Category: Common Problems, Crossing Over ¤
  Author: George Keith ¤
   Title: What If He Really IS Disobeying? ¤

<< With C/T what do you do if you are quite sure the dog
 is disobeying? >>

     I can never be quite sure the dog is disobeying. Dogs are amazingly
context sensitive. I find that I have to reteach an exercise in many contexts
before the dog will generalize it all contexts. Besides changes in location
and distractions, I have trouble with changes in my behavior. The classic
example of this is going into the ring for competition. I get tense and less
animated than the dog is used to. Unless the dog is ready for this, it will
not perform poorly or not at all. Another example is when I train in front of
a teacher. I just do not act the same way as when I am alone.
     Consequently, I always assume that the dog is detecting something for
which I have not prepared him. I back up and reteach the exercise as if I am
introducing a new level of distraction.

George Keith
Elgin, TX