First Obedience Class - who should go ??

[kam237]

So Larry has pretty good manners. He sits, stays, down, walks good on the leash with both of us. Problem is he listens to Jeff much quicker than me. He will get REALLY mouthy, jumpy and barky with me and not dad, usually because he wants to play. Jeff says no once and Larry will listen. When he gets the crazies with me :devil: I try to remain calm and firm, but sometimes it takes about a zillion "no's" for him to stop.
So question is: What is everyones opinion: both of us go? or I go by myself?? or only Jeff?? Realistically, the "only dad" option isnt really an option for the full 6 weeks. Our current plan is just me, but I'm interested in other input.

Thanks all !!

 

[mulenag]

I think both of you should go and see how Larry does with each of you in that setting. The class that we go to is an hour long and has a 5-10 min break half way through...we see several couples that switch at that half way point so each handler has a chance to work with their dog.

 

[AngusMcDubhsMom]

Both of you should go, if you can manage it, since he's responding differently to each of you. The trainer should be able to tell why that is. You shouldn't have to tell him a dozen times to do something. Tell him once and correct him. I have a softer voice and mine used to listen to Dave much better until I learned to get firm and sound as if I meant business...not loud, just firm.

 

[Abbey]

I'm thinking I should of gone with my husband since Abbey doesn't listen as well to me. Wonderful DH says it is because I will tell her 50 times instead of just once. Funny, I end up having to tell him 50 times as well because he doesn't listen either. Is there such a thing as "husband classes"?

 

[nowhavethreebears]

You need to work on your "dog" voice! My friend Ruby has a really soft voice until one of her dogs is misbehaving. Then you will think her head is going to spin and spit pea soup! I don't know where it comes from but it's very effective.
(I'LL get off the couch when she's using that voice!)
She keeps telling me I need to stop asking my dogs to do stuff and TELL them to.

Oh fftopic: I agree I think you should both go to class and take turns working with Larry.

 

[Chillinewf]

I'd agree,definitely both. My wife and I sorted this one out by booking two sessions during the week and doing one each. My wife has some of the same issues with Chilli responding, plus she has the added issue of being in a wheelchair all the time so it helps her to have the extra time with just him in a formal environment.

 

[Baloo]

I took Baloo for his first round....Husband is a shift worker. The instructor told a couple there that the one the dog listens to the least should do the basic training. That way they would learn to listen to them. He never had any problems with the dog, a lab, but it paid her no mind what so ever. By the end of the class the pup was listening to her beautifully. My youngest is going to do the basic over again with Baloo because she enjoys it (she's 11). It should be no problem for her because Baloo listens to her more than anyone.

 

[Brody the Newf]

Brody is my dog so I'm the one that does all the work in class. I'd come home and tell my SO and son the things Brody needs to practice. Since I took the same class 3 times in a row, they became experts.

Brody being Brody, we say something once and then make him listen. Saying "No" is the only warning he'll get. If he chooses to ignore us, he gets corrected. Eventually we are hoping that this will sink in

 

[amyk]

I'm not an expert, but I know that in my obedience classes I've taken with my newf, the teacher has explained that when you say no more than once, the command changes to the dog. So they wait to hear no, no, no before they do what has been asked, because if that's what the handler says each time, they wait for the 3 no's instead of just one. The instructor said that we should say no once, firmly and when they respond to the one "no" they get rewarded. Otherwise the dog gets confused and isn't sure whether to respond on one no, 3 no's, 5 no's, etc.

I definitely think it would be helpful for both of you to go if it's possible. I know in the classes I've taken even kids have gone and will sometimes work with their dogs during the class. But I think more than anything it's better to hear the instructions directly from the trainer than to hear the interpretation of the commands from whomever went to class. Many times things get lost in translation.

 

[Sue M.]

My instructor said the same thing about the number of commands. Say the command 'sit' once and if they don't do it, physically put them in a sit. (Or whatever command you are trying to give the dog.)

When I had Cassie in class, there was this woman with a German Shepard. She said that her husband had the dog to this same class and the dog did great for her husband, but the dog wasn't listening to her so she decided to take the class with the dog.

During one of the classes, the husband came along and stayed in the background, but with him there, the dog would not listen to the woman. The dog was more concerned about where the hubby was and what he was doing. The instructor ended up asking him to leave so the wife would have the full attention of the dog. (At least until the woman could control the dog on her own. Then the next step would be to work on commands with him there too.)

This is just one case though. This woman was a really mousey woman. It was really easy to see why the dog wasn't listening to her. She didn't sound like she meant it at all. Dogs can sense the insecurity of someone who really isn't in command. When this woman gave a command, it was more like a question!

 

[kam237]

So I am totally sitting here laughing :roflmao:, because everything, everyone has said applies one way or another !!! I'm still at work, so me and hubby will discuss tonight. I think I might put in a call to my obedience people also. I can see me and Larry going through "basic training" more than once. Tonight I will read all these posts to hubby. I will check back tonight !! thanks everyone. I love NN.:grouphug:

 

[Brody the Newf]

I can see me and Larry going through "basic training" more than once. Tonight I will read all these posts to hubby. I will check back tonight !! thanks everyone. I love NN.:grouphug:

The first obedience course is usually all about training the owners and not the dogs. There is nothing wrong with taking basic training more than once, or twice, or four times:shuffle:

 

[kam237]

Hi there all, just for your info, after hearing everyone's opinions, talking with hubby and my class trainers, ALL of us will be attending obedience school next Monday !!!! Larry doesnt know what he is in for !! I'm excited !!!! Thanks again. I will post back AFTER our first class!!!

 

[kr200MSU]

My puppy Byron had his first obedience class tonight. Where we live is pretty remote, and not a lot of classes are offered, so we are very excited to get started! There were a TON of other puppies there, so many that they are going to make 2 classes out of them, but he was the only Newf. People kept asking what kind of dog he was, and thinking maybe he was a lab LOL. He LOVED the dogs and the people and espeically the people who had kids at the class. I think he gave kisses to everyone there multiple times! So he was a hit with his disposition but we will have to see if he is a hit with his obedience, too!

 

[kam237]

My puppy Byron had his first obedience class tonight. People kept asking what kind of dog he was, and thinking maybe he was a lab LOL. He LOVED the dogs and the people and espeically the people who had kids at the class. I think he gave kisses to everyone there multiple times! So he was a hit with his disposition but we will have to see if he is a hit with his obedience, too!

Cant wait to compare notes, keep us posted!!! Like the name Byron!!! How old is he??

 

[kr200MSU]

Byron is 5 months old and strong enough to pull me over already! I am going by myself, hubby is a 3rd year vet student and on call a lot so he can't commit to going. Oh- and thanks-- we love the name Byron, too. I have been wanting to name a Newf boy that for a long time (I love Lord Byron's epitath about his Newf Boatswain), and we are so happy to have our boy!