training sunday 9/14 & 9/17

Sunday training sucked.  Roscoe did fine on the DOH with decoy circling us with me sitting in the chair, he's not going to miss the hit thats for sure.  But then it went to hell....  On the out the decoy correction made him angry and he wouldn't out, then he got corrected more and he finally did out, then he got corrected into his guard position (behind and between the decoy's legs).  Then his bite went to crap and he was barely biting on the escapes and got worse the more we did it.  We ended on a happy flee attack which he likes and does well with.  

So I thought and fretted over what to do for a couple days and came up with a plan for today's training.  We did the DOH as usual with the chair and circling which he's doing great with.  He barks and is kinds pissed the whole time, but he's very attentive so whatever.  Then the hit and time for the out.  I had the decoy do one correction, then wait and see what Roscoe does and how he reacts to find out what exactly he's reacting too.  Roscoe froze up on the correction and clamped down and was barking on the bite and pissed and worried all at once.  So I came up and took the leash and told him to out again and gave him a small correction and encouraged him to out and go to his guard, he instantly calmed down a notch when I had the leash and he did out and go to his guard.  Reward escape bite, this time I took the leash and told him to out and tapped lightly on the leash, he was not hectic or nearly as worried this time since the decoy didn't have the leash.  He outed better this time, then we just waited without telling him or helping him into the guard.  He tried various guarding positions and even a schutzhund hold and bark before he finally opted for the correct position.  Escape bite, repeat.  He calmed down noticably and was doing better and better each time and his grip and confidence was improving on the escapes fast.  I was ecstatic, Roscoe was much happier, the decoy said he learned alot too.  Everyone wins!  No more decoy corrections for Roscoe as he apparently will get too pissed and hectic and wierd from trying to deal with it.  

Puppy tiger looking girl, formerly pure hate: She gets happier and happier and more drivey each time I see her.  Her mood and drive and excitement are improving to where she's pulling and dragging in to bite.  Her targeting is good.  Her initial strike is full and hard now if she gets to drag in and let go at the end.  She will swing in the air and hang on fine.  Her grip gets a little soft after the initial strike, but doesn't get munchy.  I can deal with that, that should be easy to improve with frustration and drive building and some back pressure.  She still needs to have the leg sleeves off the legs, she gets better bites and I can make it more active this way.  She doesn't need the leg sleeves on the legs at 6 months anyway.  

Tank bitch #2:  We worked on the DOH with her with the schutzhund sleeve.  This helps her grip while teaching her to circle around her handler many many times in a row without getting tired.  She did great, she's attentive and is handling the added obedience well.  Friday we will go back to doing some high bites over obstacles and some tire tube back pressure work, with maybe 2 DOH mixed in with the sleeve.  

It was a good session for everyone...