Patience, consistency and timing, in dog training, these three things are of vital importance. Patience; remember that they are dogs. They don’t understand our language and some take a bit longer to learn our language than others. Be consistent; changing techniques will only confuse your dog and make it harder for him to learn your language. Timing try to time rewards right when the dog performs the action you want. Mark that behavior and reward it. That way your dog will know exactly what he did and will have a better understanding of what made you happy enough to reward him.
Here is a story of a dear friend and her big blue pit bull. A dog who you can’t help but love at first sight. This is a special dog to me, through him I have met and made many friends with Alamo City Bully Breeds United and Big Dawgs. Thank you Cooper for enriching my life with not only you, but your owner and the rest of the ACBBU board of directors.
A few years ago I went to a pit bull meet up to meet some prospects for training. I was introduced to the leader of the group who had a huge blue pit bull. This dog was dragging her from one place to the other. He was an extremely friendly dog who would practically knock you down to say hello. I couldn’t help but notice the big goofy Cooper.
Shortly after that first meeting, Cooper brought his owner to class. No, really Pamela was literally dragged to class by Cooper who proceeded to whine, bark and wear the stool on his head. Pamela shared with me that she wanted Cooper to get his CGC, ATT and be a therapy dog. I remember thinking to myself; we have a lot of work to do. If there is a dunce hat for doggy obedience school, Cooper owned it. Week after week Cooper brought Pamela to class. I think he repeated beginner once or twice. Pamela was determined and came back with Cooper each week.
Then we started seeing we saw small changes, Cooper was enrolled in intermediate, and advanced classes and then came a Saturday I will never forget. Pamela, came in with a sad face and handed me an envelope. As she handed it to me she said, “It’s about Cooper”. What could this big goof ball have done? My heart pounding with dread, I opened the envelope. What I pulled out made me cry, Cooper had earned his AKC Canine Good Citizen. He has since gone on to pass the American Temperament Test with flying colors. We have pretty much scratched the therapy dog for now as we are concentrating on weight pulling.
Recently we drove to Dallas to enter Cooper and my Chula in a weight pull competition. This was a long ride for Cooper and when we got to our hotel Cooper was done riding in the truck. I watched in horror as he tried to push his way past Pamela to get out of the car. With her window down, she was laughing and told me that this is what she went through every time she came to class. Are you kidding me? Talk about patience! For over two years every time she came to class she dealt with this pushing, whining, stomping all over her dog and she kept coming? Wow! that is dedication, I don’t think I could have dealt with that. You go girl.
Recently I had the pleasure of walking Cooper around a lake at a local park. It is as if a switch was thrown somewhere deep in the Coopie brain and he suddenly understood loose leash walking. He understood ‘watch me’. He was HEELING! Who is this dog? What happened to Cooper? I’ll tell you what happened to Cooper. His owner stayed patient and stuck with it. She didn’t expect perfection over night, she worked her dog week after week. We laughed and we cried together over this dog. His training equipment consists of a martingale collar, a thin leather lead, clicker and treats. Due to the patience of his wonderful owner Pamela, her consistency in a training method that may not always show instant results, her consciousness of her timing, and her dedication to her dog; Cooper is now a very well rounded pit bull. He happily offers good behaviors because good things happen when he does. I would never have dreamed the big goof ball would be competing in a Rally Obedience class, but his owner did. He is entered to compete in October. Good luck Cooper and Pamela. You two deserve a metal. I am so proud of both of you and honored to have you as part of my pack of doggy friends.
Here is a story of a dear friend and her big blue pit bull. A dog who you can’t help but love at first sight. This is a special dog to me, through him I have met and made many friends with Alamo City Bully Breeds United and Big Dawgs. Thank you Cooper for enriching my life with not only you, but your owner and the rest of the ACBBU board of directors.
A few years ago I went to a pit bull meet up to meet some prospects for training. I was introduced to the leader of the group who had a huge blue pit bull. This dog was dragging her from one place to the other. He was an extremely friendly dog who would practically knock you down to say hello. I couldn’t help but notice the big goofy Cooper.
Shortly after that first meeting, Cooper brought his owner to class. No, really Pamela was literally dragged to class by Cooper who proceeded to whine, bark and wear the stool on his head. Pamela shared with me that she wanted Cooper to get his CGC, ATT and be a therapy dog. I remember thinking to myself; we have a lot of work to do. If there is a dunce hat for doggy obedience school, Cooper owned it. Week after week Cooper brought Pamela to class. I think he repeated beginner once or twice. Pamela was determined and came back with Cooper each week.
Then we started seeing we saw small changes, Cooper was enrolled in intermediate, and advanced classes and then came a Saturday I will never forget. Pamela, came in with a sad face and handed me an envelope. As she handed it to me she said, “It’s about Cooper”. What could this big goof ball have done? My heart pounding with dread, I opened the envelope. What I pulled out made me cry, Cooper had earned his AKC Canine Good Citizen. He has since gone on to pass the American Temperament Test with flying colors. We have pretty much scratched the therapy dog for now as we are concentrating on weight pulling.
Recently we drove to Dallas to enter Cooper and my Chula in a weight pull competition. This was a long ride for Cooper and when we got to our hotel Cooper was done riding in the truck. I watched in horror as he tried to push his way past Pamela to get out of the car. With her window down, she was laughing and told me that this is what she went through every time she came to class. Are you kidding me? Talk about patience! For over two years every time she came to class she dealt with this pushing, whining, stomping all over her dog and she kept coming? Wow! that is dedication, I don’t think I could have dealt with that. You go girl.
Recently I had the pleasure of walking Cooper around a lake at a local park. It is as if a switch was thrown somewhere deep in the Coopie brain and he suddenly understood loose leash walking. He understood ‘watch me’. He was HEELING! Who is this dog? What happened to Cooper? I’ll tell you what happened to Cooper. His owner stayed patient and stuck with it. She didn’t expect perfection over night, she worked her dog week after week. We laughed and we cried together over this dog. His training equipment consists of a martingale collar, a thin leather lead, clicker and treats. Due to the patience of his wonderful owner Pamela, her consistency in a training method that may not always show instant results, her consciousness of her timing, and her dedication to her dog; Cooper is now a very well rounded pit bull. He happily offers good behaviors because good things happen when he does. I would never have dreamed the big goof ball would be competing in a Rally Obedience class, but his owner did. He is entered to compete in October. Good luck Cooper and Pamela. You two deserve a metal. I am so proud of both of you and honored to have you as part of my pack of doggy friends.
1 comment:
I've been WAITING for a new post from you girl. It isn't like you have anything busy going on in your life that would keep you from blogging. Sheesh! lol Cooper sounds like a little doll. You are SO lucky to be able to spend all your days every day with dogs, dogs, dogs. I can't think of a better life, except for maybe being surrounded by dogs while painting. That works for me. :}
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