HULA DOGS: TRAINING SCHOOL

Luke's Training Diary

by David Toresen and Chris Ryan

Luke is something of a hooligan! He has been a “long-term” resident at HULA, for well over a year.

So, the idea of a series of training classes seems ideal for him. He will benefit greatly from obedience training; which will, hopefully, turn him into an easier dog to rehome.

Luke and I seem to enjoy a pretty good relationship and so I have become his handler for his training classes. After 2 classes, and some lively practice sessions in between, he seems to be coming along nicely.

A lively dog, who is very quick to learn, Luke has got the hang of “Come/touch”, “Sit”, “Stay”, and “Wait”. He is eager to please; but has a limited attention span. To work around this, I try to burn off his energy, for an hour in the runs, prior to the classes.

WEEK THREE

Hi I'm Chris and I have taken over handling Luke at the training classes.

I met Luke properly for the 1st time on Friday at HULA so that I could introduce myself and start to build a relationship with him before Saturday's class.

I collected Luke early so we could spend some time together and he could feel at ease with me before class started. It actually went better than I could have hoped for as Angela (Trainer) turned up early with her 4 dogs and Luke got the chance to be off lead with all of them, there was no aggression and Luke was happy to give up his precious ball to Harry the Cocker.

Today was more a chance for the dogs to get used to being in the paddock than learning anyhing new they were taught the agility tunnel (which is a way to help the dogs problem solve ie if they are unhappy going through when the tunnel is at its full length you make it smaller and smaller until they will go through, then you gently increase the length )

Luke has a very positive 'touch' recall and is extremely responsive to a call away from distraction, he actually learnt the agility weave today very quickly. We also worked on the going through a gate in a controlled manner and walking nicely on the lead.

We finished off the session with all the dogs Holly, Nuggets, Muppet, Prozac, Harry and Kaiser and of course Luke having a final off lead play.

What a clever bunch of HULA dogs.

WEEK FOUR

Well Luke had a great time this week due to his class mates having been rehomed and not able to attend the class he had the undivided attention of both myself and Angela. I had already taken Luke for a social walk around Woughton on the Green (think he thought he had gone to heaven with all the smells) he was a very good boy even if a little too interested in small hairy things (rabbits).

So then onward to the paddock for some training. As I said Luke was the only dog in his class so Angela decided to try him with the Agility equipment. What a quick learner he is. He managed the ‘A frame’ double jumps and the weave and boy was he pleased with himself, Angela thought he was one of the quickest learners she has had.

I also worked on his recall with me hiding and calling him and his response is very good, we also got a husband of another volunteer to come into the paddock to se how Luke would react. The gentleman was very calm and let Luke come and have a sniff in his own time, Luke then just wondered off to continue his play.

The biggest thing I have noticed with Luke is that he has to learn to trust you he doesn’t like to be overly fussed seems to prefer a happy ‘good lad’ to a stroke and cuddle. He probably in his straying days has been chased away so is very vary of sudden hand and leg movements but he is certainly progressing on that front and would make a great friend particularly if someone was interested in the agility side of training.

Unfortunately week 5 lesson was cancelled but as I am not available for the next session Heather came along to be introduced to Luke as she is going to handle him. We once again went to Woughton where he was very well behaved even when off lead dogs approached. We had a long walk and then went back to HULA where I settled Luke down to see how he was with being groomed. At first no reaction (I used a grooming glove rather than a brush) I did get a brief ‘I had enough get off’ handbag moment but there was no contact with myself or clothing which is an improvement and something to be worked on.

WEEK SIX

It was a very cold and frosty day after Christmas when we embarked on Luke’s sixth week of training. He was so excited, as by now, he recognises when he is going. He couldn’t wait to get into the HULA van along with Purdie the other trainee and Debbie and myself as the handlers. Once we were there, he wanted to get straight on with it and whined with excitement. He was not too pleased with having to wait, as he was in number two class. But he soon got over his protest of not moving when he realised I was going to take him for a lovely walk round the local Red Ways.

When his class started Angela asked me to take him round the agility course on lead. He remembered from last time and did very well. He was then let off lead to practice recall and agility. But he saw his big buddy Ashin in the next field and was more interested in trying to play with him, as he was asked to do at his last training session. So we moved Ashin out of his sight and he soon began to take interest. He bounded over the jumps keenly and was up for learning all the other equipment too. He is a very clever dog and quick to learn. He likes to be kept busy, so would make an excellent agility or fly ball dog, as he also gets on well with other dogs. After he completed each small chunk of the course, he had a click and treat. So he was a very happy dog!!

Angela then got all the handlers together and we told our dogs to sit before they were let off lead to play. This went very well as Luke is now very sociable with most other dogs. We then had to call our dogs back to us, give them a treat and send them away to play again. This would teach them that going back to the handler does not always mean end of play session. This is a good technique to practice back at Hula when throwing the ball for Luke.

When the weather improves, I am definitely going to do more agility practice with him, as he is great fun and so keen when he does it. It brings the happy, relaxed part of his nature out and teaches him not be so tense with people and enjoy life.

He still has quite a way to go with his learning, but given time and patience will become a lovely companion for the right person.