Countdown to 1 Year!

[Nanook]

A week from tomorrow Helga's 1st Birthday already! <span style="font-style: italic"> &lt;party pics complete with cake and hats will be forthcoming&gt;</span>

For those of you who were here reading when in September I went on a 14 hour journey to buy the then 3 month old, you might remember at first I wasn't thrilled with the idea of raising a wild young large breed puppy who I knew would have tons of energy, but at first was rather looking for an adoptable adult. I am happy to report that the growing is coming along nicely, and my smart girl has a great head on her shoulders, which made my teaching easy and pleasurable.

Here she was on September 20th, the day after I brought her home.



This is her on friday when she got her latest toy. The second time I threw it, she figured it out, and she ran and got it and brought it to me.



I hope she figures out to find it in the woods soon, either that or I need to learn to throw better. Frisbee was never my thing but i will learn for my girl!

[Nanook]

Re: Countdown to 1 Year!

Paris is every bit the boss still, though Helga has at least twice the body mass



She must be telling Helga to settle down!



And Helga respects her big sister

[Nanook]

Re: Countdown to 1 Year!

In April we started obedience classes, my first foray into this structured style of lessons in about 3 decades, and my very first experience with a new style of training using only positive reinforcement called &quot;Shaping&quot;.

In old style classes, owners were instructed to use a choke chain collar, which is a quick pressure/release device which mainly resulted in a short choking/pulling on the collar when the dog would either walk ahead of you or behind, in order to teach them to &quot;heel&quot; correctly. It worked, of course, but the new modern teaching methods do things far differently and I am so glad I started these classes. They are very fun and the dogs love them as well.

Our first session, since I had never trained in this style before was for beginners, but we only stayed in that class for a week. The non trained unruly beginner dogs had Helga a nervous wreck, as she was not used to being around such a thing before, and she was already far and above them in her training already, so we were moved up to the Advanced Shaping class right away.

Our first exercise was to teach them to move their bodies from behind, which comes in handy later. We teach to spin circles on this brick without taking the front feet off of the brick



Then we teach them to spin without the brick. All of this to teach them how to maneuver their bodies into whatever position you want, but the goal is to stand in front of them, and have them spin to your left side in a sit position.

It is a very fun way to learn to teach and Helga and I are loving it. Our last class for the summer is this week, but we will go back for more in the fall. A well trained dog does not happen by accident or overnight &amp; I always highly recommend at least a beginner 10 week session for all dog owners, especially if they have never been in a training situation before. It is not only very good for the dogs, it is invaluable for their people, to learn HOW to correctly teach them. In Helga's case, she is so extremely smart, that in order to keep her brain stimulated we HAVE to do things like this. A girl like her could be big trouble left to her own devices.

I will see if I can dig up some stuff on Shaping method of training that doesn't rely on the use of clickers. I don't know when clicker training started but I honestly think it is the stupidest thing I have ever heard of! I found a few videos on the Shaping method but couldn't watch them for the annoying clicking. I hate clicker training not only over the noise itself, but the whole idea. So, you train your dog to do things at the sound of the click, and then you have to train them again when you want to take away the click. it is take away the click or everywhere you go you have to bring your clicker! Who the heck wants to listen to that anywhere? Ha, not me and I bet not you or any of your friends either.

Back later hopefully with a link I have to mow now.

[kia027]

Re: Countdown to 1 Year!

very cool.. glad to read how much fun you are having with Helga.. and Paris too of course!

[Peasie]

Re: Countdown to 1 Year!

Helga is drop-dead gorgeous and such an over-achiever

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Nanook</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Our first session, since I had never trained in this style before was for beginners, but we only stayed in that class for a week. The non trained unruly beginner dogs had Helga a nervous wreck, as she was not used to being around such a thing before, and she was already far and above them in her training already, so we were moved up to the Advanced Shaping class right away. </div></div>

[Nanook]

Re: Countdown to 1 Year!

Helga says thanks Kia &amp; Peasie! She is such a character and tries so hard. yes, she is an over achiever, kind of like some gifted children who's parents hovered over them from day one and never left them to their own devices and provided a structured learning environment. That would be Helga but she also has the brains and the eagerness to please, which makes the whole experience so enjoyable. She really is turning out beautifully and yes, I am a very proud Dobermom. .

[SandiF]

Re: Countdown to 1 Year!

she is beautiful!

[keesha]

Re: Countdown to 1 Year!

Nanook they are both such beautiful dogs!

[Nanook]

Re: Countdown to 1 Year!

Helga says thank you Keesha and SandiF!

She is such a love. Tonight is out last obedience session for the summer. I will miss going but it is also very hard to focus on that during the busy Summer months.

[CeaBee]

Re: Countdown to 1 Year!

helga remind me of the rottweillers i had as a child. if i saw her at the park i would smile at her and her owner

(me still doan have nuh smile for chiwawas tho' )

[Stormmey]

Re: Countdown to 1 Year!

awwwwwww Nookie!! Helga is so sweet. Love love that first pic of her as a wee one. It's like bringing home a newborn from the hospital and the look on the face shortly after all wonderment. and she growing in leaps and bounds.

Paris is a diehard diva.....even when she playing she seem like she on the runway.....my girl that.

[Nanook]

Re: Countdown to 1 Year!

Helga says thank you Peasie &amp; Stormmey! She is such a good girl. She tries very hard to please, so has been easy to train.

I remember bringing home my little bundle of joy and upon gazing over her beauty knowing she knew &quot;nothing&quot; and it was up to me to steer her in a positive direction. I am so thankful for her big brain, it sure helps a lot when they are a little Einstein!

Peasie i did not know you grew up with Rottie's! Sweet dogs too.

Tomorrow is the big day!!!

[CeaBee]

Re: Countdown to 1 Year!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><span style="font-weight: bold">Peasie</span> i did not know you grew up with Rottie's! Sweet dogs too. </div></div>

[Peasie]

Re: Countdown to 1 Year!

They can't tell us apart either

CB, my twin,

[RichD]

Re: Countdown to 1 Year!

I dont see the smilarity: