So disheartened with my handling ability

[Lola1969]

Ozzy and I are currently in Intermediate obedience. He's a rescue, 3 years old, have had him about 2 years. I love him to death but I just feel like I do not have the right energy for him training wise and it is so frustrating. We've been in constant classes since I've had him - Basic, agility, CGC, herding. We did get our CGC though, that was exciting.

I have no confidence in myself as a handler. I feel sometimes that he is really lazy and I feel that is my fault. We will do a sit stay in class and he just lies down after a few seconds. Same with the stand and stay - just lies down. He can target my hand but won't jump to touch it, like he really can't be bothered.

I just feel I must lack the apprpriate enthusiasm/energy to really make him reach his potential. I would like to compete one day in rally or obedience, but I feel I am holding us back. I know I shouldn't compare myself to others in class, but some of these dogs are so INTENt on their handlers, never taking their eyes off them. And once the release command is given there is lots of celebration and playing. It's hard for me to get Ozzy amped up.

Anyway, I don't know what I am trying to accomplish with this post. Ozzy is a pretty anxious dog. He gets plenty of exercise and wonderful food and is healthy as a horse. A woman came up to me after class Monday and said she could tell that I am underestimating what Ozzy can do. And that is probably true. I may still see him as the very underconfident dog who came to us 2 years ago.

My dream is to be an awesome handler for Ozzy. Maybe I would benefit from some one on one instruction vs. a 12 dog class?

[big_dog7777]

Are you positive it is handling and not genetics holding both of you back? Have you seen him respond differently when instructors handle him? It is entirely possible that he does not have the drive to maintain that type of energetic focus.

[Tbarrios333]

Maybe Ozzy is just a low energy chilled out guy?
I don't think you can get EVERY dog to love working. They're all different. Maybe he's more the kind of boy who likes relaxing walks just to walk and doesn't mind not having a job.
I don't know JMO.

It could still be the way you see him. Just need to let that go.

I'm interested in what others will say, but I still think not all GSDs are cut out for working even though because "they're a GSD they should love it".

[Brightelf]

I think you're trying to accomplish that you and Ozzy move more as a team? Maybe private time with the trainer, one on one? Even if Ozzy has lower drives, something must motivate him. I bet your trainer can help spot handling issues and help get Ozzy eagerly awaiting the next cue and looking at YOU more for the next part of the game.

Or... maybe a different trainer, if you do not feel he or she is helful enough even in private. Sometimes a fresh perspective, or a different approach, is the answer. Example-- maybe Ozzy is way more motivated by tuggy than food reward, or much more motivated by praise-- but it needs to be in a c-a-l-m tone (like stroking him) because he is anxious... while for some dogs, praise needs to sound like they won the lottery.

Maybe Ozzy needs to be treated as if he were a Malamute, and learn in happy, fun, short bursts as opposed to repetetive stuff he feels bored with "Hey Mom, we've done this, like, 2 times already!" etc.

I am suggesting, a trainer, in private, that can really evaluate how well you both are working, what truly motivates sweet Ozzy, and maybe a change of method for training might help.

Be proud of the CGC--- way to go!! Congratulations to you both!

[Castlemaid]

It sounds to me like Ozzy is just a low energy, mellow, easy-going, couch potatoe type dog - and nothing to do with you!

John had a good suggestion - how is he if someone else with more experience works and handles him - does he turn into a different dog? If so, then indeed, all you need is to learn some new skills to bring out what is in him - if not, just love him and enjoy him and accept who he is, and stop beating yourself up. Sounds like he has a GREAT life and a GREAT owner, and couldn't ask for more!

[Jason L]

My rescue Obie sounds a lot like Ozzy. He is a perfect house dog, a wonderful pet, a smart boy but sometimes a real world class slacker when it comes to training! (His favorite ob exercise is the long down stay ... that should tell you something...)

I used to blame myself for not being able to get him more focused and intense when we train. But I blame myself AND I blame him. It's 50/50

Oh, that, and I am getting a second dog ... lol

[JeanKBBMMMAAN]

OH! OH! I can help! Not really, but I can tell you that my sweet Bella was freaked out by the obedience classes, so we'd start from a place of non-enthusiasm for her, and a little bit of stress for me as I looked around and (bad me) compared her to the other dogs-as we went to higher class levels-many bought and bred for the purpose of obedience. She is also a rescue.

Then as class would go on and we would shut down a little together, it would get worse. I would get frustrated because I knew she knew what to do but she wasn't doing it, and she would get upset because I wasn't happy with her. Some days I didn't care, but there were a few I can remember where I really was not thinking in her place, not putting myself in her muttlucks. She was trying, I was trying but we both needed to communicate better.

Then if we had to heeling in a circle and all those people were following her (she hated that) we would go down another notch.

Then when the other owners would release their dogs with big happy noises, it would scare her.

Then, when I would get confused at some of the things we were supposed to do (involving left or right, and degree turns-or if they would do rally stuff) she would shut down more because her leader, who was supposed to be confident, STUNK! And was confused and nervous-so she was like this must be as bad as I thought because this lady is throwing off cortisol smells (?) like crazy!

We took classes for a full year, then on and off for 3 more. Sado-masochistic maybe, but in the long run we both benefitted. If we could hold AKC competitions in the back yard, we'd clean up. What happened though is we got to enjoy our time together and got much more accepting of each other, and much less focused on the other dogs and handlers.

It got better-as I got more confident so did she. When we stopped training in classes that were heading in a Rally direction and went with ones that were more obedience related, with some fun thrown in, she did great. She won a leave it competition and heeled off leash better than any dog in class (because she didn't want to leave my side-but still). By the end she could do the attention heeling with eye contact-that scared her a ton in the beginning and then even got a little spring in her step.

I found that using my voice, faking my confidence, and speeding myself up helped her a LOT. I also found a trainer who broke things down for us and allowed us to move forward in a great way. Smaller classes helped too. We had a lot of fun watching really bad dogs along the way-she would look at me like oh wow!

Our very first obedience class was spent with Bella under chairs, and then eventually near the other dogs with her paws over her eyes. She will never be a confident dog but she's so happy and when she's nervous now, guess what calms her? Obedience! Then she gets showy and cannot wait to do her flip finish! She's 7.

The quick answer is that his slowness is probably a calming signal, and you need to go from that place, but I thought that knowing people understand would help you too.

[Lola1969]

Yes, I would love for us to be more a team.

And yes, it could possibly be genetics on both sides. Ozzy is a pretty laid back guy, despite being anxious. Even in our herding instruction, the sheep hold his interest for awhile, and then he just basically starts playing with them!

Thanks for the suggestions guys, keep 'em coming!

I keep him in classes just as much for the socialization aspect as well. But I see how much fun it is to become a teacm with your dog and I want to do it! I may have to accept the fact though that Ozzy may just be content with being the most wonderful dog in the world and a fabulous companion

I've loved him like no other. I'm just so proud of him.

[bookjunky4life]

[quote=Brightelf]
Maybe Ozzy needs to be treated as if he were a Malamute, and learn in happy, fun, short bursts as opposed to repetetive stuff he feels bored with "Hey Mom, we've done this, like, 2 times already!" etc.
quote]

This is so true!

[Jason L]

The only reliable way I can get Obie amped up is to put him through some sort of "deprivation" before training.

Nothing draconian of course - but you can always try crating him 2-3 hours before training or making him skip a meal and see if his focus and drive improves.