For the basics, I used a personal trainer because Bella doesn't even know the meaning of the word focus. Loved it - and she learned so much faster. I am also considering agility - just for some exercise for both of us.

Boris would LOVE an agility class. He just can't seem to focus around other dogs. He has a lot of engergy and loves to play too much.

Boris

in class for rally and agility....and he has driven me into the ground....he loves every single moment...his energy level could lite new york city for a week.....we go twice a week and he knows what days those are....
i have to walk a fine line with him as he is a rescue...i had one trainer flip him backwards becasue he was not listening....and he crashed down...he no longer wanted to be their...so we sat the class out and just sat their...two nites latter he was back in class and was zooming but when he saw that trainer he shut down again.....
so we changed our nites to when their not their...in agility we go last...he has sb and some times sprinkles a little urine...but he loves the tunnel and weave poles....why the poles thats a mystery...and the tunnel.... some times he just goes back and forth without coming out....
now wilson sits at class and looks horrified...he is a couch potaote....excercise is bed to couch...

this is charlie.....

interested in dogs AT ALL so he focused on us completely. His only issue was the teacher knew he had resource guarding issues and she dropped a piece of food for another dog too close to Hooch and there was almost a fight.

Boris is the same way. He'll do the trick once or twice get his treat and he's done. It's hard not to compare them to the other dogs... he make act up but is by far the smartest in the class. When he feels like it.

Boris

After awhile, I resigned myself to just taking him for fun. He loved the one on one time with me (I have three dogs) and he loved the class. He never became all that obedient. He had his moments when he would do the tricks perfectly, other times he decided he wasn't in the mood to cooperate that day. Or after doing the same thing two or three times, he decided that he had already done that twice, so that was enough. He is definitely not a lab or a border collie.

The teacher owns Keeshunds and she told me I should be more firm with him, I tried that and he completely shut down and wouldn't do anything for me. He's a stubborn boy, but he's no dummy.

Good luck with obedience!

Michelle, Helen, Penny, Spanky and Faye pup

I guesss except for class. Next week I'm going to load up with really tasty things and hope it helps...at least for a trick or two.

Boris

You have every right to brag!!!

Boris

We had to have a trick to show the class on the last of the sessions, Winnie had four; speak, shake both hands, roll over and crawl on your belly. I not bragging or anything

It is like he is in a zone- tuning everything out but that treat. And rarely will he do a command if he knows that there are no treats involved.

I felt that way at first, like my guy was never going to get it. But I kept having patience and practicing a little everyday. After a while you'll see more and more progress. Try to remember to quit when you feel yourself getting frustrated and try to end it on a good note. Like if he is not doing well on one thing go to something that he has mastered, do it once and then tell him how great he is. Then next time you can try again.
Follow your own instincts, if they are doing something that doesn't feel right to you or Boris, then don't do it, no one can make you.
Stoney loves class but sometimes for some reason he just gets distracted and those are the nights I need a cocktail. But I try to keep a light frame of mind and remember you really have the best dog in the world. Don't we all?
So if you like the class and the teacher and Boris is having a good time then you'll both come away with a learning experience.

Working with a bulldog takes a special individual, and not all trainers understand them. I think that is why they are often misinterpreted as stupid. Some dogs you ask them to jump they say "How High" ask a bulldog and they say "What's in it for me?"

I've found with Maverick I have to take frequent "play" breaks to keep him interested and I don't repeat the exercises over and over again. I find if they do it right I reward and change it up, even if the rest of the class is doing the same drill over and over, you have to do what works for your dog. If Maverick is struggling with something I will move on to something he knows, reward him for that and then go back to what we were getting frustrated with. I find bulldogs are so sensitive and in-tune to their owners if we get frustrated/angry they will shut down (at least Maverick will).

I also don't believe you "have to be tougher" on them, I think it's a breed where you really need to work together.

Maverick is less excited about playing with other dogs, but everytime a person (aka. minion to pet him) walks by his attention is GONE. I just act like an idiot to get him back, running backwards (away from the distraction) calling him in a super fun voice, doing jumping jacks, whatever makes me more exciting than the distraction. I'm sure half the people I'm in class with think I'm nuts, but I have a bulldog and they don't, so I think they're nuts!

was fantastic. her second time was with a different trainer..who did the whole lesson on positive enforcement. was very tolerant of the bulldogs and a great person. Bella did awesome as well. she was well ahead in her class. she loved it. did her great too.she was much more confident after it ended.


the first time..the trainer was very cruel. has no real use for bulldogs and made us drag Bella to get her to co operate. she lost fur, went off her food and water. told the lady to shove her money and took Bella out and never went back.

he is a total wild man...i go to class a 1/2 to an hr early....just so he can get his head on straight....everyone their is a play buddy....
lucky for us we have a 15 min get together with everyone in class...this way owners can get rid of the jitters...and the dogs can sniff each other.....
charlie is only 11 months.....
going in a circle is a waste for charles...thats why we do agility.....their are just so many things to do...he loves to jump...he loves to run....
agility is his thing...movement...charlie has to have movement....

what lay down while you take a picture.....no way

LOL... and I don't want to talk about it.

(But she's SO smart and doing SO well. It's TOUGH with bullies!)


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She used him as the example dog almost every week. He loved going to "puppy school!" The class moved on a fast pace and it wasn't too long. Bulldogs get tired faster than other breeds. Plus they get bored repeating behaviors more than a couple of times. Sit, down, sit, stay, gets old fast.

Junior didn't do as well in subsequent classes with teachers who didn't treat him like the cutest thing on the planet. He did better in an "Agility For Fun" class. He practiced obedience behaviors like, sits, downs, stays, and come, but he was having fun while doing it.

Classes that are well planned and move fast from one thing to the next are more fun for dogs and owners. If you are sitting there waiting for the teacher to work with each dog one on one, the rest of the dogs (and people) get bored.

Finding a good experienced teacher who knows and likes bulldogs and uses positive reinforcement training is key.



I don't rescue animals because I want to feel better about myself, or morally superior to anyone. The best part of my life with animals is the humility they teach and the humanity the foster.
Jon Katz "Soul of a Dog"

Great minds think a like! Even though I went to daycare for 1/2 a day yesterday I was still a stinker. My mom was really excited 'cause I tricked her into thinking I was tired. I fell asleep in the car from Plymouth to MG where my class is. As soon as I walked into class I got my second and third wind

Boris

for Audrey her orange ball works way better than food, and the fact that she does NOT like it if I am upset with her.

Cathy
when she first came home

I did level 1 with him about a year ago and I probably won't do anymore. He does great when I can get him to pay attention but the second he sees another dog it's over. He just wants to play, like Boris. He also gets bored quick. A few treats to make him do something and then he quits. It's always a chore trying to find new ways to keep him interested.

Bright energetic Bulldogs pose a unique problem, I think. Trying to wear him out before class is a good idea.

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she is definitely stubborn, and we discovered NOT food motivated at all, but she loves to please and eventally did everything she was supposed to do. She did not have issues with the other dogs, unless they barked incessantly or really insisted on invading her space. Then she got attacked at that STUPID dog park, and I did not recognize her distress around other dogs right away or give her enough space to handle it, and she started having trouble with other dogs BIG TIME. She still did excellent in intermediate class, it was a very small class and there was enough space to keep her comfort zone dog free. She was the ONLY dog that passed the sit/down/stay, and come/front. I was so proud of her! We start advanced class on Feb 18th, and at the end the AKC club is offering the CGC test. I'm not sure she'll ever pass, but that's our goal.

Cathy
when she first came home