidence building.

Anthony8858 · 12-03-2012, 07:28 AM

Never really understood how to recognize when Kira might be feeling confident about something. I know her for who she is, and that's that.

However, yesterday I saw something that clearly proved how Kira developed her own confidence.

We were fetching in the trails, when her stick fell down a steep embankment. It had to be 20 deep, so I chose to get a different stick and distract her. We kept moving.
A few moments later, Kira went back to that embankment, and tried to figure how to get her stick. She paced up and down looking for a way down there. A few minutes had gone by, when she figured a way around the steep sides, and retrieved her stick.
We moved on.

As we played, she made it her business to go back to that embankment, and carry her stick in and out of that ditch, every time we passed it. She was so proud if herself.
To me, it was a perfect example of how dogs relate to a sense of accomplishment, and develop confidence.

Just thought I'd share.

Sent from my iPhone using Petguide.com Free App

glinny · 12-03-2012, 08:05 AM

She must have been so proud. Look Daddy, look!! See what I can do. That is really great that once she figured it out she wanted to keep doing it.

**jocoyn** · 12-03-2012, 08:14 AM

That is good. Anything to build confidence.

I don't want to bogart your thread. Do go google "stick injuries in dogs"--I have personally witnessed way too many and they were bad. Also dogs running into trees in the woods (make sure a good clear path). Consider safer toys for throwing.

Anthony8858 · 12-03-2012, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glinny

She must have been so proud. Look Daddy, look!! See what I can do. That is really great that once she figured it out she wanted to keep doing it.

Exactly how I saw it.

Lilie · 12-03-2012, 08:55 AM

It makes you wonder how much we hinder our dog's ability to build self confidence. In our effort to make things better, we manage to tip the scale in the other direction.

Anthony8858 · 12-03-2012, 09:13 AM

I wish I knew more ways to work on confidence. Her actions were so convincing, it's obvious what makes her happy.

Sent from my iPhone using Petguide.com Free App

Anthony8858 · 12-03-2012, 09:15 AM

Lilie, so true.
So much of what we do, revolves around what makes US happy.

Sent from my iPhone using Petguide.com Free App

Anthony8858 · 12-03-2012, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jocoyn

That is good. Anything to build confidence.

I don't want to bogart your thread. Do go google "stick injuries in dogs"--I have personally witnessed way too many and they were bad. Also dogs running into trees in the woods (make sure a good clear path). Consider safer toys for throwing.

OMG, I just googled it. I'm afraid to say "who would have thought".

Running into trees not an issue. Lots of wide paths, and I always do take that precaution.

Now what?

It's typical for her to "pick the stick of her choice" as soon as we get there.

** I recall a thread over a year ago, where everyone was talking about how their dogs love sticks. There were lots of pictures of dogs tugging on them, etc...

Geez... This place just keeps throwing one challenge after the other at me

I'll get a rubber fetch stick, and rub something yummy on it. See if that works.

Also, been chatting with another member that takes his dog tracking every Sunday morning. we live a few miles from each other. If I were to teach her tracking (an myself, of course), I could probably have fun with that in those trails.

**jocoyn** · 12-03-2012, 10:23 AM

Oh gosh, we have learned the hard way. I know three dogs with palate punctures requiring a trip to the doggie ER from sticks and I had a nice chomp on my hand where the dog bit through a rotten one. School of hard knocks. ........

Grim is missing all his front upper incisors from an impact and another teammate decided to quit throwing in the woods due to injuries. Dogs seem to loose their mind when it comes to a toy.

Honestly I sound like a safety nerd. Thanks for not taking it the wrong way! I did a lot of toy throws in rough areas to build confidence when Beau was a puppy. Having an older dog to show the younger ones "the ropes" really helps in that regard.

As you can see, I stand accused! Should know better!!!

October 5, 2011 12:33 PM - YouTube

sashadog · 12-03-2012, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anthony8858

I wish I knew more ways to work on confidence. Her actions were so convincing, it's obvious what makes her happy.

Sent from my iPhone using Petguide.com Free App

Agility really helps my girls and especially my scaredy-dog boy

Between that, the possible tracking, and more "problem solving" opportunities like the one you and Kira experienced in the woods, you might start to see more proud moments

12-03-2012, 07:28 AM	#1 (permalink)
Anthony8858 Knighted Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 2,705	Kira taught me a lesson in confidence building. Never really understood how to recognize when Kira might be feeling confident about something. I know her for who she is, and that's that. However, yesterday I saw something that clearly proved how Kira developed her own confidence. We were fetching in the trails, when her stick fell down a steep embankment. It had to be 20 deep, so I chose to get a different stick and distract her. We kept moving. A few moments later, Kira went back to that embankment, and tried to figure how to get her stick. She paced up and down looking for a way down there. A few minutes had gone by, when she figured a way around the steep sides, and retrieved her stick. We moved on. As we played, she made it her business to go back to that embankment, and carry her stick in and out of that ditch, every time we passed it. She was so proud if herself. To me, it was a perfect example of how dogs relate to a sense of accomplishment, and develop confidence. Just thought I'd share. Sent from my iPhone using Petguide.com Free App

12-03-2012, 08:05 AM	#2 (permalink)
glinny Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Chaseburg, WI Posts: 321	She must have been so proud. Look Daddy, look!! See what I can do. That is really great that once she figured it out she wanted to keep doing it. __________________ Linda Effie (GSD) 7-20-11

12-03-2012, 08:14 AM	#3 (permalink)
jocoyn Zombie Queen Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: South Carolina Posts: 11,861	That is good. Anything to build confidence. I don't want to bogart your thread. Do go google "stick injuries in dogs"--I have personally witnessed way too many and they were bad. Also dogs running into trees in the woods (make sure a good clear path). Consider safer toys for throwing. __________________ Nancy www.scsarda.org Beau -NAPWDA Certified Cadaver Dog Waiting at the Bridge (italics=GSDs) (hemangiosarcoma=blue):Grim , Cyra, Toby, Rainbow, Linus, Oscar, Arlo & Waggles

12-03-2012, 08:55 AM	#5 (permalink)
Lilie Crowned Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: South Texas Posts: 8,968	It makes you wonder how much we hinder our dog's ability to build self confidence. In our effort to make things better, we manage to tip the scale in the other direction. __________________ Hondo Von Dopplet L Bauernhof "Hondo"- GSD Lilie's Tug McGraw "Tug" - Golden Retriever Maggie - Mini Dachshund (Rescue) Lonestar - Texas Blue Lacy Funyon, Ashe, Soot - Barn Cats Scooter /1/2 Arabian, Shadow, Katie / APHA

12-03-2012, 09:13 AM	#6 (permalink)
Anthony8858 Knighted Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 2,705	I wish I knew more ways to work on confidence. Her actions were so convincing, it's obvious what makes her happy. Sent from my iPhone using Petguide.com Free App

12-03-2012, 09:15 AM	#7 (permalink)
Anthony8858 Knighted Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 2,705	Lilie, so true. So much of what we do, revolves around what makes US happy. Sent from my iPhone using Petguide.com Free App

Remove Advertisements Sponsored Links
German Shepherd Advertisement