Since I've been grousing so much about Jackson's performance at the trials last weekend, I thought I would upload the video of his Utility B class. Actually, when I viewed it this morning it didn't look as bad as it felt Saturday, although it's a long ways from where I'd like to be. As I've said before, I don't expect the speed of the high drive dogs you normally see in obedience, but this weekend was especially slow and unmotivated.
The video begins with the first exercise at the point where he NQd. Hubby missed the jump over the bar part, but caught the part where he came in and sat too far away from me. That was the NQ.
VIEWER WARNING: The video is about 10 minutes in length!
3 comments:
I would have to agree with you - I have watched a lot of your videos and I remember especially the earlier ones of Jackson heeling - he was definitely slower and really lagging in this one - and generally just very "spaced out" and unmotivated in the entire round. At times, it even almost looks like he is in discomfort or in pain? (I'm surre you've done this already but have you checked if he might be sore or something? I know I have some days when I wake up with a crick in my neck or something and just don't want to do anything! So maybe Jackson had something similar that day?) Overall, I would say that he just looks bored and like he's not into it at all. That's why I feel that it's his attitude that you really need to tackle because I think if you can just change that, all the problems you're having with the various exercises may also sort themselves out because I believe that he knows how to do them perfectly (He can probably do them in his sleep by now!) but he just isn't really interested in doing them and so doing them slowly and reluctantly is sort of his way of "rebelling" since he knows he can't get away with not doing them.
Hsin-Yi
Thanks for the comments Hsin-Yi. I agree - it's the attitude that I need to change. He really does look like he's bored and unmotivated, but... I think that's how he responds to the stress of the ring. I can get great attitude in training, when I play with him, teach new behaviors, and do clicker stuff, but it doesn't carry over into the trials. My challenge is to find some way to get him comfortable in the ring situation so I can get that attitude. I'm at a loss as to how to do that, and wondering sometimes if he will ever have that level of comfort and attitude in the ring.
I do plan to cut down on the amount of formal obedience training though and hope that will help, and get him out and about to different places and do different things with him. I love your posts about going to different places with Honey. And, even if doing those things with Jackson doesn't transfer to the ring, it will at least be more fun for us :)
I agree about him looking unmotivated. I'm sorry I don't have any advice on how to fix it though. On the bright side though, since he does understand the exercises, you won't have to go back and reteach every single thing. I'm really sorry that I don't have any suggestions, but I'm sending positive thoughts your way!
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