Motivators...

(This is a photo taken June 2011 of my water loving Dobe hanging out waiting for a stick to be thrown in the Grand River near Preston, ON)

Definition of Motivate: "to give incentive to"

Definition of Incentive: "something, such as the fear of punishment or the expectation of reward, that induces action"

Well for me, I do not expect to be punished should I slack from training, however my expectation of reward (and for me a schutzhund titled doberman is that reward) scurries further from sight with each day that passes and I cannot motivate myself to get out there...

So I know what, when and how to motivate my dog.......However just trying to figure out what motivates me! Perhaps the novelty of a house now to work on (did I mention, if I was not a vet, I would be an interior decorator ;-).... has stolen my attention temporarily.

My Daunting "TO DO" List for Sch1:

Mornings are short - I am tired & the desire to go tracking is present however motivation OR incentive is low. Living in the city presents its challenges for finding nearby, low traffic large green spaces to work your dog. Good thing is that I have a dog that has immense food drive...

I need to start working on dumbbells with more fervor - there is a basic retrieve on the flat and some foundation work over the jump and A-frame - but no polishing. I need to find a way of teaching dumbbells that makes sense to me. I have seen several of methods and find that none of them appeal to me or are seem to fit my training logic/style. I have a friend training using the system that WCGSSC uses and am keen to see how she teaches her young dog dumbbells. Stay tuned ;-)

The send out is in its early stages and will need to be fully taught.

The blind search is a work in progress.

The only thing I can say that I am reliably working on is teaching Dieter to load for obedience/tracking in quiet while laying near the field. My motivation to do this was during the spring trial for our Bh.

That day was one of the first hot days. Dogs were feeling it and obviously there is no shade on the field. I had a bit of a "ah ha" moment as I waited for our turn. Watching other competitors play with the dogs in the hot sun and heat prior to their turn in obedience seemed like such a waste of precious energy, as well as something that further cranks up the core body temperature leading more quickly to fatigue.

Thinking about it, I wanted my dog to look its best on the field without heating up or burning off energy prior to trial. Thus, if I could train him to load while laying down, my dog hypothetically may have a slight advantage compared to the dog that just ran, jumped and played tug for 3-5 minutes prior to heeling onto the field in terms of energy level/attentiveness.

So that is what I have been doing. So far so good - I know things are progressing as desired when he whines (occasionally barks) and can barely keep his elbows on the ground for the entire time. As we progress I will tweak it more - however trial day will be the true test.

Protection continues to progress albeit slightly slower. I just wish I had helper that was closer in proximity to work Diets on non-club days. The most progress I have ever seen with him is when I work him for 4-5 days in a row at a seminar or the like. Seems to drive home the concepts with him.

Possible Solution to Low Motivation?

I think that trying to find someone close as a training buddy would be ideal. Even someone to meet for tracking to keep me accountable would help. I know once out there, how much I enjoy it - it is just those middle steps to get to the field.

Now the easy part - find a friend with a dog(s) they are training in the sport located in the Burlington/Oakville region, willing to get up at insane hours of the morning and drive to fairly remote areas multiple times a week to work their dog early in the day before work. Keep this up for the next 12-16 weeks before the cold weather sets in......No problem right? If interested, please send me your email. :-)