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training confession

My Training Confession

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TrainingConfession

My training confession –  I ignore a lot of professional trainers.

Let me elaborate. In no way am I saying that I know more about training than most trainers. However, I know more about Great Pyrenees than most trainers.

Regardless of what any trainer says, there is such a thing as an independent dog. An independent dog is not a “dominant dog” and needs to be embraced, not changed. The Great Pyrenees and other livestock guardian breeds are independent dogs – I really don’t know how anyone can argue that. A livestock guardian dog can spend days, even weeks, alone and do their job exceptionally well. They don’t need direction, but more importantly, they don’t want direction.

Atka and I have attended a few training events over the last year. All of these events were very basic for Atka, but it got him working in a new environment with different stimulation – something his adolescent brain desperately needs!

At one point, the trainer had all the dogs walking in a large circle to practice loose leash walking. She called out for us to stop and I asked Atka for a sit. He sat, but after a few seconds, his butt slowly slid back until he was in a down.

Lazy butt.

The trainer noticed this and made a snarky remark about Atka being dominant and I needed to put him back in his place. She suggested doing this by yanking the leash upward to force him into a sit.

First of all, I don’t believe in forcing my dog into anything. Secondly, you really expect me to pull a 130 lb dog up when he absolutely does not want to be up? Good luck with that one. I’ll pass.

Similar incidents have happened at several other events and they always frustrate me. Atka is never going to stay in a sit. He hates being in a sit. I think it’s partly because he’s lazy, partly because it’s hard to keep his legs from slipping, partly because he simply doesn’t care, and partly because he likes the cool floor on his belly.

To be completely honest, I don’t care how he relaxes. I only care that he actually relaxes. Getting a Great Pyrenees to enjoy training is a task itself. I want him to have a good experience and if that means being in a down, I’m fine with that.

Thankfully, Atka and I have been working with a trainer recently who gets pyrs and more importantly, gets Atka. He’s not a puppet. I’m not going to make him do as I please all the time. He’s an independent boy with his own mind and he deserves to express that. As long as he’s behaving, he can relax however he wants.

So, tell me. What’s your training confession?

Positive Pet Training Blog Hop

This post is part of the Positive Pet Training Blog Hop, hosted by Cascadian Nomads,Tenacious Little Terrier and Rubicon Days. This month’s theme is Training Confessions and the next hop begins on March 7th. The hop happens on the first Monday of every month, and is open for a full week – please join us in spreading the word about the rewards of positive training!

Training Confession: I’m Not Confident

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Training Confession - I'm Not Confident

I’m not confident.

With humans, that is.

Training a Great Pyrenees or other Livestock Guardian Dog (LGD) is not an easy task. You have to be confident. You have to be ready to be challenged.

I’m confident in my ability to handle an independent-minded Great Pyrenees.

I’m not confident in my ability to handle other people.

One of the biggest challenges many people face is ensuring their dog greets other people properly. The definition of “properly” varies from person to person, but it involves all paws on the floor. Because I have such big dogs, I prefer them to be in a sit or down when being greeted.

Mauja and Atka don’t jump on people, but they tend to be a bit wiggly since they’re still puppies. Not to mention Atka likes to lean on people – he could knock you over if you’re not prepared!

I know the most effective way to work on this skill. Ask the individual wanting to pet them to wait until both of my dogs are in a sit. Once they are seated and calm, the individual can pet them.

It is so easy, but I never do it.

Instead, as people approach Mauja and Atka with outstretched hands asking if they can pet them (as they are already petting them), I go with it. It isn’t the best decision. Not only does it reinforce the wigglebutts, it means I have to try to get the fluffies into a sit or down while they are being gawked over. This makes their training very inconsistent. Mauja and Atka don’t have a clear understanding of my expectations of them. Can they stand or do they have to sit when people approach them? They don’t know because I’m not confident enough to provide them with consistency.

Do you ask people to wait before interacting with your dog? Any recommendations on how to improve my confidence?

Positive Pet Training Blog Hop

Positive Reinforcement Pet Training Week is hosted by Cascadian Nomads,Rubicon Days & Tenacious Little Terrier. This month we are sharing stories of our flaws as trainers. Like every month, any and all posts or comments about positive reinforcement pet training are welcome. The blog hop is open all week, so if you are a blogger, add a post and if you are a positive pet training enthusiast, hop around by clicking the thumbnails below, learn and share. Next months Positive Reinforcement Pet Training Week begins August 3rd and the theme is improving our pet training skills.