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Topics - Ursa

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16
Groans, Gripes, Brags & Boasts / Yay Ursa!
« on: March 14, 2009, 08:56:20 am »
We're starting our new class next week (were supposed to start last week but the trainer was sick).  The trainer sent us some homework to practice on since Ursa and I are actually beginning with class #2.

One of the things to work on is having your dog stand with its front feet on a stepstool and then move the back feet only.  I wasn't too hopeful about this one because Ursa's heard "four on the floor" every day of her life!  No Pyr pawing allowed here!

Well, it took 5 days AND some bacon but Ursa finally stood up straight with her feet on the stool!  I'm doing the happy dance!!!   ;D

She won't move her back feet yet but that's okay.  She's slowly training me to enjoy the journey to a new skill as much as the end result.   :)

17
I need some help making a decision on a new training class.

The Newfs have just started their CGC classes. We have 5 more weeks to go there. No worries about Fargo but Sadie has suddenly hit the "i don't have to listen to you" stage. Consequently little Muppet-head now has to work with the Warden (aka me) until she gets it back in gear.

Meanwhile, I've been researching classes for Ursa who just finished her CGC. I found what looks to be a perfect special skills class that's at a good time and with an excellent trainer who has experience with the less obedience minded breeds. It's not the Rally class I was hoping for but might actually better a better transitioanl class for her.  The problem is that the special skills class is only offered 1 or 2 times a year and it's sign up now and start next week or wait an undetermined amount of time until the next one rolls around.

Should I go for it and continue my pattern of non stop training or put Ursa on hold until the Newfs make it through their CGC tests? I'm used to working the dogs separately because no two are ever completely on the same level at the same time but this will be the biggest skills gap I've faced.

I'm hoping that those of you who train multiple dogs can help me decide.  How much more difficult is it to get everyone trained when they start heading in different directions?

18
While we're on a training break I'm looking for the next thing for Ursa and I to tackle together now that she's finished her CGC.  I'm really interested in Rally because, while Ursa may not be the most easily motivated dog in the world, she seems to enjoy going to class.  I feel like she'd miss the bonding time and the mental stimulation if we stopped training. 

Anyone here ever tried Rally with a Pyr?  If so, how did it go?  Are there other activities that you've tried that you felt were more "Pyr friendly"? 


 

19
Behavior, Housebreaking, Obedience / Training "Take It"
« on: March 04, 2009, 03:27:55 pm »
any advice on how to train your dog to take items other than food?  i've tried training with treats but they don't seem to be making the connection that take it means "mom wants you to put this non food item in your mouth".

20
General Board for Big Dogs with Big Paws / Love the signature pics!
« on: February 27, 2009, 11:33:01 pm »
PeopleWhispere r and KBNewf - love your signature pictures!

Anyone else have one??

21
Great Pyrenees Pictures / Introducing.............Ursa CGC!!!!!
« on: February 21, 2009, 12:57:01 pm »





After all of the stress and drama this week, Her Furry Majesty blew through the test like it was no big deal!

I'm so proud of my big fluffy white girl!!

22
Newfoundland Pictures / Fargo and Sadie get their first diplomas!
« on: February 15, 2009, 03:02:27 pm »
The Newfs graduated Intermediate today!  Here are their graduation pics:

Fargo:



Sadie:


They both look very proud of themselves, don't you think?




23
Great Pyrenees Discussions / CGC Practice Test Disaster!
« on: February 14, 2009, 01:21:30 pm »
Ursa took her CGC practice test today and the words total disaster are the only ones that come to mind.  Seriously - if you'd see it you would have thought that she'd never been in training before.  :(

She wouldn't sit, she pulled at the leash, just acted like a jerk in general.  By the end of the practice test it was questionable whether or not I should even take her to the real test next week.  :-[ 

She KNOWS how to do everything required for the test.  For crying out loud - she's known how to sit on command forever - she knew that before she started her first puppy class.  You could tell by her demeanor that she knew what to do but she just didn't want to.

I'm so disappointed, frustrated, upset (and a little angry) - why did she have to pick today to act like a Pyr?


24
What was your favorite commercial from the Super Bowl?  Mine was the Clydesdale who came from Scotland to the US.  I always love the Clydesdale commercials!

25
Behavior, Housebreaking, Obedience / Fargo frustration!!!!
« on: January 31, 2009, 03:57:37 pm »
I need some serious help/advice here!

First a little background.  Ursa just finished week 3 of Advanced Obedience and is doing great.  Fargo and Sadie are in week 5 of Intermediate Obedience and are also doing well for the most part.

The problem is that we cannot get Fargo to heel.  He can sit, down, stay (both sit and down with distance and distractions), come, stand and park it.  He cannot or will not heel, however.  He's always either pulling out in front, hopping up to try to snag a treat or, in the case of right turns, lagging seriously behind.  This is with his Gentle Leader on.  Without the GL you can forget keeping his attention while walking for even a millisecond. 

Even our trainer is a bit stumped.  She's suggested things to try but the light bulb refuses to come on for Fargo. 

Any suggestions?  He's already over 60 pounds and growing like a weed so good leash manners are not optional for him.


26
Behavior, Housebreaking, Obedience / Need help with training motivation
« on: January 18, 2009, 06:29:27 am »
For those of you who do a lot of training or have been in training for a long time, how do you keep yourself and your dog motivated?

We go to class every Saturday and Sunday and have been for sometime. The Newfs are fairly new to formal classes so they are still pretty enthusiastic. Ursa, on the other hand, seems to be suffering from burn out. Yesterday was her first Advanced class and even our trainer noticed that she just wasn't into it. We've had this problem at home off and on (not surprising given her age and her breed) but this is the first time that she mentally checked out during class.

Part of it may be that we have taken off the Gentle Leader in preparation for her CGC training. She seemed to associate wearing the GL with working. She's never worn the training collar during at home training though and we've had the problem here.

I can see the potential for Fargo to have the same problem down the road as he gets tired of training about 3/4 of the way through every class. Once he's decided that he's had enough he isn't exactly the most cooperative dog either!

Taking a break right now isn't an option. Our trainer will be leaving in the spring to get married and will be taking some time off herself so we want to finish all of our basic classes with her. We've had trouble finding another trainer that likes working with the giant breed dogs.

Any suggestions on how to keep everyone motivated?

27
Just found out that Sadie's former owners sent the SO an email today asking how she's doing. 

I want to be happy about this because it does show that they haven't totally forgotten about her.  Maybe there's even a little regret there which will serve them well the next time they choose a dog.  I think they were nice people who just chose the wrong breed.

I want to - but I can't - not totally.  There's a part of me that wants to tell them to back off - Sadie is part of my family now. 

I don't think they want to try to take her back or anything like that, mind you.  They even admitted that they were afraid to contact us because they weren't sure it would be well received.  So why do I suddenly feel like I need to protect my girl?

28
Daddy is out of town on business for a few days so it's just me and the triplets.  We've already had one accident in the house (cause Mommy picked the wrong time for her own potty break) and Ursa has been picking on both Fargo and the cats!  >:( Had to remind Her Furry Majesty that I'm the Alpha B*tch around here!

If this keeps up it's going to be a loooooong week!

29
Her Furry Majesty graduated from Intermediate Obedience today!  You can see how pleased she was that her crown was replaced by a mortarboard!


30
General Board for Big Dogs with Big Paws / Cleaning supplies poll.....
« on: January 09, 2009, 03:01:51 pm »
The post asking about steam mops got me thinking - how many new and improved cleaning supplies have you tried just because of your big paws?

We've only been parents to the triplets for a couple of months and already:

We're tried every carpet cleaner out there (Spot Shot rules!).

We know which brand of carpet fresh works the best and is least irritating (actually it's good old Arm and Hammer Baking Soda).

We buy Wallflower plugins in bulk.

We've purchased two new vaccuums.  A Shark rechargeable for the tile and a Dyson Animal for the carpet.

A Swiffer duster to get the fur off the blinds and the ceiling fans.

Leet's not talk about all of the grooming supplies we've purchased to keep the kids fresh and clean too!

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