Ivan Balabanov wannabe, you bet!

This is Ferguson and I practicing our daily game. Kind of pathetic, but this is the fruit of our labors throughout this entire summer. As my skills get better I see him progressing with more intensity and confidence. You learn really quick that the dog will only get as good as the handler. We have just made some breakthrough progress over the last three days. He now comes in for the bite at a greater distance and with more speed/intensity. Then he should be able to go flawlessly from the active phase to a passive phase into a "platz" or "sit". This is basic stuff, right now. I am so hopeful that I may be able to actually learn and guide him towards some more work; along the lines of schutzund...We'll see if I can figure this into my time budget, which will be in the RED once school starts. Either that or my grades may be in the RED!
It is a work in progress..... to be continued.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• tugg
• 005

[chrismichalek]

for you, is the chasing and jumping for the tug the reward or is biting and tugging on the tug the reward?

[kevinbouvy]

@chrismichalek

definitely the act of tugging is the reward. The chasing and MISSING builds frustration. By making them miss, you are asking for them to try harder. When you give them the bite the frustration is released. I haven't done this in awhile with him, but the main point of IVAN's methods is that posession is NOT the reward, but the ACT of tugging is. This allows the dog to engage with you. Hope that helps...

[transformationchiro]

Kevin you might check out Mike Ellis's work regarding engagement. You are doing your best I can tell, so good job. The dog is flat though. I'd recommend "The Power of Training Dogs With Food" for building drive and engagement. Good work. Keep at it!

[MacZane]

Since when is this the method of someone in particular? ive seen this from my grandfather already.. still its just one of many methods and u have to adjust ur method to the dog..

Anyways believe in what u believe and what works for u best but dont call this an new invention...maybe u heard it for first time..that dogs like to play..

[anjar88]

Dog shoul always win...the toy is yours but the win should be his. When you want the toy just trade it with food or other toy.

[tkcfiddler]

Maybe let him win a bit more frequently? To build some more intensity for the bite? I find that when my dog knows that I'm going to yank the tug away, he does not go for it as wholeheartedly as when he thinks he can really win it. You've got better coordination than me! I find it's easier to create misses on the left side of my body, but I'm a bit clumsy on the right side. Heading to Florida to train with Ivan in a couple weeks!

[Mariok9]

cool!!!! keep it up

[rucatrouble]

nice! keep it up!

[ReneeLGlenney]

Keep up the good work. No doubt you know that Ivan's method takes time but gets the results!!

[firespydar]

this is quite a work out and bonding for you both. is the tuging a reward based or drive building.. it looks similar to building drive