Nice day

We had a lovely training session today. After several days of too hot wilting weather, this evening was gorgeous and absolutely perfect with the late evening light.

Tristan is greatly improved (at this specific moment in time). We have been practicing going on the field for protection work but not actually doing much protection work. We're focusing on Tristan's obedience while he is in high drive. I heel him on and then around the field circling a helper so he learns to focus on me and to ignore the helper. Tristan started out doing his loud (very loud) whining routine but he settled right down. The trainer walks right behind us and controls Tristan's leash giving him corrections so Tristan learns to heel correctly and to look adoringly up at me. I liken it to the Nancy Reagan political wife gaze.

Tonight we worked on Tristan staying further back at my side when he heels. It can be difficult for me to heel with Tristan since when he looks up at me his front tends to curl around my legs. I find I'm bumping into him while trying to go forward or turning left. We soon grind to a halt since Tristan is so solid and my knees are so weak. I just can't forge ahead like most folks. It's a lot better with him staying further back.

Another thing I have to work on is for Tristan to learn commands by voice only. When giving him the "break" command (to release him from an obedience command), I'm used to bending over and giving him big enthusiastic pats. I was taught to do so by another obedience trainer. One of the experienced club members tonight pointed out that I use lots of hand signals with Tristan that I'm probably not even aware of. I'm not surprised since Tristan seems to respond better to hand signals than voice commands. Schutzhund obedience is all about voice commands so I better learn to train and command by voice alone.

Road trip

No training today because the training director is at a regional trial. I would have liked to observe but I needed to spend time east of the mountains. Tristan and I had a nice weekend. We got to spend a tiny bit of time with my dear friend who named Tristan. He hasn't seen Tristan since he was a puppy and thinks he has turned out great. He was worried that Tristan was too much dog for me and is pleased to see how calm and well behaved he is. This is Tristan's persona off the training field. It's only on the field when he sees the protection gear that he kicks into high drive and becomes unruly. When he's providing assistance to me, he's incredibly calm and steady.

I really enjoy driving with Tristan and, in particular, going on long excursions. Tristan lays on the folded down front passenger seat and surveys his domain looking very serious and regal.

Kept after school

Disaster. That's about all I can say about today's training. Suffice it to say the training director suggested Tristan and I probably need some private lessons to work on Tristan's recall and my ability to control him when he's in drive.

Dagger and Viktor

Dagger and Viktor are two other relatively new club members. I'm sorry the picture isn't better because they are both absolutely gorgeous. Dagger is the big black beautiful bruiser and Viktor is our social butterfly. He's about four months old, so cute and everyone is his new best friend.

Dagger reads blogs too! Check out his comments under the pretty in pink entry. Hard to believe what powerful, masculine dogs Dagger and Tristan are since Jodi, his owner, and I both treat our babies as, well, great big babies.

Today's training included a lesson on motivational training for the dumbbell retrieve. It's fascinating to learn techniques to increase the dog's interest: lots of running backwards to entice the dog to come with the dumbbell; also, very, very slightly pushing the dumbbell to encourage the dog to want to push and present it back. This is done for only three or four minutes and then the dumbbell is put up for the next session. It's a long several month process but the goal is a deeply imprinted and reliable retrieve.

Pretty in pink

I played a joke on the training director today. Since early on Tristan has worn a hot pink collar. He has a hot pink leather leash too. I think it's rather amusing since he's a big tough GSD and he can look so intimidating to others. Well, real GSDs don't wear pink collars according to real GSD trainers. The trainer hates Tristan's frou frou collar. I finally conceded it was time to give up the pink collar - but not before one last hurrah.

I conspired to put the hated hot pink collar on the trainer's top dog. When he came to get the dog from his kennel for protection work, his big tough black GSD had the hot pink collar on! It was pretty funny. Clearly it doesn't take much to amuse me but it was fun.

The pink collar is officially retired. Tristan now wears a fur saver collar like all other respectable working GSDs.

Party manners

Tristan and I went calling. A client had an evening get together so we dropped in. I was away working all day so I had to go home first to let Tristan out. I really didn't want to leave him since he'd already been cooped up all day. Tristan was on his best behavior (except when he tried to steal my tapas) which was very impressive since he hadn't had any exercise. Two little boys fell in love with him and he was so gentle with them and loved being petted by them.

Trust your instincts

I've learned to trust my instincts in both my personal and business life so I shouldn't be surprised that they also are reliable when it comes to dog training. I knew something was wrong with our last session. I had a really good discussion with the training director before tonight's protection work. The corrections given only increased Tristan's drive when he was already hyper. He needs to be quiet (and obedient) while waiting to go onto the field but the director showed me another technique for correction versus popping the leash. Also, I need to do the corrections. Tristan needs to know I'm in charge and in charge all the time.

We are going to limit the protection work Tristan does and concentrate on him learning proper behavior to and from the field during protection work. Tonight's session was just me bringing him onto the field and correcting him for being unruly by pulling up on him (not popping). Very short session and very raggedy on my part because I'm not very strong but we'll work on it.

Protection

Today's work was mixed. We missed tracking because we got a late start. I went directly to the club field so Tristan could have a nice romp before the others arrived from tracking. Obedience went well. I tested Tristan for the first time on a part of the BH traffic section. I attach his lead to a tie-out and go out of sight. Then another dog walks by at about five paces. Tristan did as required - remaining quiet in my absence and showing no aggression to the other dog. Nicely done while still being very interested in where I went.

Protection work was mixed and I feel I let Tristan down. The very nice person who helps me with escorting Tristan onto the field kept correcting him to make him be quiet. Tristan gets so excited when it's time for protection that he makes a huge ruckus whining and carrying on as we wait his turn. I know Tristan needs to learn to be quiet as we wait but I think the corrections were too much and confused him. I don't really think he knew why he was being corrected. I should have spoken up.

Tristan was a bit unsure doing the blind search. He did well looking at me for the command but a different helper was in the blind and I think it rattled Tristan a little. Tristan didn't do well with his hold and bark. The training director took over to work with Tristan so he could work him through it and end on a successful note. I think the problem was probably a combination of the different helper and the earlier corrections.

I plan on discussing with the training director how I should handle Tristan's unruliness while waiting. I feel badly when Tristan gets corrected because I haven't properly handled something.