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yorkipower · 02-11-2005, 07:59 AM

I think I'm joining the "lickthestar" fan club. Great advice and very true. When I started out in agility training with Bun, one of our biggest problems was that he'd go bonkers on me when confronted with this big open doggie play ground that hundreds of other doggies had visited and all those wonderful outdoor animal smells. He'd get what we call the "zoomies" but it wasn't brought on by stress, so much as it was a matter of more freedom and distractions than he was ready to handle. I might as well not have existed. MY efforts to catch him in these sort of situations were futal. Like Likethestar said, trying to catch him, and his running away just became part of the game.

A very good trainer I worked with a few times in Huntington gave me the solution to the problem which may work for you (and it was hinted at by lickthestar). When my pup tuned me out, I went and hid behind an A-Frame. A very large agility obsticale that looks like what it sounds like - an A. I stayed between the two sides out of my dogs view. He continued to run around for a few minutes (we were outside but in a fenced area and my trainer kept an additional watchful eye) until he suddenly noticed that mommy wasn't there. There was a momentary panic and then he began to look for me. When he found me, I asked him to do a small recall - by that I mean - my staniding just a foot away from him. WHen he came to me this time, we had a big "party" and I gave him a "jackpot" of cookies and huggies. In the following weeks, we did this again, going to local ball fields that were fenced in. If he decided to take off, I'd go and hide and wait for him to realize that mommey wasn't there. Soon he caught on that if he didn't pay attntion to me and come when he was called, he might loose track o me.

Something to consider, if your dog decides to play this game, maybe you shoud "disappear" or at the very least tune him out until he realizes you are not going to chase him? Jelousy can also help here by making a fuss over another pet or person who DOES come when he or she is called.

02-11-2005, 07:59 AM	#12
yorkipower BANNED! Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: New York Posts: 446	I think I'm joining the "lickthestar" fan club. Great advice and very true. When I started out in agility training with Bun, one of our biggest problems was that he'd go bonkers on me when confronted with this big open doggie play ground that hundreds of other doggies had visited and all those wonderful outdoor animal smells. He'd get what we call the "zoomies" but it wasn't brought on by stress, so much as it was a matter of more freedom and distractions than he was ready to handle. I might as well not have existed. MY efforts to catch him in these sort of situations were futal. Like Likethestar said, trying to catch him, and his running away just became part of the game. A very good trainer I worked with a few times in Huntington gave me the solution to the problem which may work for you (and it was hinted at by lickthestar). When my pup tuned me out, I went and hid behind an A-Frame. A very large agility obsticale that looks like what it sounds like - an A. I stayed between the two sides out of my dogs view. He continued to run around for a few minutes (we were outside but in a fenced area and my trainer kept an additional watchful eye) until he suddenly noticed that mommy wasn't there. There was a momentary panic and then he began to look for me. When he found me, I asked him to do a small recall - by that I mean - my staniding just a foot away from him. WHen he came to me this time, we had a big "party" and I gave him a "jackpot" of cookies and huggies. In the following weeks, we did this again, going to local ball fields that were fenced in. If he decided to take off, I'd go and hide and wait for him to realize that mommey wasn't there. Soon he caught on that if he didn't pay attntion to me and come when he was called, he might loose track o me. Something to consider, if your dog decides to play this game, maybe you shoud "disappear" or at the very least tune him out until he realizes you are not going to chase him? Jelousy can also help here by making a fuss over another pet or person who DOES come when he or she is called.