So excited!

[ewarp]

So, I leave in about 45 minuted to drive into Chicago to spend the day working with Turid Rugaas.

She's in town for the weekend- today is a tiny group working with dogs: her, me, and about 4 other people, I believe. Over the weekend, there is a two-day seminar being held for about 25 people. Saturday night she's holding an open to the public Q&A about loose leash walking and her newest book.

I'm giggly and bouncing off the walls.

[Cassiepeia]

Awesome. Let us know how it goes.

Cass.

[mrsgrubby]

can't wait to hear all about it when you get back!!!

[bigdoglover]

So cool! Come back and share your new found knowledge with the rest of us! LOL

[TribalRats]

How exciting!!!!

[ewarp]

Well...

I wasn't just surprised, I was kinda shocked. I loooved Turid's info on calming signals and canine communication.

However, according to her, crating is too stressful and shouldn't be done. Obedience training is also too stressful, especially classes. Same goes for agility, rally-o, and herding. However, worse than all those things combined: playing fetch with a ball. Too stressful.

Playing with other dogs should only be for about 8-10 minutes tops. Dogs don't really enjoy it anyway.

The only Turid-approved activities: going for social walks with other dogs and doing casual nosework (not tracking). On top of that, your dog should only partake in activities twice a week or so, otherwise you cause your dogs stress levels to skyrocket.

Grar. I was really excited about going, and definitely left just kind of shaking my head. She wouldn't work any dogs, she wouldn't let us work any dogs. She just listened to the owner, watched the dog for a few minutes and then decided that it's stress levels were too high.



EDIT: I forgot to add... she has some sort of personal vendetta against shelters. And also believes that we spay and neuter too many dogs. Apparently Norway doesn't have an overpopulation problem.

[calgal]

I've always said that the owners know their pets better than anyone, and should do what they feel is right, and not to worry about if it's right or wrong. I really don't think there really is a right or wrong when it comes to training as long as the animal is loved and well cared for. The rest is up to the individual person and pet.

[shandoggy1]

I've never heard of this lady before but she seems to be a little un-realistic as to how we take care of our dogs. Spay and neuter to much *shakes head* I've never heard such a thing! Is that why we always have plenty of dogs in shelter here being PTS everyday? And everything our dogs love to do is to much stress *rolls eyes* WHATEVER! Sounds like she needs to be on some PROZAC! maybe life for her is just to much stress. LOL!

[poodlesmom]

Well I guess many of us are doing everything absolutely wrong!

I know for sure if I was to stop playing fetch with my 2, taking them to classes, letting them play with other dogs, etc. would definitely make for some really unhappy dogs in my household.

[elegy]

i'd have left shaking my head, too.

i can't imagine what *my* stress levels would be if i didn't work luce regularly!

[sammy]

wow. how strange. her book calming signals was on my "dog books to read " list

My dogs would be full of nervous tension if the DIDN'T get ample opportunities to run, retrieve, pay dog sports and train. To watch them run and play is too witness pure joy and excitement.

[flyndog]

Keep it on your reading list, Sammie.

I think maybe some of what Turid said is not exactly what it sounds like. She's not saying don't exercise or play with your dog.

But over-stimulation is also a problem with many dogs. Have you ever seen an agility dog so ramped up that he can't stop barking? Sometimes they start barking when they get in the car, bark all the way to the show and bark during the show! Same with group obedience classes. Classes that are too large are stressful because the instructor can't watch everybody, and new students are often terrible at handling their dogs, many (no MOST) dogs are unsocialized and rude. It can be very stressful. Ideally, the rude dogs should have one or two private lessons before being allowed into a group class. Unfortunately, that's not the norm. Same goes for playing with other (strange) dogs.

And, some dogs can become very obsessive about ball playing. Any activity that a dog will do until it drops is stressful.

[ewarp]

Sammie, definitely still read it. It's a great book, and besides, you can learn something from everyone!

Flyndog, thank you for explaining a bit better what I think Turid was trying to get at.

There are dogs who become so mentally aroused and can't calm down, and yes, for them, their arousal levels just continue to build and build.

However, out of the 10 dogs we looked at, we had one who was like that, and she advised all 10 owners to withdraw their dog from obedience, agility, etc.

I wonder if she was just trying to get that point across, that some dogs do become to hyped up about certain activities. I just don't think making it a blanket statement about every dog she saw is the best way to get that across. I think her dismissal of certain activities is just a little over the top.

I suppose it could have been an off day for her or something, but it definitely left me surprised. On the other hand, I pointblank asked (but politely) if she thought agility was ever okay, and she avoided the question by saying that nosework was better. (I understand that she's been attacked by some factions of the doggy world lately, so I can't say that I blame her for skirting the issue.)

In my opinion, her idea of dogcare is not very realistic for most people. Intact males and females living together, no crates, no obedience classes... if I adhered to these rules, I'd be ripping my hair out and preparing for litters of basenji/setter puppies.

While she is wonderful with dogs, and has wonderful things to say (and she has so much she can teach you!), I think she needs to say them in a better manner.

[Carrie]

Sounds pretty "out there" to me. My dog would hate me if I didn't let him do agility. LOL. He totally loves it and has the body language which screams JOY! He's not "calm submissive" either. Can you imagine a calm submissive, dominated dog with avoidance issues (CM's toned down shells of dogs of the future) having fun doing agility? Having fun at all?

I agree that there are some dogs out there who probably can't handle all the stimulation and for those dogs, taking something a little slower and ligher would be the way to go. But most all dogs like to have some kind of activity and something to use their brains for.