I must be doing something wrong

[Theresa]

Took Peanut to class last night and the trainer wanted to see how she was heeling and she heeled well but was fixated in me. Later in class she had me go pet other dogs and Peanut was not happy about it.

Talking things over with her I realized Beas is kind od the same way. He has mild SA. She told me to have Bob get more involved in their care and have him come with Beas to class with us. She said we need switch things up more and that Bob needs to get more involved in their care.

Anyone have any other suggests on how to nip this in the bud.

On a good note she thought that but the time the 6 week class is over Peanut would be able to pass the CGC test

[blynn03]

Took Peanut to class last night and the trainer wanted to see how she was heeling and she heeled well but was fixated in me.

I'm not arguing with you or anything, because I'm sure you and your trainer are better able to discern if Peanut's got SA issues or not, but I just wanted to point out that her being fixated on you during heeling is actually a good thing.  Just as an example:  Renee's Anja heels with her head cranked up so hard looking at Renee that it looks like she might break her neck. 

http://www.youtube.com/user/workingboxer#p/u/24/rVTmtLJwTAE



But I do agree that getting Bob more involved in their care could definitely help them not be so dependent on you.  And as for her getting upset about you going to pet other dogs, that's just something she's going to have to get used to - but one thing you might do is give HER a lot of praise when you come back to her.  Help her feel secure that you ARE coming back to her and if she waits nicely you're going to give her extra lovins/treats (or whatever motivates her).  It will just take practice.

[BoxerWB]

Hmm, I dunno if it is SA, but agree that some confidence and getting used to you being away might be in order.

I think you already do this but one thing I always made sure to do was make the pups learn to play happily by themselves. Xena didn't get to play everytime she shoved a toy in our laps - sometimes we went about our business and she had to go entertain herself. Same w/Dash - I think this helps them realize a little self-reliance instead of always depending on the human for everything. 

Obviously it doesn't apply to food and water - they should always be asking you for that, since we don't want toilet-drinkers and garbage-divers!!

[Theresa]

Took Peanut to class last night and the trainer wanted to see how she was heeling and she heeled well but was fixated in me.

I'm not arguing with you or anything, because I'm sure you and your trainer are better able to discern if Peanut's got SA issues or not, but I just wanted to point out that her being fixated on you during heeling is actually a good thing.  Just as an example:  Renee's Anja heels with her head cranked up so hard looking at Renee that it looks like she might break her neck. 

When she is with me she is generally looking up at me...but I meant that the trainer was working with her on heel....walking away from me etc. and she kept looking for me.


Julia- They do have "solo" play time.  Right now she is playing with her ball (attempting to crawl under the couch for it)

[blynn03]

When she is with me she is generally looking up at me...but I meant that the trainer was working with her on heel....walking away from me etc. and she kept looking for me.

Oh sorry, I read your original post wrong.  But I will say - neither of my dogs will work as well for other people as they will for me, an honestly I'm not sure if that bothers me or not.  I mean...they are MY dogs and I want them to view ME as #1.  I'm not sure if that's the "right" approach, but that's how I feel about it. 

[BoxerPerson]

Brandy I agree, mine work for me in a certain way, OH another and others a totally different way.  I want them focused on me.

[BoxerWB]

It sounds like what T is describing is that Peanut was so focused on T, she couldn't look away even when she was being worked by another person. While I'm all for focus, my dog should not be so tuned into me that it can't even look away when it is with another person. A dog like that is likely to fail the CGC, because part of good citizenship is being able to accept being with someone else while your owner is not there.

Anja is very focused on Renee and would obviously be with her rather than anyone else. I'd wager that she doesn't work with anyone the same way she does with Renee. But I was still able to walk her around outside the Drawbridge, tell her to potty, give her basic commands, etc.  She could take her eyes off Renee and do what was asked by someone else.  If Peanut is not working for someone else 'cause she can't take her eyes off T, then there is something more than handler-focus going on, IMO.

So I guess the question I'd need Theresa to answer is if Peanut was just keeping track of T or was Peanut actually unable to work with another person because she was too concerned with watching T?

[Theresa]

So I guess the question I'd need Theresa to answer is if Peanut was just keeping track of T or was Peanut actually unable to work with another person because she was too concerned with watching T?

For the most part it's just keeping track of me and where I am but when doing the heeling with the trainer...she keeps looking for me and sometimes tries to pull (in the opposite direction) to get to me.

[BoxerWB]

IMO, that does sound a little too attached - I'm assuming the trainer was being perfectly nice, so there shouldn't be a reason to turn around and pull towards you.

[Jackie]

Hmmm... I don't know.  I've always thought of the dog and trainer as a pair and how they perform is something they do together.  The dog I did competitive obedience with would most likely not have performed as well with anyone but me.  He liked other people (except for that one woman)    but ....We were partners and his trusting me and me trusting him was what made us successful.  It could be that they are looking for something more advanced from you than we accomplished.     My dog had his CD and we were a certified therapy team.

Regards,

Jackie.

[BoxerWB]

Jackie - This is an old thread so the problem may have resolved itself. But for the sake of discussion, I have to say there is a difference between "not working as well with" someone else and being so distracted by the distance from the owner that they try to pull back to you.

[Theresa]

Julia is right.  PNut did eventually become more comfortable with heeling iwth the trainer...but she is still not great at home (mostly because home = play, Petco= Work).  I have a backpack for her that we havent gotten to use yet because its been soo cold here.  As soon as it warms up a bit more we will be working with her and the backpack.