Suddenly Off Focused!!

[Kyoko]

Pinot Grigio is now 16 months, and this is his second time around on his therapy dog training class. Past 2 weeks, he is focused on the other dogs and seem to just want to play with them. He can do all of his command, sit stay, down stay, etc... during the class, and does heel nicely when we go one at the time around the room. But when we go circling around the room lined up with the other dogs for the heeling practice, he just want to catch up to the dog in front of him and play. He seems to totally off focused on me and behave like he is at the park. What can I do? And I wonder why he began behaving this way suddenly? Lining up with the other dogs and going around the room did not rouse him before...

[Carolyn Shusterman]

Pinot is still a teenager in canine years, he wants to Party.  Maybe by giving him time to play first (before the class) he will be more likely to settle down.  Most dogs are 2 years old before therapy graduation.

[Kyoko]

Thank you... I should take him to the park before the class next time....

[BG and Gavin]

Kyoko, are you sure you are not talking about Gavin?  That sounds just like him.  I used to come to outdoor class a bit early so that he could "visit" a couple of the dogs first before we got down to business.  One thing the last trainer taught us is "three quick steps."  Which was before beginning the walk (or heel) do three quick steps to get the dogs attention and focus on you.  Gavin's play drive kept us from testing until he was 2.5.  At the college this week they had a room set up with 5 therapy dogs for students to go visit.  I was in there thinking Gavin would not be good in this situation as he would want to play with the other dogs instead of the kids lol.  Of course he would settle down after a couple of minutes, but where he would settle fairly quickly now, when he was younger it would take him much longer to settle.

[Kyoko]

There is a testing in January. But I started to have second thoughts after last night.....  :-( I was pretty  embarrassed with his behavior.... Especially because he was so good until a couple of weeks ago....

[Debbi & Harley]

Try taking for a big play before - that is what I used to do with Harley.  A tired pup is a good pup.

[Kyoko]

:-) I am going to run him around before we go next time...

[Sue & Lily Grace]

I understand this problem completely. Lily Grace just passed her canine good citizen after testing for the second time. She is 15 months now and it took 8 months from her first testing to attain some maturity. Even today, if I let her play with the other dogs first she will not settle on command. My way of dealing with the problem was tiring her out playing ball before class then allowing one walk around the room for a meet and greet (sniff) only. I keep her in a sit stay or down stay by me at all other times. Also, I tried to be the first in a heeling walk or a second best position was the last dog. Good luck. Hope you find what works for Pinot Grigio.

[Kyoko]

Tomorrow night is the class.. I am going to come home on my lunch and take him to the park, and then after work take him to the park again!! I hope this will work..... I will know..... Please keep the fingers crossed!!