MN Disc Dog discussion

Here's a great article on communicating with your dog on the disc field. Wrtten by Ron Watson..

http://roadtrip.pawsitivevybe.com/rons- ... in-frisbee

Thanks Andrew!

Yep, Good Stuff!

Brian

Yes, I enjoyed this article too. It re-enforces all I'm doing with Dougal. He's been making good progress on freestyle routines. (I'm making some, too!)

Good link! I'm gonna play the "know it all jerk" here and say this is a must read for people here. I was just talking about this to Import or JG or both (can't remember) and saying that I've noticed people don't communicate with their dog enough when I watch them playing. With people of this club, I don't see the "Dude!" or negative remarks that much, but I also don't see the clear positive marks to let the dogs know they are doing the right thing as much as there should be either. Many times if I actually hear somebody using a marker word, it's weak and not paired with a clear distinct change in body language and energy of the game either. Many people just kind of go along in the middle and hope their dog eventually figures it out, but there needs to be low lows and high highs that are made very clear with marker words to give the dogs a better understanding of what you're looking for. The change in energy needs to be precise and dramatic, rather than lackadaisical and low key. When you watch people like Ron train, it's very clear when the dog does something that he likes. You can be watching them from across the field and notice those moments. Most people I watch however, I would not know when their dog did something they liked if I didn't know the game. The communication is not precise and exaggerated enough to make it clear without a doubt what they want. And if it's not clear to me who's watching and knows the game, it probably isn't clear to the dog that's trying to figure out what you want. Hope that makes sense.

Roo

Man, you are such a know it all jerk, but you are a know it all jerk who happens to be right.

Brian

We need more "know it all jerks" to beat it in our heads. I read these articles and comments on the forum and see myself as being one of those needing to be reminded time and time again. I know I need the "know it all jerks" to help me better interact with Grady. Soooooooo if your out there and see that I need to do something different PPPllllllease feel free to let me know. If I hear it enough times it just might sink in.

I would just like to say that I feel this article is discriminatory.

To deaf dogs? I would think if Jun has good eye contact with you, and you can give her the "yes" marker during play, she will get that she did something you like. I do realize, however, that it's tough for her to constantly check in with you during such a fun activity! Maybe instead of rewarding with a roller, you could do a short tug session? That would keep her in close to you. Just throwing some ideas out.

I was kidding Denise! Although there's really no way for me to give a positive marker during disc play, unless I give it way late, which defeats the entire purpose. But I don't really think it has that big of an impact on our game.

I kinda figured you were.

I think you, and by and large the members of this club, are probably exceptions because we are here to learn and we realize its a shared community of dog lovers with the same goal. Dog people in general though can be pretty darn passionate about their beliefs and if the know-it-alls speak too soon before they are sure that someone is open to guidance then it can cause people to get real defensive and drive them away.

In rescue we see this all the time with fosters and volunteers etc. You have to be careful how and even if you convey somethings or they think you are an ass. You get to the point where you rarely say anything unless asked.

I agree that the people here are much more accepting of advice than other places. I wanted to say something actually, but hadn't had time to say anything or write a post about it with the craziness that is my life right now. Fortunately, now I don't have to cuz Ron did.

Roo

I don't want to get too sappy about this, but I do want to thank all the "know it alls" it this club. I have had dogs and cats all my life, but joining this club has taught me so much about animals I never knew. Dougal is doing great learning free style routines, and Fergus is picking up discs and bringing them back to me too. I can't begin to tell you all how much I have learned since joining, and I already knew more than most people! So, thanks! Keep it coming!

I KNEW I should've wrote a disclaimer....