Obeidence training

[hankthetank]

I've been looking all over to talk with people about training i use to train with my dad when i was 12 or so but he has since past away I have a new EM who will be 6 months fri. and have started training on my own can anybody let me know tips opinions so on and so forth so far Hank has been pretty easy. I found him to be very sensitive but this is kind of good i refuse to use any treats just praise and lots, and lots of it which he eats up he has been heeling pretty good does his auto sit and we are working on sit stays we are at about leash distance away for 30 40 seconds now we have been going really slow due to his age would like to start trials end of this year of spring 2011 i don't want to set him up for failure we have been using Keohler method thanks all

 

[Mongo]

Can you be a little more specific on what kind of advice your looking for. There is just SOOOOO much info people can give you but who knows where to start

 

[hankthetank]

i guess i could start with different training methods and people have used with mastiffs and if one has worked better for them than others and what kind if any issues they have ran into and how they fixed it.. Have you ever used the Keohler method before?

---------- Post added at 02:19 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:54 PM ----------

I haven't seen very many mastiffs around will be going to a trial in a couple of weeks i can't wait what i do remember is that i ever saw a mastiff in the obeidence ring only confirmation but you know that was 20 years ago

 

[hankthetank]

I haven't seen very many mastiffs around will be going to a trial in a couple of weeks i can't wait what i do remember is that i ever saw a mastiff in the obeidence ring only confirmation but you know that was 20 years ago

 

[Sabrina]

why no treats? i use a combination of rewards such as treats and toys to help him learn new skills and wean him off the treats once he has mastered the skill...

 

[hankthetank]

I know people who use treats and i've tried in the past but i wont always have treats with me but i'll always have praise and i don't want to get him use to one thing then teach him to do it without on the other hand i do use treats after all sessions are completed do you have any issues getting your dogs to obey without treats or weaning him off after you have started with them i'm just afraid of not having the reliability in the ring do you use anything else to keep him motovated sometimes hank seems to laid back

 

[Sabrina]

no problems with that at all...our dog is somewhat food-motivated but also praise motivated as well...when he was a puppy and we didnt have treats on us we could usually trick him with a closed fist and then praise him instead of treat him...now he's almost 2....we very rarely use treats at all anymore except when there is a lot of distraction or if something is especially challenging....he is also very prey-driven so a chance to play with a tug is also a good motivator for following commands...we have done HOURS of obedience training with this dog though, and this is just what worked for him

 

[hankthetank]

Thanks for the Info, it's given me a bit more insight i feel it really helps to get the opinions of lots . Do you compete in obedience trials or just train to keep your dog happy? what kind of dog do you have? And is it normal for pups to want to swallow everything for example Rocks, cat toys , paper towels, get this AA batteries Hank was lucky he didn't chew just swallowed so it didn't leak out we were lucky this time it took us forever to find out where it came from finally found out my son changed the batteries in our WII remote and the old ones fell in the couchif he can smell it he'll eat it

 

[Sabrina]

Uh oh...no we dont have that problem! Our dog is a picky eater....we havent ever competed but we have thought about it...the training is for fun and to keep him challenged...Dino is a Cane Corso