#sorry all you other dogblrs lol | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

pawsitivevibe · 3 years

Text

deep in the depression today, so I could use a good discussion I think!!

Hey Dogblr, how did you get into dog training?

Looking to hear from all types of trainers, owners, etc!! Whether you're a pet owner working through basic manners and stuff by yourself, someone taking classes, a professional trainer, a sports competitor. How did you get started? What motivated you to get going?

Reblog with your story!! (I don't always get notifications on replies sooo I like reblogs lol).

My story (sorry that it's long ... I can drone on and on sometimes):

I'd always loved dogs growing up, and liked to watch those agility competitions on Animal Planet. I trained our family dog little tricks and set up obstacle courses for her and pretended my Shih Tzu was a champion agility dog lol. It wasn't until I got Haley that I actually got into training though. I got Haley as a 6 week old puppy re-home "charity case." I was 17 and didn't have a job yet and my family was not wealthy, but I used my savings from odd jobs (grass cutting, shovelling, etc) to take her to puppy classes at PetSmart. My puppy was intelligent and attentive, and that got me really interested in pursuing higher level training with her. I so learned how to clicker train in puppy class! We already had Bree at this point, but she was more of a family dog, and did not seem interested in my attempts to train her beyond the basics.

Haley developed some significant behavioural issues, mostly stemming from anxiety and lack of confidence. I started reading up on dog behaviour and training that could help her. I couldn't afford to take her to a behaviourist, so I got deep into reading whatever material I could find online and at the library and in books I asked for for birthdays and things. I kind of, I dunno, self-assessed her confidence issues and worked on building her up. We did pretty well together with my inexperienced, novice training, and she did improve.

Then I got a job and a car and could afford to spend money on Haley's training. She was a very energetic dog, and needed an outlet for her busy brain and body, so I started looking into agility classes. Despite being very shy myself, I worked up the courage to email a club, and then drive out half an hour to try out the class. Haley seemed to love it immediately!! And our trainer was really good about her anxiety, because she had dogs with that kind of issue herself. Agility was fabulous for Haley. And the agility club was really welcoming, thrilled to have a 19 year old interested in their sport. I was convinced to get very involved with the club. And then things kind of took off from there! I got into the club, I got involved in the local dog sports community, I met lots of trainers and other owners, I worked with other people's dogs, I went to classes and seminars, I tried other sports, and I did more of my own reading and research. We have been involved with disc, flyball, scentwork, lure coursing, tricks, freestyle/heelwork to music, herding.

And then I started getting interested in competitive obedience. I found a training school that offered it, but we had to work our way through all the basic levels to get there. I learned a lot in those basic pet obedience classes, and then the advanced classes too! And then we made it to competitive level and ... They weren't offering the class for that semester. But I wanted to stay in classes. So I signed up for beginner rally-o. And met a trainer who would have a huge impact on my training philosophies forever! Rally-O ended up being hugely beneficial to Haley's confidence issues. I've learned so much through rally, and all the training that surrounded it.

And so we go on from there. Now the dog who got me into training is older, fragile, and ill, and not the do-it-all badass she once was. But her list of accomplishments is pretty long for such an anxious little behavioural case, and she's overcome so much. I'm so glad to love her, and that trying to help her got me into such a cool and complex hobby. Now I'm one day hoping to get some ~ real qualifications ~ from a professional training program and be #Certified to teach other people. I still have so much to learn. I especially want to get done experience with real working dog handlers, and people who use aversive tools I don't I have experience with in real-world situations (for example: hunters using e-collars).

#dogblr #dogs #dog training #discussions

24 notes · View notes

lovemesomesurveys · 6 years

Text

1) How many dogs do you have? One.

2) What is your dogs name? Princess Leia. Princess or Leia for short. Or the various goofy nicknames we have for her. haha.

3) How old are they? She’s a year old.

4) Do you have plans to add another dog to the family? No. We don’t the space, unfortunately. I know my pup would love that, though.

5) Do you or have you ever had a heart dog? What’s a heart dog?

6) Did you grow up with dogs? I’ve always had a dog, yes.

7) What was your first dogs name? Scruffy.

8) Do you have any “saved” names for future dogs? Winnie the Pooch. Haha.

9) Your favorite breed? Labs and German Shepherds. I may be a bit biased, though. Just a bit.

10) Your least favorite breed? I’m sorry, but I couldn’t handle like super yappy dogs. They’re cute and I’m glad other people can have them as pets and take care of them, but I just couldn’t.

11) A breed you love, but can never see yourself having? I would love a Husky, but I don’t know if I’d ever have one. Perhaps one day.

12) A breed you used to hate, but now love? I’ve never hated a breed.

13) A breed you used to love, but now hate? I thought I’d want a like a Yorkie or a Teacup Maltese, but I’m not so sure now. I don’t hate them, I just think they’d be too small for me.

14) Your favorite breed group? I don’t know of any.

15) Your least favorite breed group?

16) Do your dogs compete in any sports? No. She totally could, though. She loves chasing and playing around with balls and she’s super fast.

17) Do your dogs compete in confirmation? No.

18) Your favorite trick your dog knows? When we say, “tell me what you want” and she’ll bark and go towards her treats. It’s cute. She also will hold your hand which is adorable. I’ll grab her paw, and you can literally feel hers tighten like she’s holding your hand. If you stop, she’ll put her paw up for you to grab again. Oh, and we’ll tell her to go to bed and she’ll jump up on her couch. Yes, I said “her” couch. She completely has taken over this one couch of ours.

19) A trick you’d love to teach your dog? To get me some stuff haha.

20) What’s the first trick that you taught your dog? Sit.

21) A useless trick that you love? I guess shake serves no real purpose. <<<< True, but it is cute.

22) In your opinion, what’s the most important thing to teach your dog? For them to come to you when you call them. If they’re in a dangerous situation or about to run out or something, I want to be able to call her and she’ll come right back. Which she does, but it’s something we had to work on because before when we’d open the front door she’d want to dart out.

23) What do you usually teach first? Sit and stay.

24) What’s your dogs favorite toy? She loves anything she can chew on, balls, and anything that squeaks.

25) Does your dog have a toy that they hate? No, she loves all toys.

26) What’s your dogs favorite game to play inside? Tug o’ Rope. She also loves for us to chase her when she has her ball. If we try to take the ball from her, she runs away and wants us to chase her.

27) What’s your dogs favorite game to play outside? Run Around Like a Lunatic. <<<< Hahaha same.

28) Something your dog did recently that made you smile? She’s always doing something to make me smile. Just existing, honestly. lol.

29) What’s your dogs favorite treat? She’s not picky at all. She loves fruit and veggies, too.

30) What’s your dogs least favorite treat? She likes everything, really.

31) Is your dog really food motivated, play motivated, praise motivated, or something else? I’d say play and food.

32) Where does your dog usually sleep at night? On the couch or on the tile floor when it’s hot.

33) If your dog sleeps in your bed, where do they usually prefer to sleep at in your bed?

34) What’s your favorite coat color? Chocolate lab, golden retriever coat color, and tan.

35) What’s your least favorite coat color? I don’t have a least favourite.

36) What’s your favorite coat pattern? Hmm. I don’t know what I’d say was my favorite.

37) What’s your least favorite coat pattern? Don’t have one.

38) What’s your favorite ear style? Floppy.

39) What’s your dogs favorite thing to chew on? She loves rawhide bones and her chew toys. Oh, and if there’s paper or something on the floor you can bet she’ll try and get it. She used to try and play with shoes, but she doesn’t do that anymore. She’s a chewer for sure, so it’s hard to find toys that last long.

40) What’s the worst thing your dog has ever eaten? Nothing bad.

41) Nail clippers, Dremels, files, or something else? Vet haha. <<<< lol yep.

42) How often do you give your dogs a bath? We try to once a month.

43) How often (if necessary) do you brush your dogs fur? She’s a short hair, but she does shed so we try and brush it every so often.

44) What’s your preferred brush? I don’t know what kind it is exactly.

45) Do you brush your dogs teeth? We tried for a bit, but we’ve found certain things like Greenies are easier and also chew toys are great for that.

46) How often does your dog visit the groomer? We try to once a month.

47) Does your dog have any bad habits? She can be quite stubborn. Like I said, if there’s a paper or something on the floor she’s going to try and get it. She’s like a little kid, too, cause she’ll run away if we try to get it from her and try to keep us from reaching into her mouth.

48) Boys or girls? Like do I prefer male or female dogs? I just love dogs, but I’ve had two girl dogs now and I’ve really enjoyed it. Brandie was very motherly.

49) What’s your doggy dream team? Uhh.

50) What’s the silliest thing your dog has ever done? She’s always doing something silly, honestly. She’s a goofball.

51) What’s something that you wanted to accomplish with your dog and did? She’s come a long way since we first got her.

52) What are some goals you have for your dog? Hmm. Just to continue being healthy and happy, really. Teach her some new tricks.

53) Is your dog usually quiet or loud? Quiet. She only barks if she wants something or is in a playful mood.

54) What is/are your favorite dogblr(s)? I don’t follow any.

55) Who is your favorite dogblr dog?

56) Do you use dog cologne on your pup? No.

57) Single coat or double coat? She has a double coat.

58) Does your dog like car rides? Actually, no not really. Brandie loved car rides. Her favorite thing to do was stick her out the window likes dogs typically do and feel the breeze on their face. I thought it was so cute when her ears flapped in the wind lol. Princess Leia, on the other hand, isn’t much of a fan of car rides.

59) Have you ever painted your dogs toenails? Not yet.

60) Do you dress your dog up for Halloween? She does have a costume, but getting her to wear it is another story. Maybe this year she will.

61) What was the first night home with your dog like? Oh boy. She was 4 months old when we got her, so we couldn’t leave her out alone. She wasn’t potty trained, either. We had to get a crate for her to sleep in at night.

62) Do you take your dog to the dog park? She has gone a couple times, but it’s been awhile. She loved it; though, so when it’s cooler again my mom and bro will take her.

63) What’s your favorite piece of dog gear you own? Her collar and name tag is cute.

64) Does your dog wear sweaters? She kept trying to bit at them when we tried putting them on her last year, but maybe this year she’ll let us.

65) If they do, which is your favorite sweater you own? There’s so many cute ones I want for her if she’ll wear them.

66) Does your dog have a high or low (or something in between) prey drive? She doesn’t try to even kill a bug.

67) Would you describe your dog as high, low, or medium energy? She can have high and low energy, depending on her mood and time of day. She gets the zoomies as they call it at night.

68) Does your dog have any weird habits? Sometimes she puts her leg in her mouth. lol.

69) Does your dog like to play in the snow? She never has before. It doesn’t snow here. :/

70) Does your dog like to swim? She’s never swam before.

71) Does your dog bark at TV doorbells? Sometimes. Just like she’ll sometimes bark when someone knocks, but not always. We’re working on getting her to do it every time.

72) Where’s your favorite place to spend time with your dog? Wherever.

73) Is there anything you look forward to doing everyday with your dog? Just playing and interacting with her.

74) Share the first picture you saw/took of your dog I have them all on my phone and I’m doing this on my laptop.

75) Share your favorite picture of your dog I shared a few photos recently. Check ‘em out!

#personal #text #survey #surveys #long dog survey

1 note · View note