I said I wouldn't do this...

[zivagirl]

Originally Posted by Jag

Don't know for sure, but I know he seemed more interested in learning 'shake'. So maybe they do. Until I'm a dog, I really couldn't tell you.... but it shouldn't matter.



Grim lets himself out the screen door. This has come in handy when he had the runs. Door dashing is a good thing to work on, too. If he didn't figure out on the first day that the screen door didn't latch and he could go out on his own, this would probably be a lot easier for me to work on.

Beth hasn't been with us for a whole two weeks, yet, but she hasn't dashed the door yet, except when she sees a cat. She is starting to Intentionally look away when we're walking and I tell her to leave it. They can now line the tiny back door deck and she'll perk her ears, but walk in through the door without a backwards glance.

Would she do this off-leash? Not a snowball's chance in Hades.

The task is daunting, but I'm going to say that we've learned much in 12 days.

[Mooch]

yeah there is. the GSD doesn't do tricks. tricks are for those
other dogs.

LOL well if your dog has a superiority complex perhaps.

Originally Posted by doggiedad
do you think your dog knows the difference between a serious
exercise and a trick??

They may pick up a difference especially if the trainer is less "intense" trying to teach a "trick" as compared to a "serious" obedience exercise.
Most humans approach things they consider serious and important in a more intense way than something that they consider fun and not so important.

I have always admired movie dogs, the way they are trained is fantastic and yes it's all tricks that get put together.
I don't see how teaching a dog to go to a mark, then drop, then half recall, then stop on a different mark is that much different from some other obedience exercises? It teaches them to be aware of you, it teaches them body awareness and also focus.
The most impressive thing I've seem was a movie dog (funnily enough a GSD) standing on a rock ledge pulling up a bucket on a rope.
For him to do this he needed to know several "tricks" that were strung together. He had to pull the rope, then had to step on the rope to stop the bucket falling while he let go to grab the rope again then reach down to pick the next section of rope and pull again.
Also you'd be amazed how many people that are weary of my dogs warm to them when they see them do a "high five" or "say your prayers"
Each to their own I guess *shrugs*