Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2009 2:08 pm Post subject: Awful problem with Barney - stressed dog?
I was going to post this a wee while ago but then going on holiday and the break etc I thought perhaps things might cheer up a bit when I got back. However, after taking Barney out yesterday for some training alas I find that they haven't.
I do not know or understand what has happened. Doubtless I am at fault somewhere along the line. Basically I have a dog that used to be happy and as keen as mustard who has now, inexplicably, lost all confidence and it happened overnight!
What is happening is that he looks and acts keen enough to come out training, that's for sure, but when he's out he seriously looks like I'm going to beat him to an inch of his life Anyone watching would feel sure that I have! A simple, easy retrieve will see him running out but coming back to me with such worried body language. Everything else is check, check and double check and then panic if he thinks he is doing wrong. Last night for instance he was so sure he'd gone wrong when it took him a while to find the dummy that he took off with it all the way home and lay by the front door looking terrified. I have truely never been so upset with my training in all my life!
I have pulled him from competitions (one this saturday for instance) as I just don't know where we are and how he'll be. It's like he is super stressed about it all. I can only think in my lofty ambitions to push us on further and higher i have broken him
I am currently at a loss. I was rather hoping the two weeks on holiday plus the week of no training before that, so three weeks in total might've helped . I'm not even sure I am explaining this all very well either!
There have been a fair few posts on this sort of thing recently, and I seem to be the one tending to answer them! Probably because I had similar problems with Darcy in the past.
I would say it is too many competitions and too much pressure. Barney has lost his confidence and stopped enjoying what he does best.
You need to get him out there enjoying himself again plain old lobbing tennis balls and/or air kongs. Allowing him to go for the retrieve on the first bounce with no whistles, no directions just good old fashioned straight forward retrieves. Not too many just a few. Leave him wanting more. Do not rush to get him back to the serious stuff just concentrate on getting his love of retrieving back again. Both of you need to go out there and start enjoying gundog work again .
Good advice from Jill, to which I would add, new ground might help, (water would be good as well), don't take your normal training gear, try and structure the whole thing like you are going for a walk or something, just a couple of tennis balls in your pocket, (or a dead pigeon ), let him break a few rules, keep it as light as possible for a week or longer, then just try and ease in him back in gently.
Thank you Jill it is much appreciated indeed. Maybe that's just it, it's all got too serious. They are not non retrieves (except for the run home last night) more 'nervous retrieves', if that makes any sense. I am to be honest terribly worried now about his demeanour and my chances of getting my happy boy back
Maybe I have miss read my dog and what he's capable of. I will try the tennis balls and your strategy above. Last night I just lobbed dummies in a fun manner albeit the long grass made for some good hunting but certainly far from taxing. Last night I treated him as if he were a puppy i.e. lots of good boys, cooing and exciting ra ra's if you know what I mean. All things designed to let him know I was happy and this was fun, no really! and then after the third retrieve he ups off home with his tail between his legs and worriedly glancing behind to check I was not chasing him wielding a big stick. It was not a nice thing to see, at all.
Oh dear, reading that, we both seem to have lost confidence now
Just seen your post too Andrew, thank you. Water would be a good idea I think. Perhaps a change of ground as I do tend to be a little lazy where I go. Thinking about it that would be a very good idea.
I have to admit Helen my very best one for getting Darcy flying again is my tennis ball catapult down the river. She simply can't resist the tennis ball and the water. If it were me, and because of what you said above, I would just do two easy peasy ones and stop.
You really don't need to do lots you know he retrieves it is the enthusiasm you are looking for
If it helps Helen I have been out with my trainer and both of his dogs were complete rubbish today and I was busily trying to jolly him along and tell him its not that bad.
Both Pepper and Darcy were flippin great and long may it continue because there were some very dark days last year with Darcy! Its all part of dog training says I skippin and hoppin and keeping my fingers crossed for Sunday with Pepper .
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Anyone watching would feel sure that I have! A simple, easy retrieve will see him running out but coming back to me with such worried body language. Everything else is check, check and double check and then panic if he thinks he is doing wrong. Last night for instance he was so sure he'd gone wrong when it took him a while to find the dummy that he took off with it all the way home and lay by the front door looking terrified. I have truely never been so upset with my training in all my life!
.
), let him break a few rules, keep it as light as possible for a week or longer, then just try and ease in him back in gently.
it is much appreciated indeed. Maybe that's just it, it's all got too serious. They are not non retrieves (except for the run home last night) more 'nervous retrieves', if that makes any sense. I am to be honest terribly worried now about his demeanour and my chances of getting my happy boy back 
.
