Ripple's been to training again

[SteffiS]

I didn't mention this before as I wasn't sure how it was going to pan out.

Ripple has just completed an eight week training course at an outdoor venue on a local fruit farm.
My main reason for going was to prove to myself that Ripple can interact well with other dogs and can concentrate on training with distractions around.
I was certainly right about there being distractions, there was a massive kids play area, footballs, a tractor 'train' going round full of children. And the dogs, most of them were dogs with 'problems'. There were dogs that wouldn't sit, reactive dogs, dogs that barked all the time, a dog that had qualified for crufts but completely disappeared on recall, dogs that refused to walk; it made Ripple seem quite normal, in fact the worst thing he did was clear up all the treats left by the previous class.
I thought we were going to have a blip today as there was a charity cake stall being run by the trainer. Ripple was delighted with the cake stall and obviously hoped they were all for him and I thought our recall was going to end up with a cake fest but he was a really good boy and also did a stop, wait, in the middle of the recall.

I don't know whether I will go back as it's all pretty basic training, but I'm really pleased to be reassured that Ripple can behave himself with other dogs and can carry out commands in difficult situations

 

[Natalie]

That sounds brilliant! Don't dumb it down to basic training, Monty would never resist a whole cake stand!!! Ever!!!

And the distractions you describe are pretty full on too. I'd say keep going if you are both enjoying it. ,?

 

[Jacqui-S]

Sounds like Paul's class.
Well done Ripple!

 

[SteffiS]

Sounds like Paul's class.
Well done Ripple!

Knew you'd know where I meant . Makes a change to go to a class that makes Ripple look like a good boy .

 

[edzbird]

This is brilliant. We go to basic training every week. It's exposure to dogs that we go for. And Coco loves it.

 

[Leanne]

I think being able to do ‘basics’ (and frankly the stop in the middle of a recall does not sound basic to me in the slightest!) with distractions is fantastic training...

 

[Jacqui-S]

Knew you'd know where I meant . Makes a change to go to a class that makes Ripple look like a good boy .

I thought you had been before and weren't struck on him.
If you are back, mention Sophie and Lilly. She was teachers pet and used to take him chocolate brownies

 

[Joy]

It sounds as if Ripple was a star. ?

 

[SteffiS]

I thought you had been before and weren't struck on him.

I thought it was the person I went on a pack walk with at Tentsmuir but when I checked it out again it wasn't him. So I thought I'd give him a go.

 

[Selina27]

That's great to read, good boy Ripple

 

[Charlie]

Good boy Ripple, good boy. I wish Charlie could cope with a class full stop xx

 

[Beanwood]

What a great thread! Sounds like a great class, full of "normal" dogs!

 

[Plum's mum]

Good boy Ripple ?.

Your description of all the other dogs gave me a good old chuckle ?.

 

[MellowYellow]

Excellent! It is particularly difficult for young dogs with lots of other dogs and distractions around, so well done Ripple!!!

 

[SteffiS]

One thing he encouraged me to use more was 'silent commands' hand signal only, as your dog really has to focus on you to know what he has to do next. Ripple does lose focus easily so this has been a really useful exercise to practice. It's actually quite surprising how much Ripple knows by just hand signal, I'm obviously more physically expressive than I thought I was.

 

[Jacqui-S]

'silent commands' hand signal only

I remember doing whole training classes where we weren't supposed to speak to out dogs, just use hand signals and body language. Lilly and Sophie were pretty good, but I tell you, some people just did not get it and were constantly speaking throughout! Pretty sure P stamped on his hat a few times in frustration!
I think hand signals are the best for us. It's part of Lilly's "Magic Word" - a word and a signal for us is better.

 

[SteffiS]

We haven't done a whole class of it - that would be something worth going back for, P gets frustrated enough when he asks everyone to make a left turn and we all turn in different directions .

 

[Jacqui-S]

Ha ha........I have a video of one of his formation teams you might like! The training was an absolute hoot!!