Long Down = Whine?

marylou · 10-28-2009, 06:24 PM

Misha has always been vocal (talks to her toys, talks to us, YELLS at Chaos

). This has not been a problem, however - in our dog class, she will start whining in a long down/stay. My trainer says if I'm going to compete with her in OB or Rally, that will have to stop. She is pretty "soft" and gets her feelings hurt easily. My trainer wanted me to continue to go back to her and "give her a correction". This just made her whine more.

Do any of you who do compete have this problem? How did you solve it?

codmaster · 10-28-2009, 06:51 PM

The trainer is right - it will result in point deductions with the amount depending on the judge's interpretation of how bad the whining is. I used to have a female GSD who would "talk" while on a stay - it also reduced her points in the trials. Good luck with trying to stop it - we tried a lot of things and eventually reduced it but never stopped her noise. "NO" or "Quiet" worked some of the time to help as did ignoring her when she whined and praiseing her when she was quiet.

rokanhaus · 10-28-2009, 07:02 PM

If she is "soft" correcting her will only make it worse. I would build her confidence up and stay close by...only looking at her, praising, her, giving her a food reward, or releasing her when she is quiet. In fact, as soon as she starts to whine I would not only look away, even turn away, but take a giant step step away. When she is quiet, move in closer and reward. A clicker might help to mark the exact second she is offering you the right behavoir...so you don't move in to treat, she starts whining and now you missed it. Don't get upset at all with her..just ignore her when she whines, good things come when she is quiet. It wil take some tyime, but if you are consistent...you should see some improvement.

MelissaHoyer · 10-28-2009, 07:03 PM

Does she do it at home if you are practicing the it? Or only at class?

*The wheels are turning in my brain lol*

Jax08 · 10-28-2009, 07:35 PM

Clicker training and teaching her "quiet". She'll learn when she can talk and when she can't. I would NOT go over and correct her for two reasons

1. Been there done that and it makes it worse.
2. She's whining because she wants your attention. If you go to her then she won.

So I would start at home and put her in a down. When she whines give her the Etttt! Quiet. As soon as she quiets, Click and treat.

Jax was like...OK I Shut Up!! Where's my food?!

ShatteringGlass · 10-28-2009, 07:49 PM

I would stay close, even if it means never leaving her side, and praise and treat her if she is quiet. She probably has a breaking point as to how far away you are and when her anxiety sets in. Right now, you dont want to go that far and set her off. And defenetly dont correct her if she is a very soft dog, it will make it worse.

Take baby steps and build up her confidence slowly, gradually increasing the distance at which you can leave her in a down and she is not stressing.

Jax08 · 10-28-2009, 07:52 PM

I thought about that after I posted whether you should stay close to her. I like Kelly's advice alot. It would be easier for her to 'get it' if you are right there close enough to treat so the reward is even quicker.

ShatteringGlass · 10-28-2009, 08:49 PM

Also, how is she on the sit/stay? If she is quiet during the sit, and whines during the down, I think her problem has to do with her confidence level. Being in a down is a more submissive position to be left all alone in with other dogs around. So I wouldnt give her any corrections at all, even verbal ones, if her problem stems from low confidence and anxiety, you need to really set her up for success, meaning she NEVER gets the chance to feel vulnerable again.

I had confidence problems with Sydney, she is a very soft dog, and needed TONS of chances to do something right, rather than letting her do something wrong and correcting her for it.

Id start looking for a new trainer, but thats just me....

sleachy · 10-28-2009, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted By: rokanhausIf she is "soft" correcting her will only make it worse. I would build her confidence up and stay close by...only looking at her, praising, her, giving her a food reward, or releasing her when she is quiet. In fact, as soon as she starts to whine I would not only look away, even turn away, but take a giant step step away. When she is quiet, move in closer and reward. A clicker might help to mark the exact second she is offering you the right behavoir...so you don't move in to treat, she starts whining and now you missed it. Don't get upset at all with her..just ignore her when she whines, good things come when she is quiet. It wil take some tyime, but if you are consistent...you should see some improvement.

I agree with Kandi.
You could also try quietly and gently taking her by the collar and putting her back into her crate. This worked with my girl who could NOT stop vocalizing at the sheep. She quickly learned noise = fun time is OVER.

jake · 10-28-2009, 09:45 PM

sorry for non competitive GSD owner "butt-in" BUT my dog will moan when in long down-stay>WHY should vocalization be a part of judging a dog?I say banned some words such as #### or #### when I am mad happy surprised or uncomfortable.Why do we think we should understand and have the nerve to score "dog-talk"when they are doing what is asked in obedience ???

10-28-2009, 06:24 PM	#1 (permalink)
marylou Elite Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: western Montana Posts: 1,015	Long Down = Whine? Misha has always been vocal (talks to her toys, talks to us, YELLS at Chaos ). This has not been a problem, however - in our dog class, she will start whining in a long down/stay. My trainer says if I'm going to compete with her in OB or Rally, that will have to stop. She is pretty "soft" and gets her feelings hurt easily. My trainer wanted me to continue to go back to her and "give her a correction". This just made her whine more. Do any of you who do compete have this problem? How did you solve it? __________________ Mocha's Royal Misha, CGC - June 2005 Chaos vom Haus Wilton, CGC - September 2007 Heidi, GSD - RIP Natasha, GSD - RIP I've taken a vow of poverty. To annoy me, send money

10-28-2009, 06:51 PM	#2 (permalink)
codmaster Crowned Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: California, US Posts: 4,772	Re: Long Down = Whine? The trainer is right - it will result in point deductions with the amount depending on the judge's interpretation of how bad the whining is. I used to have a female GSD who would "talk" while on a stay - it also reduced her points in the trials. Good luck with trying to stop it - we tried a lot of things and eventually reduced it but never stopped her noise. "NO" or "Quiet" worked some of the time to help as did ignoring her when she whined and praiseing her when she was quiet.

10-28-2009, 07:02 PM	#3 (permalink)
rokanhaus Master Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Canaan CT Posts: 653	Re: Long Down = Whine? If she is "soft" correcting her will only make it worse. I would build her confidence up and stay close by...only looking at her, praising, her, giving her a food reward, or releasing her when she is quiet. In fact, as soon as she starts to whine I would not only look away, even turn away, but take a giant step step away. When she is quiet, move in closer and reward. A clicker might help to mark the exact second she is offering you the right behavoir...so you don't move in to treat, she starts whining and now you missed it. Don't get upset at all with her..just ignore her when she whines, good things come when she is quiet. It wil take some tyime, but if you are consistent...you should see some improvement. __________________ Kandi Rokanhaus German Shepherds www.rokanhaus.com Canaan CT "Some Dogs come with a Pedigree, Others Come with a Legacy"

10-28-2009, 07:03 PM	#4 (permalink)
MelissaHoyer Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: MI Posts: 485	Re: Long Down = Whine? Does she do it at home if you are practicing the it? Or only at class? The wheels are turning in my brain lol __________________ Melissa & the Girls Grace, 7 yo GSD Kira, 3 yo GSD

10-28-2009, 07:35 PM	#5 (permalink)
Jax08 Crowned Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NNE PA Posts: 14,337	Re: Long Down = Whine? Clicker training and teaching her "quiet". She'll learn when she can talk and when she can't. I would NOT go over and correct her for two reasons 1. Been there done that and it makes it worse. 2. She's whining because she wants your attention. If you go to her then she won. So I would start at home and put her in a down. When she whines give her the Etttt! Quiet. As soon as she quiets, Click and treat. Jax was like...OK I Shut Up!! Where's my food?! __________________ Michelle _________________________________________ Jax Von Monkeybutt, CGC Queen Banshee Boo Sierra the Undecided Cracker, The Great Shedder Rich N Handsome, "Red"

10-28-2009, 07:49 PM	#6 (permalink)
ShatteringGlass Master Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 906	Re: Long Down = Whine? I would stay close, even if it means never leaving her side, and praise and treat her if she is quiet. She probably has a breaking point as to how far away you are and when her anxiety sets in. Right now, you dont want to go that far and set her off. And defenetly dont correct her if she is a very soft dog, it will make it worse. Take baby steps and build up her confidence slowly, gradually increasing the distance at which you can leave her in a down and she is not stressing. __________________ Kelly Dalmatians: CH Erin N Shamrock's S Hemisphere CD RN CGC "Sydney" (13yrs) (U-CH Pointed) Shamrock's Shippin Up To Boston RN (1/3 CA)CGC "Shane" (3yrs) Temporary GSD: Isabella vom Selehaus (1.5yrs)

10-28-2009, 07:52 PM	#7 (permalink)
Jax08 Crowned Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NNE PA Posts: 14,337	Re: Long Down = Whine? I thought about that after I posted whether you should stay close to her. I like Kelly's advice alot. It would be easier for her to 'get it' if you are right there close enough to treat so the reward is even quicker. __________________ Michelle _________________________________________ Jax Von Monkeybutt, CGC Queen Banshee Boo Sierra the Undecided Cracker, The Great Shedder Rich N Handsome, "Red"

10-28-2009, 08:49 PM	#8 (permalink)
ShatteringGlass Master Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 906	Re: Long Down = Whine? Also, how is she on the sit/stay? If she is quiet during the sit, and whines during the down, I think her problem has to do with her confidence level. Being in a down is a more submissive position to be left all alone in with other dogs around. So I wouldnt give her any corrections at all, even verbal ones, if her problem stems from low confidence and anxiety, you need to really set her up for success, meaning she NEVER gets the chance to feel vulnerable again. I had confidence problems with Sydney, she is a very soft dog, and needed TONS of chances to do something right, rather than letting her do something wrong and correcting her for it. Id start looking for a new trainer, but thats just me.... __________________ Kelly Dalmatians: CH Erin N Shamrock's S Hemisphere CD RN CGC "Sydney" (13yrs) (U-CH Pointed) Shamrock's Shippin Up To Boston RN (1/3 CA)CGC "Shane" (3yrs) Temporary GSD: Isabella vom Selehaus (1.5yrs)

10-28-2009, 09:45 PM	#10 (permalink)
jake Knighted Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: new england Posts: 2,710	Re: Long Down = Whine? sorry for non competitive GSD owner "butt-in" BUT my dog will moan when in long down-stay>WHY should vocalization be a part of judging a dog?I say banned some words such as #### or #### when I am mad happy surprised or uncomfortable.Why do we think we should understand and have the nerve to score "dog-talk"when they are doing what is asked in obedience ???

Remove Advertisements Sponsored Links
German Shepherd Advertisement