Maybe I've just answered my own question.........he's still a toddler (puppy) Jake has begun refusing to walk when he realizes that we are heading in the direction of home. He will sit down and refuse to move. I will lure him with some dried liver but that only lasts for about 2 minutes and he's sitting again refusing to walk. (I feel I've only taught him that he will be rewarded for his stopping) I've read to give him an extra special treat when we do get home so he associates going home with getting something great but wondering if there's any other words of advice out there. I've also tried jogging a little when he does this to stimulate him a bit......that only works sometimes. This morning we walked past a McDonalds (not our usual route) My husband frequently takes Jake through the drive thru and shares a couple of his french fries with Jake. ........As we were walking past McDonalds he sat down and refused to walk for 10 minutes! I believe he thought he needed a french fry at 6am! ...and he wasn't going to continue walking until he got it! I finally lured him with my dried liver but in my mind I just gave into him (he was being rewarded for being disobedient) Many thanks in advance for advice!
Hi Tina, no you didn't do wrong at all . Pups/dogs only recall their last action , so even if he had been a proper little monkey , if he then followed this with what you asked of him , then yes, treat this last behaviour ! Have you tried clicker training ? I didn't ever use one very many owners find them invaluable in teaching the dog to respond to a cue .
Thank you for the reassurance. I have not tried clicker training but maybe I should look into it. Sometimes I think this dog is smarter than me!
I don't have any advice but just wanted to share my sympathies with you as my lab is 11 months old as well, and it is a trying age! They are frustrating but so funny as well, proper characters...I had to laugh at Jake wanting a french fry at 6 am, he knows what he wants
I hate to say this but Ripple still has moments like this and he's 2 ! Ripple has been at a trying age ever since I got him .
My dog sat down infront of greggs the other day and barked! He was with my MIL who sent a woman into greggs to get the little terror a sausage roll! They know exactly what they're doing
You could try asking for an alternative behaviour, or several in quick succession. So if he's sitting, ask for down, then sit, then down, then spin. It might just jog his brain out of the track it's on so you can then move forward.
You can also try using more desirable treats. We actually use leftover chips (French fries, hot chips) cut up as treats Served cold of course, but they're still highly valued by the recipient!
Quinn definitely pulls this move - she knows her favourite store and park and good luck if you plan to walk by without stopping in! She is 18 months and has only gotten smarter with knowing where she does and does not want to go! The pizza place we walk by gives her more chicken than you would get on a full pizza! She's no dummy I ask for an alternate behavior (sit, heel) and treat for that to get her moving.
How is he with the game of chase? If he likes playing tag with you, change direction and start running. Sparky would even give chase and forget what he was doing. Then start heading back to your house.
thats just what my MIL is like that too the times I have to tell her no just because they want one doesn't mean they get one. She's lovely but my dogs now how to use their big brown eyes
Finn has been doing this lately with the little dog treat bowl that gets left out on a table with a bowl of water by the local real estate office. Today he planted because he wanted a treat! LOL
I darent say too much because they save my life at least twice a week with looking after him so I just have to try and figure out what he's had an adjust his food accordingly
The occasional treats don't hurt. When my mum used to look after Doug she used to give him cheese and biscuits he used to love his afternoons with my mum when we travelled up to see he, luckily we don't live too close
My 10 month old has been doing this since we got him, usually if he wants to smell something or play at the park. I turn my back to him and ignore him for 15 seconds then say"let's go"! I also will make him do a hand target to get a treat. The problem is once he starts laying down it happened several times. He also always does it in front of people!