Rottweilers Ate My Laptop

Rottweilers. Computers. Cameras. World Domination. Not necessarily in that order.

Rottweilers.
Computers. Cameras.
World Domination.
Not necessarily in that order.

Is this a gender thing or an individual learning styles thing?

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I mentioned before that Freya and Axel have different learning styles. Since we’re still working through Susan Garrett’s “The Five Minute Formula to a Brilliant Recall,” I am doing the same set of games and lessons with both dogs, which makes the differences a little more obvious.

One of the key points throughout the recall course is building value: making it valuable for the dog to come to me by reinforcing his/her decision to do so with high-value rewards. After a few weeks of this, it seems that I am way more valuable to Axel than to Freya. Looking back on our lives together, this is not a new development. I think I’ve always been more valuable to Axel than to Freya. I wonder if this is a gender thing, or an individual learning styles thing?
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Something I really like about sieger shows

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If you’ve been to a sieger (German-style conformation) show, or if you read the article from yesterday’s post, you know that each dog shown gets an individual critique from the judge. This critique is given for all to hear, and a written transcript goes to the owner or handler after the show.

The first dog shows I attended were AKC shows, and the selection of the winners was a mystifying process to me then (and if I’m really being honest, now, too). I knew that the judge was comparing each dog to the breed’s written standard with a hands-on examination plus observing the dog in motion, but I didn’t really get how the judge arrived at the final placements.

I feel like my Rottweiler conformation education was accelerated when I started attending sieger shows, and really paying attention to the individual critiques.
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Black and red!

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Freya! Freya! The mail just came, and the package I just opened is for you!

Remember the giveaway we entered over at Neil’s blog, Life With Dogs, about a week ago? Well, look what you won, and Karen from Doggie Stylish sent it to you so quickly, too! Let’s put some pictures up to show how pretty you look in your black and red collar!

Freya says, “Mom, why are you taking photos of the back of my head, when my face is the most beautiful part of me?”

Well, Freya, your Undercoat of Doom is kind of getting in the way. We want to show everyone the details on your beautiful new collar, as well as your own beauty.

Freya says, “Okay, fine. Thanks, Karen! Thanks, Neil! I love my new collar.”

Axel says, “Where’s mine?”

Looks like we will be placing an order for another collar very, very soon!

(NaBloPoMo | August ’10: 21 of 31)

Is there a Learning Style Inventory for dogs?

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I’ve mentioned in a few prior posts that we’re doing Susan Garrett’s “The Five Minute Formula to a Brilliant Recall.” I’ve mentioned before that Freya and Axel seem to have different learning styles as well.

One thing in particular that surprises me is that Freya is still reluctant to do anything to my right, even when rewarded for being there. Freya will be seven and Axel will be four in November, so I definitely expected both of them to be more accustomed to being on my left in the usual heel position. That’s quite a few years of being on the left, including casual walking, basic classes, show training, showing in American and German-style shows, obedience classes, and rally obedience classes and trials.

Axel was a little confused at first, but with the possibility of a food treat or toy reward on my right, he decided pretty quickly that he would go with the program. I can now call or signal him to either heel or right, which is more useful than I thought it would be.

Freya still thinks it has to be a trick. She isn’t sure why I’d try to trick her after over six years, but she makes it clear that she is not going to be the one to fall for it. We’re still working on it. I still can’t get her to willingly come to my right side unless I create a barrier to my left side with a wall or fence.

I am sure we’ll get past it, as we have almost everything else. It’s just interesting how different Freya and Axel can be sometimes.

(NaBloPoMo | August ’10: 20 of 31)

Pull or no pull?

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Following an interesting discussion about head halters and harnesses at Eva the Sheltie’s blog, I pressed Freya into service as a model so I could write about the front-clip no-pull harness that I’ve found helpful: the Gentle Leader Easy Walk harness.

Although it sounds like Eva’s training is going well, and she may not need a no-pull harness, I’m going to write about harnesses anyway!

The top harness is a front-clip no-pull harness. The bottom harness is a conventional harness.
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