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 Obedience/training classes a step backwards?
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| Author | Topic: Obedience/training classes a step backwards? |
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Nik Member  Posts: 115 |
posted 01-15-2004 03:10 AM
 
Hi, ok, last night was my 4th class with Floob. It's a 9 week course for an hour one night a week. When I started the course I'd had Floob 5 weeks. From the first day I got him I taught him 'sit' and not to jump up people and furniture. He was doing both of these things perfectly, quite happy to sit when people came around for them to fuss him, to sit at my feet when I spoke to anyone in the street and NEVER jumped up at me when we were home (occasionally he did when he was off his lead on the feild but only when I had his ball ready to throw). Now, 4 weeks in and I'm begining to crack. He CONSTANTLY jumps at me and anyone else whenever he can and will only 'sit' when he knows there's a treat on offer. I mean as I walk through the room, from one side to the other he'll jump with his back feet leaving the floor. I should probably add that prior to the training classes I never used treats, just the command and physical/verbal praise. It just feels like he's getting worse every day. I'm trying so hard to stay upbeat and possative but it's crushing when he does the opposite to what I'm asking of him... especially when he was doing ok for weeks before. It's asif he's saying 'if there's nothing in it for me I'm not doing it' or even 'give me something now!'. I know that's exactly how their minds work but he's gonna be the size of a pig before long if I have to use a treat for absolutly everything? Doing the 'down/stay' he's either biting and barking at my hand or the leash. Last night he even did it to the trainers hand when she tried to help, so she squirted him, which stunned him for a second but didn't work enough to stop him. I'm quite firm with him and don't let him get away with things... we always had fun and lots of fuss tho, it just feels like the last week has been more of my *trying* to lay down the law (only to get growled at or nipped in the process) than enjoying eachother. Sorry if this just sounds like a whine, It's just really upsetting me this morning and I can't seem to shake it. So, has anyone else felt like they're beating their head against the wall whilst training... I don't mean training them to do it, I mean after that, when they have done it regulally but won't anymore, even though you've been consistant. IP: Logged |
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Jamiya Member Posts: 1392 |
posted 01-15-2004 04:24 AM
Dogs do go through "adolescence" where they seem to forget all they have learned and you wonder what the heck happened. It could be this going on. But if you had success training without treats and using them seems to be a disaster, then I say don't use them! Just quit cold-turkey and wait and see what happens. It might take a week or so, but Floob should adjust. My newest trainer told me to NOT use treats for obedience commands. She said learning manners is different from learning to be a show dog. She said to save the treats for teaching tricks, and for agility or other dog sports. I'm not sure I agree with everything she tells me, but the biggest test is whether it works for you and your dog.
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puggleowner Member Posts: 228 |
posted 01-15-2004 09:00 AM
How old was your pup when you got him? From my experience, often puppies act very mello when they are first taken home at or around 8 weeks. After all, they are still so young and don't have full strength and control of their little bodies. As the weeks go by, though, they start to develop more strength AND independence, and thus a much more headstrong and energetic dog than you had at 8 weeks! For us, we got Cameron when she was just starting her crazy stage, at about 12 weeks, then she got much better, then it all went down hill again when adolescence hit at 5 months, and she is just starting to get better again at 9 months. Fun stuff, huh? Just keep at it, things will improve with Floob- starting on training right away is on the best things you can do for him- what a cute name by the way! P.S. Cameron was hitting the prime of her adolescence on graduation day from puppy class- we were supposed to demonstrate what we'd learned, and Cameron would not do ANYTHING- she just stared at us. Talk about embarassing! IP: Logged |
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Maisey Member Posts: 1387 |
posted 01-15-2004 10:46 AM
He could of just been adjusting to your home and his new family, and now is feeling very comfy in his new surroundings and is getting to show a little more of the teenie bopper additude. Dooley can also get way to focussed on treats...I don't give him treats everytime I ask for something. He never knows when one will be given. Dooley will work really well for praise, a pat on the head, "good boy", when I bring out the treats or a toy, he gets hyperfocussed and tries to anticipate what I want, he will flip out three or four tricks in a row hoping one of them was what I was going to ask for. I quietly tell him "no" and wait for his focuss to return to me, I just stand there, eventually he looks at me in frustration. I pause and give the command again. You may be right..the treats may be a bigger distraction than they are a benefit. Explain your frustration and thought to the trainer and tell her you'd like to quit using them to see if it helps. With Witt...it got really frustrating right before the calm...he settled or something, just one day it was suddenly a little easier. IP: Logged |
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Nik Member Posts: 115 |
posted 01-16-2004 07:35 AM
Hi, Thanks for your replies... Not using the treats was the first thing I thought about doing Jamiya, but then I had to decide wether I'd continue going to the classes as they insist you use them. Asof last night I went back to 'fuss' praise and 'good boy', he's lapping it up. I've also decided to lay off the 'off' command when he's jumping up. I *think* he likes any kind of verbal interaction so by saying 'off' he keeps doing it to get the reaction... I decided on this as ignoring him in the beginning worked... Puggleowner & Maisy - He was 10 weeks when i got him and thinking about it all rationally today everything you said makes sense, same with the treat thing Jamiya. I'm back on track now, or at least ready to start again so thanks all IP: Logged |
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