Recently in dog training Category

This may be one for the Dog Whisperer. But if any of our readers have any suggestions, I'm all ears.

Cowboy, my border collie-Australian shepherd mix (about 5 years old), has very recently begun balking at jumping into the back cargo area of my Jeep Liberty.



Worried that he was developing some kind of hip or back problem, I took him to my vet. The X-rays and blood work all came back normal. His back, hips, knees are all just fine (and when he does finally make the jump into the car, he does so with ease).

So. The vet said it must be "behavioral."

My first course of action was clearing out the cargo area as much as possible. Maybe some of the "stuff" was making him nervous (especially a baby gate I'd recently used as a makeshift barricade between the front seats and the cargo area). 

I've tried giving him a choice of doors, putting the seats up, putting the seats down. But he's continued to balk -- a couple times I've even resorted, after 10 minutes of unsuccessful pleading, to getting a friend at the dog park to help me just lift him into the car (I take the front, she takes the back).

I've tried putting his front paws up onto the folded down seat, but he strongly resists this and I'm afraid I'm only spooking him more by physically forcing the issue.

Cowboy loves riding in the car, which usually ends in a destination and activity he enjoys -- a hike on the Peninsula or a romp at the the dog park, the dog beach or a rare excursion to the snow in the mountains.

He's a rescue and has always been on the timid side. This issue has cropped up so recently, I just can't figure out what's going on in his complex doggie mind. My next strategy is to use some very high-end treats.

Any other thoughts?? Once he's in the car, he's just fine. Have any of you encountered something like this with your dogs?

Spring is coming, a time of new beginnings.

So how about joining a dog obedience class with your pooch?

These classes are invaluable in providing a good bonding experience between dog and owner -- but also for getting some of those basic skills down. The groups are usually small enough that personal help is always available from the instructors; they're held at local parks so you can get out in the sunshine.

Need more reasons? They're really a lot of fun.

The Lomita Obedience Training Club offers classes for dogs and owners at all levels, from beginning obedience to advanced workshops. If you want to have some fun -- and your dog has had beginning obedience and knows the fundamentals -- how about learning how to get your dog to do some tricks to music?

Most classes meet on Tuesday nights, with a couple offerings on Wednesday mornings, beginning this week (March 8 and 9). The class sessions last for six to seven weeks and cost $70 through the Lomita city recreation and parks department.

Click here for the class schedule. Signups (cash or check only)  are in the office at Lomita Park, 24428 Eshelman Ave., Lomita, which also is where the classes meet. If you can't sign up this time, new sessions will begin in May again.

There are descriptions of all the classes on the website also.

Questions? Call 310-530-4814.

 

Our society is becoming increasingly dog-friendly.

That's a good thing, yes. But it also makes it even more important that your dog behaves well in public and knows his or her manners.

Palos Verdes Peninsula dog trainer Diane Bassett is offering a four-week class (9:30 a.m. Saturdays, beginning July 24) that will focus on a particular niche for taking your dog out in public: "Creating a Cafe Dog."

This is an intermediate class, meaning those who join should have completed a beginning level clicker training class or another beginning class that uses positive reinforcement.

The class will focus on practical skills that make dogs well-mannered in public, especially at outdoor cafes.

She says the class will teach dogs to ignore things like food dropped in front of them (I'll believe that when I see it), noise and other distractions so you can enjoy your 30-minute visit over latte with a friend -- or just relax and read the Daily Breeze.

This is a new class so Diane is still trying to gauge the interest out there. Registration is open (class cost is $75) and the class will meet at the Lunada Bay Plaza, 707 Silver Spur Road, Rolling Hills Estates.

You can sign up online at the class name link above or call 310-896-6419.

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Diane also sponsors a free "doggie play date" service for South Bay dog owners who are looking for good play date matches for their dogs. You can join the group by clicking the play date link above or by sending an email to:

south-bay-dog-play-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.

 

 

The Lomita Obedience Training Club held its obedience and conformation match on Sunday. 

See how the good dogs do it.

On Sunday April 25, stop by Lomita Park at 24428 Eshelman Ave. for the annual Obedience, Rally & Conformation Match sponsored by the nonprofit Lomita Obedience Training Club.

 

An entry table opens from 8 to 10 a.m. with the Rally course (for novices and advanced) beginning at 9 a.m. and the Obedience trials beginning at 10 a.m. with "movement and handling" at 11 a.m. and conformation at approximately noon.

Food and drinks will be available and entry forms can be downloaded: http://lomitadogtraining.org/Match.pdf.

And if you (and your dog) would like to learn more about obedience, check out the group's ongoing classes. (The club's "Top Dog 2009" team is pictured above.)

See Josh's earlier post for more information about what the match entails.

A new round of beginning dog obedience classes begins at 8:30 a.m. Saturday (March 6) taught by retired LAUSD special ed teacher Barbara Millman. Barbara's been training dogs for many years now and raises champion Shetland sheepdogs.

Rocket, Tess & Cowboy have all gone through her class.

Barbara's excellent, she trains with a gentle touch and keeps up with the latest dog training ideas. She's also active in the Lomita Obedience Training Club which offers numerous classes.

The six-week class (7th week is graduation) is held in the parking lot outside Kritter Korral Pet Shop (in the process of being changed to "Dino's Pet Shop" under new ownership) at 1724 Palos Verdes Drive North (at Western Avenue) in Harbor City.

The first class this Saturday is an orientation for owners only, so don't bring your dogs.

Cost is $60 which allows you to bring the dog back for refreshers for free.

Call 310-514-4924.

(There will be a break in this next session as Barbara will be out of town in March for a while.)

 

After our final dog obedience class Saturday with trainer Barbara Millman, a couple of the pups in the class decided it was finally time to play:

 

 

You may remember how my dog Cowboy finished third when I took him through Barbara Millman's beginning dog obedience class a few months ago at Kritter Korral in Harbor City.

We were thrilled, of course, since Cowboy is so laid-back and never really got into the spirit of the class. Third-place (the orange ribbon at left) was really quite good, he seemed to perk up during the final exam.

Last weekend, I finished the same class with Tess who got the first-place ribbon.

Now this was largely due to her being the only grown-up dog in a class of crazy puppies. But still. We're pretty proud.

Both Cowboy & Tess did very well. Barbara takes a break over the next couple months but will start with a new beginning class on the second Saturday of January. And when you take your dog through her class once, you can return for free at any time to brush up and review. Barbara's a seasoned and very knowledgable trainer and it's well worth the time & fee (cost is around $60 for 7 weeks).

Contact:  Kritter Korral, 1724 Palos Verdes Dr North, Harbor City, CA 90710-3641

(310) 514-4924

 

 

 

Wow. Woo-hoo!

Next week is graduation. And Cowboy came in last in the game "How many commands does your dog know" in class today. We got us some work to do this week.