So I work at an awesome dog training facility and they had an opening in their Treibball class and I took it! We've never done Treibball before and I literally did not know anything about the sport until last week. We got there early so I could try to take a few pictures and to walk her around the block a little. The training building has a beautiful mural painted on it and I thought it would make a pretty background. I helped with the first training class of the night which was a basic manners class so Phoenix got to hang out in the office and wait for me while I worked the class. She was so good! I didn't hear her barking at all!
Sorry this photo is really blurry. I was trying to get it quickly so we could continue with the lesson and I didn't want to be too disruptive. Phoenix is learning to line up with me behind an object. The whole point of Treibball is that the dog learns to gather and drive balls toward a goal. You can learn more about it by going here: http://www.nationaltreibball.com/
Phoenix was SO good in class. She was a little nervous at first and was whining a bit but she did not react at a single dog. We had her behind some barriers and my trainer says she doesn't even think we need the barriers next week! At one point Phoenix did decide that the box was for jumping on which sent the box flying and created a bit of a disturbance but it was pretty funny. We've been playing too many shaping games with boxes! Next we have to get her measured and figure out what size ball to buy her!
I am really excited at how well she did at class and I'm so happy that I get the opportunity to take her! I'm looking forward to all of our future classes! We have more Treibball and she's going to an Impulse Control Class, too!
Does your dog(s) go to training class? What classes are you taking?
Sounds like fun!
ReplyDeleteOh, she is so cute all layered up!
ReplyDeleteHaha! Yeah, it was so cold yesterday! I wasn't sure if she'd be able to hang out in the building while I helped teach the first class or if she'd be stuck in the car so I wanted to make sure she was nice and warm. We took all that off once she was in the building!
DeleteWe took a lot of training classes (agility, nosey dog) with Hailey. We signed up at the same place with Phod (and Hailey) for fly ball. They had a guest instructor who screamed at the people. She got angry that we were not playing correctly with Phod (she wanted us to push and pull him. This was shortly after we got him and he was still recovering from being abused and was clearly terrified when we pushed him). She wouldn't listen when we explained the issue. The Man is usually totally calm and collected, but he was so angry after class one day, we never went back. What was worse is that my concerns to the facility were never responded to. It was all completely unprofessional and I admit has tainted me from trying again.
ReplyDeleteOh no! I am so sorry you had that unfortunate experience! That isn't cool that they never responded to your concerns. Training definitely should not be like that! When I had my family dog we went through a couple of trainers until we found one that clicked (pun intended) and was willing to work with his special needs. There weren't a lot of PR trainers where we lived and it was harder to find a good trainer! Please don't let the one bad experience taint you. There are some amazing people out there if you are really wanting to get into a sport!
DeleteThat's great she has a fun class to take part in. We wish we had more time for classes, but nose work and tracking with two dogs takes up a lot of time.
ReplyDeleteThis looks like so much fun. You've got some cool classes you can attend. Right now Tucker and Teach are doing agility lessons. And Teach is starting on nose work. The Triebball looks like something my guys would enjoy doing since we don't have access to sheep for herding. Will have to see if I can find a class reasonably close.
ReplyDeleteThat's so awesome you're doing agility! Agility is my first love! I wish I could afford to take my dogs to agility class! I bet your boys would love Treibball! It is so fun!
DeleteRuby's reactivity is too severe for classes unfortunately. We were kicked out of a group obedience class right after I adopted her. That is one of the main reasons I took up trick training! I have a friend that keeps inviting us to lure coursing events - as obsessed as she is with the frisbee I think she could do it but I'm just too worried about what other people will think of us if she flipped out :(
ReplyDeletePoor Ruby! I'm sorry you were kicked out of class! Do you have any "reactive rover" style classes where you are? I've heard some amazing things about that sort of curriculum (one of the trainers I work with used to teach it), plus they totally cater to reactive dogs with barriers, etc. I bet once Ruby has some more confidence playing with her disc that she might be able to handle that sort of really controlled situation. Plus all the other owners are just as worried as you and it's a more supportive that regular basic manners style classes.
DeleteI second that! Barley and I took a confident canine class after she had some set backs with our neighbor's dog and it was limited to just 5 dogs in the class and there were barriers between each dog--and some dogs that were more reactive had blankets over their barriers to make sure they couldn't even see the other dogs until they were ready to start removing them inch by inch. It did wonders for us!
DeleteHow fun and I'm glad she did so well. That rocks.
ReplyDeleteHave a terrific day. ☺
OMG, I am so excited that you are doing g treibball! I've always thought it looked fascinating, but couldn't find out much about it. But now, in you and Phoenix, I have a front row seat. This is so awesome. I can't wait to read all about it. I hope you guys have a great time.
ReplyDeleteBTW, I had a trainer tell me that you may not always get the dog that you want but you will always get the dog you deserve. Phoenix is so wonderful because you put so much time and energy into her training, you loved her in spite of everything and you refused to give up on her. She is definitely the dog you deserve.
I'm so excited, too!!
DeleteThank you for saying that about Phoenix and me! <3
This is awesome! I've never done treibball before. :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm so jealous! I wanted to do with with Barley, but it was always on a night that I couldn't sign up for the class and now our training center doesn't offer it anymore. I can't wait to see more about Phoenix's lessons!
ReplyDeleteAwe that's too bad! I'm sorry that they don't offer it anymore!
DeleteYay!!! I'm so glad she was able to handle class. I bet that felt amazing and gratifying for you. :) I really want to look into Treibball for Nola. I think she'd enjoy it!
ReplyDeleteWow - no barriers next week!!! That's saying a lot! It sounds like fun and totally funny that she started jumping on the box :) Way to go you two. You've come a very long way!
ReplyDeleteDear Phoenix,
ReplyDeleteI have done this too! I pushed the big, round sheep back to my person in a very straight line, and then I went back and got another big, round sheep and pushed it back in a straight line too! Pushing is FUN!
I am glad that the class was fun-not-too-stressful! And I hope you have fun pushing too!!! Training games are FUN!
Licks,
Cobi