Viewing Single Post From: Focussing Attention

Viewing Single Post From: Focussing Attention
Mattie	Nov 5 2007, 01:14 PM
One of the regulars Posts: 317 Group: Full Members Member #140 Joined: November 27, 2005	Quote: Flynn is much more interested in other dogs than any sort of training, food, or toys! The only thing he wants to do is get to other dogs! We are in our second week, and though we practice at home and he is good, we get to class and he's impossible! In this situation most of a dog's brain shuts down so he can concentrate on this and once his brain shuts down it doesn't matter what you do you won't get through. You need to get his attention before this happens, but that isn't easy. Quote: I've tried starving him a half day befoe and cut up baloney ... but he'd just rather really frolic! As you have found out it won't work because when the brain shuts down, even being starved and food offered won't work because he won't see it. Quote: If I get really cross and give his scruff a shake he pays attention for about 30 secs, then he's off again! The scruffing is taking his attention but it isn't reccomended in this situation because when the brain shuts down and you do something like scruffing, your dog can turn and bite you before he realises it is you doing it. This is a defence mechanise and he will be defending himself from the aggression used in the scruffing. Quote: We're also going to try a long walk before class next. Any suggestions? Taking him for a long walk will help his energy levels but won't help if his brain is shutting down. I don't know the story of your dog but from what you have put up on here I wouldn't take him to training classes yet because tjhey are really stressing him out, instead I would work on his behaviour with other dogs by not letting him react. Once he has reacted it is too late and he will be stressed for several day afterwards, in fact, he will only just be settled again when he goes back to training class and it starts all over again. Each time he reacts he is rewarding himself because although you pull him away, to him the other dog is running away. When a dog self rewards the next time he is worse not better and so the behaviour excalates. If I know the story of your dog I may be able to make suggestions that may work and I am sure there are others on here who can do the same. You can then take bits of this and bits of that that you think will work with your dog.


Focussing Attention · Agility and Flyball