-
(SAMFL) Activity Three: Dog Handling Observations and Discussion
Discuss what you did, and what you learned, briefly by replying below.
-
13 Replies
-
Dog Handling Workshop with Eric Salas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2Msr4D4sxsDuring the video dog owners were being taught how to train and handle their dogs for show. The doberman was being walked/run by its owner on a tight lead. Owner was using large movements and tugs in attempt to control the dog. Verbal ques and hand signals were not used. The dog was rejecting being led. When Eric took the lead he used a relaxed arm and loose lead. finger taps on the lead and verbal cue followed by had jesters were used to correct the dog. After multiple rehearsals the dog was able to perform as he was being asked.
Being aware of your body language is most important when handling dogs. Mini movements can signal big things for a dog, this was highlighted when Eric showed the owners that having hands apart with a treat in one hand verses having hands together with the treat changes the dogs ability to focus.
The owners were trained on how to stack their dogs for presentation and also used the command head straight while adjusting the dogs head to position the dogs. Other contact that was used was bumping and a push back to correct the dog when it was not behaving in a desired way. -
I did see good handling practices when dogs were being leashed and/or walked by the instructor. He was able to assert himself and let the doberman know it wasn’t in charge. He also let the pet struggle with the leash when it didn’t listen to him. Which man the dog look to him for answers.
I saw awareness used by a handler when they were unable to get the St. Bernard to walk with the palm concept with the use of bait and the instructors advice. I also saw awareness when the owners were learning how to back up and turn putting the dog in the middle making easier for judges to do their job.
I saw position used by the handler when he lifted the feet of the Boston and placed them where they should go automatically making the dogs stance look great. Also when the handler walked backwards and had a treat in one hand to be able to make the pet do fast stance.
I observed contact with the dog with the command head straight. To help make clear that the instructor was in charge. I also noted contact with the leg positioning for the stance and to fix any stance problems. -
Good work, sounds like you have lots of opportunities for observations.
-
I watched YouTube videos on dog handling, leash training, and agility training. Most of the handlers displayed proper leash techniques. I observed one handler slowing down while walking the dog which seemed to confuse the dog. That same handler allowed the dog to pull on the leash and provided treats to the dog while tension was on the leash. The dog may not have lost focus if the handler had remained consistent with his pace and not slowed down. The handler should also not provide treats to the dog while tension in the leash is present. The handler should only provide treats when the dog when the dog is displaying the correct behavior and not pulling on the leash. The handler had difficulty with the dog not pulling on the leash and staying by his side.
During another YouTube video I observed a handler’s first agility training lesson with their dog. The handler introduced their dog to weave poles and jumps. The dog was interested in the weave poles. The handler was aware that the weave poles were foreign to the dog and let the dog have ample time getting used to the poles before having the dog engage with the poles. The handler gave the dogs treats as the dog progressed through the weave poles for a positive reward. The handler positioned the dog at the start of the of the weave poles and conditioned dog to understand the starting point by using positive reinforcement and treats. I thought the dog did really well the first-time using weave poles. The handler let the dog make mistakes and corrected those mistakes with the dog redoing the weave poles and being given treats when the dog was able to get through the weave poles correctly. -
- Did you observe good handling practices when dogs were being leashed and/or walked? Describe your personal observations.
- Describe two examples of how awareness was utilized by a handler.
- Describe two examples of how positioning was utilized by a handler.
- Give two examples of how contact with the dog was used in the handling.
I went to the park today and watched an owner handle leash training while around other people. When a human was approaching, the owner told the dog to stay next to him while the person walked by. The dog started to lean towards the person and the owner gently tugged back on the leash and said “sit”. The dog sat as directed and the owner gave him a treat promptly. The owner/handler was aware that the person was approaching and prepared to have his dog be curious towards the stranger. The stranger passed then the owner had the dog stand on his opposite side away from the foot traffic. Positioning the dog to his other side gave the dog less opportunity to pull away from the owner and to have less distractions. Another person walked by and the dog was walking next to the owner and the owner was saying “good” and giving him treats when he did not veer off the intended goal of walking without being distracted. The owner/handler was aware of his surroundings and objects approaching and was prepared for the dog to react and/or abide by his commands. The owner then had the dog sit first then positioned him to his other side to see if that would be better accepted. contact with the dog was positively reinforcing his behavior was he sat when being told and not being distracted by the second stimulus.
-
- Did you observe good handling practices when dogs were being leashed and/or walked? Describe your personal observations.
- Describe two examples of how awareness was utilized by a handler.
- Describe two examples of how positioning was utilized by a handler.
- Give two examples of how contact with the dog was used in the handling.
I watched a YouTube video on dog agility presented by McCann Dogs Agility. The presenter had excellent handling practices with off leash dogs. A combination of a favorite toy and treats presented in a timely manner helped guide the dog in the mannerisms preferred by the instructor.
The instructor was incredibly aware of the dog. She was able to change her teaching methods to accommodate for the speed and age of the dog. She utilized fencing, poles, her own body speed, and differing epic commands combined with precise hand and body movements to adapt the dogs preferred movements to the movements needed to be successful for jumping in agility.
The instructor forced the new dog to position himself correctly for the jump with several methods. The older dog only needed a pole to help guide her position. The younger dog needed fencing and to slow the entire process down and be taught in a piecemeal fashion. This made the dog square up and slice nicely.
The instructor made sure to praise the dog immediately when the desired reaction was achieved. She did this by whatever means the dog accepted as high praise. With a favorite toy, a high value treat, or lots and lots of pets.
-
I watched several YouTube videos for this exercise. The first video was of how to walk a reactive dog past another dog. They showed the reactive dog (RD) lunging towards the other dog. They showed the handler pulling the dog away and forcing the dog forward. The handler seemed to want to pretend that the situation was not happening. The dog was fixated on the other dog and never broke its gaze. To change this behavior, the next handler noticed the RD’s interest perk when it saw the other dog. This handler changed directions repeatedly to bring the dog’s attention and focus away from the other dog.
The next video I watched was for preparing to show your dog. All of the dogs in this video were quite well behaved already. The handlers positioned the collar at the top of the neck and kept the dog’s attention mostly with treats. The dogs were very engaged with their handlers and fixated on them. The handlers were also very engaged with their dogs and used their hands and body position to move the dog to the desired location and conformation. When they needed both hands they put the treat lure in their mouth. The handlers sometimes also used verbal cues to position the dog.
At one point in this video they showed a dog that was clearly in a defensive stance when on the judging table. The instructor put the dog on the ground and it started to scream and growl. The instructor kept a hand on the collar/leash and made a point to keep it straight as to not restrict the airway or to risk a bite. He was calm and repeated “AAAAAh” each time the dog screamed or growled. The dog eventually calmed down and they put him back on the table. The instructor said “this dog is desperate for a leader – that’s why he’s testing me.” Eventually the instructor was able to gain the dog’s trust and he pet him under the jaw and behind the head while giving him treats. The dog never left the defensive stance, however – his tail was tucked the entire time. It seemed like the dog was just trying to go somewhere else in his mind until it was over. The instructor then walked the dog. He had a long, loose leash and had his hand (with the leash in it) visible to the dog. At first the dog was far away from the instructor. As the instructor moved back and forth the dog paid more attention to him and got closer with a loose leash.
-
- Did you observe good handling practices when dogs were being leashed and/or walked? Describe your personal observations.
- Describe two examples of how awareness was utilized by a handler.
- Describe two examples of how positioning was utilized by a handler.
- Give two examples of how contact with the dog was used in the handling.
For this assignment I decided to take my friend and her dog on a hike. Throughout the hike I was able to witness the different techniques and mechanisms my friend uses to ensure that both her and her dog remain safe when hiking a busy trail.
Throughout the entire hike my friend remained extremely aware of her dog, as well as her surroundings. When starting the hike my friend had her dog leashed and walking alongside her as she was aware that there was a lot of people and pets near the trail head. Once we were further up the trail and no one was around, my friend let her dog roam off leash, but made sure that her dog was within 10 feet from us at all times. When being approached by a fellow hiker, my friend recalled her dog to her side and leashed her dog before the hiker reached us. My friend is aware that not all people like dogs, and that the fellow hiker may also have a dog with them that we are unable to see.
When passing a fellow hiker, my friend ensures that her dog is leashed and at a heal. My friend would position herself, so that her dog is on her right side and that she is between her dog and the hiker that is passing by, as she is aware that not everyone likes dogs. Continuing up the hike, we passed several hikers with dogs. When passing a fellow hiker with a dog, my friend walks her dog off to the side of the trail and places her dog in a sit. She then positions herself in front of her dog to ensure that her dog is paying attention to her and not the fellow hiker and their dog.
During the entire hike, my friend uses positive reinforcement when her dog achieves the desired behaviour through the use of treats, verbal praise, toys (specifically his favourite ball) and head pats.
-
I chose to watch some training videos of handlers but also to watch people handle their dogs at the local Park where leashes are required and also the Centennial trail by my house where people run and bike with their dog all the time
- Did you observe good handling practices when dogs were being leashed and/or walked? Describe your personal observations.
- A:I noticed a lot of good handling on the trail, people seemed to be very aware of their surroundings, a lot of attention went into how to walk/run their dogs in a busy public setting.
- Describe two examples of how awareness was utilized by a handler.
- A: There was a couple walking their 2 dogs side by side and a bike was coming down the way opposite of them, the owners being aware of their surroundings were able to keep the dogs safe.
- A:One person who seemed to have a some what reactive dog would make sure to keep as much distance as possible away from other dogs that were passing by.
- Describe two examples of how positioning was utilized by a handler.
- A: For the reactive dog the owner placed themselves in between the 2 dogs with their dog being on the outside of traffic.
- A: At the park some one was struggling with the dog pulling on the slack of the lead, so to change the handling of the dog they brought in the slack and had the dog walk closer beside them instead of allowing the dog to pull while out in front of the owner.
- Give two examples of how contact with the dog was used in the handling.
- A: In one video one person would reward their dog every time they looked at them during the walk so that way the dog focused on them and would keep the dog in contact with the persons leg/hip.
- A: During a training video one person who had a dog who was hard focusing on other dogs would use a small tug of the lead to break the dogs focus and continue forward.
-
I went for a walk around my neighborhood lake. There were lots of people walking on the paved path. Some walking with strollers, bike riders weaving around walkers and lots of dog walking.
<b style=”background-color: var(–bb-content-background-color); font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; color: inherit;”>Did you observe good handling practices when dogs were being leashed and/or walked? Describe your personal observations.
There was a dog off leash running next to the jogging handler. They were in sync and the dog was trained to focus on the handler, not stop or get derailed.
A golden retriever was walking on a leash with a stuffed animal in his mouth. It seemed like it made the dog happy to have the toy, and I thought it was nice the handler let the dog bring it on the walk.
<b style=”background-color: var(–bb-content-background-color); font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; color: inherit;”>Describe two examples of how awareness was utilized by a handler.
One woman stopped walking her dog and was talking to another woman. She was not watching her dog. I saw the dog eat something in the grass. Don’t know what it was, but she never knew it happened.
A boy, probably in middle school, was walking his dog and teaching “Heel.” The boy was completely focused on teaching the dog this new skill and the dog was focused on the boy and his treats.
<b style=”background-color: var(–bb-content-background-color); font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; color: inherit;”>Describe two examples of how positioning was utilized by a handler.
One handler had the dog walk on the inside of the path, close to the grass. This positioned the handler on the side of the path where bikes passed by., protecting the dog.
One handler did the reverse and his dog was on handlers outside. It was scary because bikes would weave around the dog. The dog could easily have jumped in front of a bike if it saw a squirrel for example. The dog was not safe.
<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; color: inherit; background-color: var(–bb-content-background-color);”>Give two examples of how contact with the dog was used in the handling.
One dog stared at the handler a lot. It looked like the dog loved his owner, until I saw her pocket was full of dog treats and kept handing them to the dog when she would say “Heel.”.
Two dogs were passing each other. One dog started barking at the other. The owner of the dog being barked at called her dog’s name, kept the dog’s eyes on her eyes until the barking dog passed them. .
-
I observed dog walkers while at work at a humane society.
- Did you observe good handling practices when dogs were being leashed and/or walked? Describe your personal observations.
- I observed several dog walkers asking the dog to sit or have all four on the floor before they were leashed and walked out of their kennel, this meant that the dogs were already focused on the handler before the walk even began. Several of the dogs were very jumpy on the leash while in the building. The dog walkers worked with this by stopping when the dog would jump, and only continue when the dog stopped jumping and was paying attention to the walker.
- Describe two examples of how awareness was utilized by a handler.
- Awareness is being used by the handlers by paying attention to what is going on around them, so that they can prepare for how the dog may react to certain stimulus.
- Other times I would see people not paying attention to the things around them, and some times the dogs would see something and react to it, but the person wasn’t paying attention and was dragged along.
- Describe two examples of how positioning was utilized by a handler.
- One example of positioning was when a dog walker was walking past another dog in a yard. The dog being walked was very excited to see the other dog and difficult to redirect. The walker placed her body between the yard and the dog, creating a barrier so that the dog may focus back on her.
- Second example of positioning was when a dog was hesitant to go back inside the building with the handler. The handler, instead of dragging the dog along, began to walk the dog in circles, slowly getting closer to the door.
- Give two examples of how contact with the dog was used in the handling.
- While watching people walking dogs, I noted the use of leash contact. Some people would have a very tight hold on the leash, causing the dog to pull forward, while others would keep a more relaxed grip on the leash, which seemed like it caused less pulling.
-
For my observations, I observed dogs and handlers at a training facility. I observed a nosework class as well as the change over of students and dogs between classes.
- Did you observe good handling practices when dogs were being leashed and/or walked? Describe your personal observations.
Yes, I observed good handling practices. The training facility has an entrance door and an exit door to avoid unwanted interactions. Handlers could easily see through the glass doors if there was an oncoming dog. I saw one handler step off into an empty ring to let another dog pass. I also saw one handler put their dog into a right side heel to put themselves between their dog and a dog walking with another handler. During the class, only the dog that was searching was allowed to be out of their crate. Dogs not searching waited crated with their handlers sitting nearby. As this was a beginning class, all dogs were on leash with their handlers during a search. Dogs wore collars or harnesses with long leash of approximately 8-10 feet.
- Describe two examples of how awareness was utilized by a handler.
One handler had a young GSD that had a missing eye that seemed very anxious. The handler selected a crate far from the other dogs.The handler also handled this dog on the dog’s blind side always placing herself between the dog and other dogs.
- Describe two examples of how positioning was utilized by a handler.
During the class, the instructor offered hints on positioning for the search. I watched the instructor tell a student to step back to the right to give the dog more space as the student was crowding the dog. When the student stepped back the dog stepped toward the hide. I watched another student doing a search and they went to the end of a longline while giving the dog control. The handler carefully followed keeping a loose leash and moving their body to the right or left staying out of the way of the odor drift.
- Give two examples of how contact with the dog was used in the handling.
Each handler had a different style to release the dog during the start of search. One handler held the dog tight by the collar and said find it!. The dog knew that was the cue to get to work. The instructor had “loaded” multiple buckets with treats. As the dog found and ate the treat in a bucket, the handler with swiftly throw more treats in while the dogs head was in the bucket. The dog was a quick learner and understood keeping her head in a bucket would generate more treats.
-
I watched a YouTube video on how to handle a dog for a nail trim. The vet technician used her own dog, and her dog switched his personality from being friendly to being cautious instantly for the nail trim. When she brought her dog into a room by a leash, she let the dog smell and walk around. The dog knew something was up. She focused on watching his whiskers since the whiskers being forward are a sign of nervousness. His whiskers were forward, and she also noticed that the dog’s body was a little stiff when she positioned the dog next to her. Her body was behind his face. She laid him down sideways, putting his hind side and then his front side down simultaneously so that the dog wouldn’t panic. Before the nail trim started, she let the dog smell the nail clipper. When she trimmed one nail and the dog struggled, she stopped and waited for a while before trimming the next one. She ended up putting a muzzle on him. She was very prepared in case the dog acted up.
Log in to reply.