Reactivity Workshop

Post Reply
User avatar
centrop67
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 3581
Joined: Mon Dec 03, 2012 3:42 pm
Tell us about yourself: Owned by Hondo and Mustang - two MAD rescue dogs.
Location: Cutler Bay, FL, USA

Reactivity Workshop

Post by centrop67 »

The Collared Scholar (Meagan Karnes) is running a pilot reactivity workshop starting this week, and out of 600 entries, Radar and I were chosen among a few.

I know that online training can be difficult, but I feel like it can't hurt, and I will be able to bring information and results to the members of this site.

Reactivity is one of the most common questions on this site and others. My own experience with this subject has been documented here. We have managed it by avoiding reactive scenarios altogether - a nearly impossible task.

I hate to say that my expectations are low in eliminating the behavior altogether, but if there's any improvement or a path to improvement, I am willing to go all in 100%.

I'll keep you all posted.
Michael
Location - Cutler Bay, FL USA
Image RIP: Leela, Radar, Tequila, and Snickers
If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went. - Will Rogers
User avatar
Dutchringgirl
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 5692
Joined: Sat Feb 12, 2011 3:05 pm
Tell us about yourself: I am a mom of 6 life forces - 2 kids and 3 dogs 1 hamster. I live in Ct. I have trained Ringsport and Agility and have 2 DS, one 15 and 7 and a Basset Hound Cookie who is 2
Location: Ct, USA

Re: Reactivity Workshop

Post by Dutchringgirl »

thats great !
Lisa, Thalie CGC & Sadie, Cookie the Basset, CT
ImageImage
User avatar
centrop67
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 3581
Joined: Mon Dec 03, 2012 3:42 pm
Tell us about yourself: Owned by Hondo and Mustang - two MAD rescue dogs.
Location: Cutler Bay, FL, USA

Re: Reactivity Workshop

Post by centrop67 »

We had our first workshop yesterday. It was more of a discussion and preparation for what's coming in the next 30 days, but when it was over, I felt a lot more enthusiasm about the potential results.

First of all, the common (and my own) thoughts on addressing reactivity have been based on desensitizing, distracting, and holding focus. Apparently, the workshop approach will be different. I can easily get on board with that because years of attempting distraction as a method have led only to tiny successes, but ultimately no consistency.

More to come...
Michael
Location - Cutler Bay, FL USA
Image RIP: Leela, Radar, Tequila, and Snickers
If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went. - Will Rogers
TimL_168
Working Dog
Posts: 1371
Joined: Wed Oct 08, 2014 2:11 pm
Tell us about yourself: I am: a father of 2 boys, a carpenter, hunter, runner. We have extensive experience with sled dogs, shepherd mixes, a wolf hybrid, and our current dog a 95# long haired Shiloh Shepherd. We added Endeavor in April 2016. She was not working out in HRD. I train for game recovery and general utility.
Location: central MD

Re: Reactivity Workshop

Post by TimL_168 »

Interesting
Tim L.
Aurora(Shiloh) Endeavor
User avatar
Dutchringgirl
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 5692
Joined: Sat Feb 12, 2011 3:05 pm
Tell us about yourself: I am a mom of 6 life forces - 2 kids and 3 dogs 1 hamster. I live in Ct. I have trained Ringsport and Agility and have 2 DS, one 15 and 7 and a Basset Hound Cookie who is 2
Location: Ct, USA

Re: Reactivity Workshop

Post by Dutchringgirl »

Distracting is hard because they have such hard focus. that was the hardest with the decoy. It takes A LOT of work for distracting. I found focusing on me an easier way to keep them on me.
Lisa, Thalie CGC & Sadie, Cookie the Basset, CT
ImageImage
User avatar
centrop67
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 3581
Joined: Mon Dec 03, 2012 3:42 pm
Tell us about yourself: Owned by Hondo and Mustang - two MAD rescue dogs.
Location: Cutler Bay, FL, USA

Re: Reactivity Workshop

Post by centrop67 »

I hate to admit that I am a 2 days behind on the exercises, but I plan to work the steps slowly. I am not going to attempt to catch up, because I know it's important to build slowly on the behaviors. I will just be 2 days behind.

There's a lot of other folks in the workshop trying to jump ahead, and I believe that's a mistake. Each step is meant to build on the next, so if you rush it, you may do more harm than good.

The first week of work was on relaxation training, and upcoming steps will be on nose work. I am actually very excited, because I am seeing signs of improvement already.
Michael
Location - Cutler Bay, FL USA
Image RIP: Leela, Radar, Tequila, and Snickers
If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went. - Will Rogers
TimL_168
Working Dog
Posts: 1371
Joined: Wed Oct 08, 2014 2:11 pm
Tell us about yourself: I am: a father of 2 boys, a carpenter, hunter, runner. We have extensive experience with sled dogs, shepherd mixes, a wolf hybrid, and our current dog a 95# long haired Shiloh Shepherd. We added Endeavor in April 2016. She was not working out in HRD. I train for game recovery and general utility.
Location: central MD

Re: Reactivity Workshop

Post by TimL_168 »

:wtg: :wtg: :wtg: :DScool:
Tim L.
Aurora(Shiloh) Endeavor
Post Reply