Dog run - a place to pick up bad habits?

[ev960d]

Hi all,

I'm really puzzled by my trainer's comments about bringing dogs to the dog run. He commented that dogs will become too freely..I guess he could have meant too 'wild' and will be difficult to control him when you want to train him because dog cannot differentiate when is play & when is training.

I don't know what to believe. Another colleague of mine who graduated from the same school brings her dog to the dog run too. She said trainer didn't tell her that :confused: Cola simply loves socialising, chasing after whippets and playing with golden retreivers. I think I will take away the joy of his life if I disallow him to go dog run.

On the other hand, I do notice some changes about him in class. He starts to chase after distractions like remote control cars & other sound distractions when he is put on "stay". Trainer said it has to do with dog run habits. My husband said it could be due to fatigue. Cola cannot concentrate after say 45min or so. The total duration of each lesson is 1.5hr.

He was eh..making that loud squeeky sound when I disallow him to chase after the remote control car :eek: I've never heard him making that kind of sound before. Some of the other owners looked sympathatically at me..thinking he must have suffered badly. Came and asked me what's wrong with him :lol:

Anyone has similar experience or suggestions on how I can help him get over his remote control car passion? Thanks.

[franp]

Lillydog said it all.
The only thing I would add; a tired dog is a happy dog.. The best place I know of to tire a dog out is the dog run...

When Dari was in class; it was a half hour and the teacher told us to practice for 2-3 minutes a day 3 times a day. BECAUSE A PUPPY HAS A SHORT ATTENTION SPAN.....

fran

[ev960d]

[lilydog I meant to add something about the noise he makes when disallowed to chase the car. Frenchies do not respond well to negative punishment, they over react and can get very dramatic, and they are stubborn. Positive reinforcement works much better, like food treats.]

Hi all,

Thanks for responding. Yeah, Cola has taught me his over reaction, dramatic acts & stubborness :lol: He has a food treat in front of him and he has to stay a while before given instructions to eat it. Food treats vs remote control car...and he wants that control car..:( Maybe I should buy one & let him play until he is sick of it...evilicon

Hmm...actually, I'm quite a laid-back owner as long as he doesn't bark consistently, pee/poo at the right place..he doesn't need to be a super dog or a super star in school. He is already my super star :D The last thing I wanted is to have a military dog..that goes round the field.."about turn", good..left, right, left, right..ok "Stay"..That's a robo dog :lol:

I think the duration of the class is too long also..If Cola is not tired, I'm dead tired. No wonder I have backaches & all kind of aches in the past few months :lol: Anyway, coming Sunday is the last lesson appicon. It's kind of sad, after 8 weeks..you know after doing something consistently, now the feeling of 'loss'..but think of all the afternoon naps (how come I sound like Garfield?), more Sunday time & Cola more dog runs hours thereafter :lol:

We are still going to the dog run..but just shhhhh...don't tell the trainer haha...Thanks franp, we also think that dog run is the best place for him to really excercise. Some owners think he has slim down a little..I think he has put on some muscles hee hee...

[EmD, MD]

Picking up bad behavior at a dog run? What a crock! Penny sometimes showcases her bad behavior at the dog run, but I know she didn't learn it from anyone there!!
Fran is right...a tired dog is a good dog. I can't imagine the destruction if Penny couldn't go to the precious DP!