Posted: Nov 01, 2019 2:50 pm
I have trained three dogs in AKC obedience. By far, the easiest to train was my Border Collie Zeke. He learned in a few weeks what my previous dog, Rascal, a shetland sheepdog, took years to master. The first dog I trained, a rough collie, had no aptitude for AKC obedience whatsoever and was a literal lovable dumb blonde.
Although Zeke was very easy to train; he was eager to please and had extreme focus. He very much disliked training around other dogs and he very much disliked allowing the obedience instructor/judge to touch him. His overall anxiety only worsened over time even as his performance improved. I made the decision to retire him from obedience training, because it was supposed to be fun and challenging for Zeke but he had grown to dread it. This was disappoining for me because my sheltie had enjoyed it and did well in competition. Rascal's career was cut short when a degenerative disease made him unable to jump while we were competing to earn his UD (utility dog) title.
Although Zeke was very easy to train; he was eager to please and had extreme focus. He very much disliked training around other dogs and he very much disliked allowing the obedience instructor/judge to touch him. His overall anxiety only worsened over time even as his performance improved. I made the decision to retire him from obedience training, because it was supposed to be fun and challenging for Zeke but he had grown to dread it. This was disappoining for me because my sheltie had enjoyed it and did well in competition. Rascal's career was cut short when a degenerative disease made him unable to jump while we were competing to earn his UD (utility dog) title.