I saw a Facebook recently that said, in brief, “yes, you suck, but you get up and try again tomorrow. And the more you try, the less you suck.”
I’m at the point of “i really suck.” Maverick and I have been in classes for months now. I’m not sure if he’s just tired of it, or if he’s not interested, or if I just really suck at training. Our most recent class is Tricks are for Dogs. We’ve managed to get the Novice Trick Dog title – this is an AKC title so it’s kind of a biggish deal. The next level is Intermediate. As the tricks for this level started being taught, he stopped working. They’re not difficult, mostly, but he won’t even try some of them.
I’ve made the classic training error of using too many treats, as well. Maverick has switched his focus from my face or hand to the treat pouch on my hip. He will do one thing and then head for the treat cabinet and refuse to do anything but sit in front of it.
I think we’re both frustrated. Me with him because I can’t get through to him. Him with me for the same reason.
So, because even though I suck, I get up and try again. I’m doing research into clicker training. Yesterday I ordered 3 books – because one is never enough – and I’m going to start reading one I already have, written by the “founder” I guess you’d call her, of clicker training for dogs – Karen Pryor.
I can’t take Maverick to class because I’m actually teaching a class during the same time period, but we can work at home and video the tricks. I learned this morning that we actually have 2 more weeks to practice, I had thought we needed this done by next Monday, so perhaps that will take some of the stress off both of us.
If we manage to earn the Intermediate title, I’ll be astonished. If not, well, I suck, and we get up and try again. And maybe eventually, I won’t suck so badly at training.
What’s super annoying? I can train other people’s dogs, just not my own!
Suziecreamcheese Sings the Blues 
Sometimes some dogs are just stubborn or way to smart :P. I wonder if he would like the field training better because there is a lot of movement to tucker him out :P.
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He’s very smart. He has me well trained.
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Just a thought: if you can train other peoples, dogs, why not consider swapping dogs for a few minutes and see how Maverick reacts to being trained by someone else? If he aces it, then you suck. If he doesn’t do any better with someone else, then it’s not about you, although in this case, it really sucks to be you. I’ll keep my fingers crossed that things improve.
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It’s me. It’s easier to train someone else’s dog because there’s no emotional connection. I don’t suck as bad as I did a year ago, and I won’t give up. 👍
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You’ve probably tried it, but people have suggested I try agility training with Gracie. I don’t think it would work, she is smarter than I am and would probably have me jumping through hoops.
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And tonight we managed some work – because I refuse to sit down and stop trying
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Sis #2 and her Husband are having the same problem. But I don’t think you or they Suck. I think the Dogs have minds of their own and they know it’s about training You not Them.
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Dogs are definitely training us! I’m working with a clicker in hopes of reducing treats – and making him work harder for them
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