7 month choc lab acts like a wild biting lunging horse.. Help

She's 100% normal - it is all play!

The biting is playing and when excited they play. If tummy rubbing gets her excited then only do it when she's sleepy.




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I didn't say to punish the puppy. I said that any reward (or punishment) needs to happen within seconds. Not at the end of a walk. I don't advocate punishment in any way, shape or form, but the same applies to both. There is no point rewarding (or punishing) minutes after the event, as the dog won't associate the reward (or punishment) with the action.

A puppy mouthing is not "obviously looking for food". Puppies explore the world with their mouths. They learn about shapes, tastes and textures. They instigate play by mouthing. They do it when they're nervous. It's not just because they're looking for food.

 

And, yes, they have to learn to earn, I agree wholeheartedly with that. As a dog grows in experience, you can ask for more complex chains of behaviours before you reward, but that's only once a strong reward history has been established for each smaller action. How is a puppy to understand that a treat given ten minutes after he's walked nicely past a leaf blowing in the wind is remotely related to that? You also can't expect a puppy to behave perfectly for the entire duration of his walk, so, assuming for a second that he did remember that action (which he doesn't), then how is he supposed to determine that the treat is for ignoring that leaf, instead of the time that he pulled towards something he wanted? That is what is nonsense!

 

Oh yes, immediate rewards for the right action. Immediate marker if you can't instantly reward, then reward asap (within seconds).

The better you get the timing, the quicker and easier the training.

I'm on number four pup in three years now, and still learning to time it better.


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4 pups in 3 you must be made of tough stuff.

 

Crazy Pup Lady!

Kara came to me at eight weeks old and left five weeks later - she was a temporary boarder. I found her the hardest by far to let go of, it was too short with such a baby (she's fine and very happy, too short for me, not her) Bruce will also be temporary for two months then he goes to Big School. I had both Twiglet and Gypsy from 7 weeks old to 12 months old.

New baby pupster due November-ish --- can't wait!!




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Wow I think? must be a wonderful thing to do.

 

I have an insane 9 month old. Some fantastic advice above I shall definitely be working on myself. These are things I think are helping us.....

I have stopped all interaction with other dogs, other than a nice great on the lead. She can say 'hello' and then I count to 3 and say "away" with a big handful of treats and start walking. It feels a bit sad, but free play with other dogs just makes her worse. I worry she isn't being socialised, but I figure I need to get her to calm down and come back reliably before she can play with other dogs.

I have also cut down to 1 walk a day and replaced the other walk with play, training, games etc in the garden as I had to take my kids with me for second walk and I can't supervise either kids or dog effectively whilst the dog is so crazy. We are all happier with this!

Keep going with the long line, it has given me loads of confidence. I tend to use it when I have a good view of people/ dogs coming when I am training recall. I don't tend to hold it, but have it behind her attached to a harness, then I can step on it if I need to (I have knots in the end for this). I don't really let her go far enough to get up whiplash speed!!

It will get better, I am seeing really slow progress, but progress never-the-less! She recalls from birds and livestock now, which was unimaginable a couple of months ago! Dogs and people still a massive issue, but I am starting to get glimpses of the amazing dog she can be, and I am sure you will too.

I thought I was prepared for getting a puppy and it has been unimaginably more difficult than I ever thought!

Good luck. Xx

 

I don't believe we're even going through this the reason I joined this forum is to give advice after years of working and training Labradors it is not nonsense at all I personally judge a dog as we bond every dogs different so are the training methods used but the e

 

End results the same a loyal hard working-obedient best friend

 

I'm rubbish at writing the English language even though I'm English I can only apologise if it sometimes comes across wrong .I train dogs I don't write books even though I've been asked many times to do so now you know why .

 

OK, so explain to me, then, how does a dog determine what part of his training session the treat is for. All handlers and dogs make mistakes during the learning process - how do you mark that the treat - delivered ten minutes later - was for the good behaviour and not the mistakes? What do you do during the training session to reinforce good behaviours and eliminate bad ones?

 

Hey guys, no bickering!!

I went to my puppy class today. This was the trainer that told me to rattle coins in a tin to stop her being naughty. I asked her what to do when she jumps up and mouths as she was doing it to her at that exact moment. She shouted at puppy NOOO and pushed her down, she mouthed again, so she shouted NOOO again and pushed her down. Puppy did stop and flipped over submissive. Um, what do you guys think about this technique??!!

 

I personally don't like this technique, sounds as if she scared your little one....much prefer the stand on the lead method and then reward for not jumping up...but that's me. I know my sisters husband does this with their dog and I have to bite my tongue every time I see him do it, I find it upsetting to watch.

 

I think it's terrible!

For a start it's doesn't work until the puppy is scared.

The best thing for jumping up in my opinion is teaching an incompatible behaviour like go to your mat or sit. Also work on keeping your dog under threshold so she's not as amped up.

I'd be looking for a different trainer if I was you. Rattle bottles and shouting at puppies is really not the way forward.

 

The rattle bottles, pushing a puppy down and also the use of Hard aggressive language are all forms of punishment for your puppy.
And there is good evidence that punishment and negative reinforcements do not work as effectively as positive reinforcement.
Your puppy is likely to be scared and react in the exact opposite way that you want.
Please consider what Barbara says and look for a more positive trainer

 

@vicvegas
Have a look at this article - will explain it much more eloquently than I ever could......
http://www.thelabradorsite.com/dog-discipline/

 

Yes I don't think puppy enjoyed the class much! She also makes you push the dogs bottom down to sit and pulls neck down on the lead to go down. I never did this before in my old puppy class. She sits fine normally when I raise my hand and say sit. Also does down when I point to the floor and say down. But she won't do it at the class so the trainer keeps coming over and pushing her bottom down. Puppy is getting confused me thinks! Struggling to find a different class in my area. Might as well just look at you tube!

 

One big issue with pushing your dog around (other than the obvious physicality of it) is that a dog will naturally push against any pressure you apply, so by pressing on his, you're actually training him to use his muscles to do the exact opposite of what you're after. Press on the bum - puppy pushes up with his bum. Pull down on the neck, puppy pulls up at the front. Yes, we're stronger than a puppy, so we can push harder than they can resist, but this isn't training, it's manhandling!

 

You would definitely be better off on YouTube try kikopup for starters if you haven't seen her stuff already.

@snowbunny is right dogs naturally push back when pushed unlike horses who move away when pushed. It's built in to them.

I think if you train some of the basics like sit, stay etc away from class using positive methods you'll find you're able to rejoin a class somewhere with confidence in your methods and what you've trained so far.

Best of luck, we'll always try and help too of course