Hi Advice needed We've done puppy classes and today attended the next class, Tom is now nearly 6 months, it was a complete disaster T as ever was exuberant and over the top with other dogs but the whole class experience has left him stressed and me despondent and I'm unsure what to do for the best. He pulled relentlessly on his lead and barked and I struggled to have any control. He has been brilliant on walks etc. recently and have worked on loose and long lead and he has rarely pulled. The class is in a community hall which has a slippery floor which left him skating around, he barked solidly through all explanations and to top it all was sick due to stress and too many treats. The trainer was lovely but I feel like I've done a session at the gym and T bless his heart is conked out so not sure what either of us have gained. This is a six week course, tempted to try again next week and if a repeat explain to the trainer that this is not in his best interest or mine. So deflated as I thought we'd made strides forwards with being off lead, recall and generally him being a really good chap and a responsive member of our family loved by all. However have felt like I had an out of control chap on my hands within this class so not sure what to do Sorry to go on advice appreciated. Thanks in anticipation C and T xx
Re: Advice needed Hello there, chin up, this is normal (I know that won't make you feel any better right now). Our labradors are over the top at 6 months - well, most of them. They are over friendly, over excited, and over enthusiastic. This means the church hall, close together training isn't the best for them. But it does have its uses. The thing to do is reduce your expectations of what your dog can do in that environment. For a start, you don't have to stay the whole hour. You also don't have to do the exercises. You could just work on getting your dog's attention for 5 minutes, then give him a break outside. And so on. This will get your dog being used to being calm around other dogs - and that's a useful thing for the future. If you can stick at it, it does get better. But if you can do other classes outside, with more space, I think that is much preferable. Having said that, I won't train anywhere with slippery floors...that's just a no-no for me...
Re: Advice needed Thanks for the reply I agree slippery surfaces should be no go, on reflection I need to rethink this class and maybe do 15- 20 mins with other dogs then leave them to get on with it. Today was such a challenge and didn't help as I realised quite how strong Tom can be but as on the whole he is so good I've not had to deal with this. Thanks again.
Re: Advice needed My boy used to go just crazy around other dogs - really nuts. He was injured for a while, and cooped up for too long. The thought of taking him to a class was absolutely out of the question. It would have been terrible. So first, I did some 121s with a trainer who had a lot of other dogs. Then I worked around 1 other dog provided by the trainer. Then that dog off lead. Then a different dog, and another. Then 2 dogs....then I did a short class inside with 4 dogs, then a week long course outside with 4 dogs. Now, we can go to class and not be a total disgrace (just a bit of a disgrace ;D ). You can see how it goes. You gradually build it up until you can cope. That said, lots of people do the "in at the deep end" of just joining a class. But it's quite a jump and might not be right for your dog. Don't feel bad if you need to make smaller steps - you do get there, and I don't think it takes more time than slogging it out in the deep end. If the trainer is good, why not give her a call and talk it over? She should help you work out the best thing to do at the next class.
Re: Advice needed I found with both of mine that they were crazy for the first couple of classes. Then, when they realised it wasn't playtime and they were not allowed to interact with the other dogs they soon settled down and behaved like all the others I think it does them a lot of good to train around other dogs and learn to ignore them - well worth persevering. At Gypsy's classes they do a good thing. We put all our blankets in a 'sniffing corner' so that they can go for a good sniff before the class to see who is there. It really helps. (Gypsy is a Guide Dog puppy so we all have small blankets in our puppy bags for cafes, restraunts etc)
Re: Advice needed milly is 15 months and she still runs up to other dogs while off lead she does come when i call this way but when she has to be on lead she is complete nightmare she will not walk lunges at everything pulls like a horse on the end of the lead i have tried to get her better at this i have just been at the vets and she barked all the time at another dog who was growling at her they are meant to get better as they get older but i dont know when keep trying
Re: Advice needed I can understand why you feel deflated as I also went through a stage when Molly seemed fairly good out and about but uncooperative in village hall classes (not the same issues as you, but still left feeling frustrated). I think it might be a good idea to continue for a couple more weeks as now Tom knows what to expect he may settle more readily. As he sounds excited among the other dogs, could you arrive 10 minutes early, wait outside and ask other owners if he can greet their dogs as they arrive. (One of the good things about the class I attended was that it was next to a recreation ground and some of us used to let the dogs have a get-together before class.) However if after trying again you still feel the same, I wouldn't feel bad about looking for a new class. I left the class I was attending before the 13 week course was over and we now go to a gundog class, which is obviously outside, and I find it really useful. Sometimes Molly still doesn't do things correctly but I don't feel the same sense of pressure. Yes we want to end up with an obedient dog, but it's also supposed to be pleasurable. It sounds as if Tom is getting on well when you're out on walks so maybe an open-air class is what you need.
Re: Advice needed Thanks for advice have decided to talk to trainer and try again for next two weeks if too stressful will then stop and look for an alternative. Not sure church halls are best for us and agree I think an outdoor course would be better. On a positive note Tom is doing really well, loves being with other dogs, recall really improving, getting there but other dogs and distractions are our downfall. We'll keep on working at it! Thanks T and C
Re: Advice needed Sorry to be late to this thread. When I did puppy classes in a Village Hall much the same happened. And I too felt embarrassed, then I realised that all the Labs were the same, and all the other puppies looked demurely on Yes. Six month olds are strong! They are a slab of muscle and basically haven't learnt any self control or restraint. So worry not both your feelings of embarrassment and his exuberant strength are normal.
Re: Advice needed Hi, building up for the next lesson tomorrow any advice appreciated Have a Kong filled with motivating treats (not worked before) Going to take him for walk before class trying to be calm, but anxious that again we will be the naughtiest and loudest one in the class! Also any advice on stopping him sliding around a church hall floor and how we can make the whole experience not so over whelming for him. If tomorrow is a disaster I think we'll leave it. Again advice appreciated feeling nervous. C and T xx
Re: Advice needed Well....on Charlie's second puppy class, I took a large non slip mat for him. This did help a bit - in that at least for the exercises I did "at his station" he wasn't slipping around. Now, with the benefit of hindsight, I'd quit asking him to do anything whenever he was clearly too excited and mad to get to the other puppies. I'd just stand still, do nothing, and reward him when he turned to me. Perhaps try to be "interesting" to get his attention if he really didn't return his attention to me. And call any attention a success - go home happy with that. Also, be prepared to leave and give him space and quiet outside for a few minutes if it's getting impossible. And make sure you have him on a harness, not a collar. I'd also introduce a "settle" environment cue during the "talkie" bits, even if settle is the last thing he does (there is a recent thread on this today). Most of all, relax, view it as an exercise in getting your dog's attention around lots of distractions and don't worry if he doesn't "do" anything.
Re: Advice needed Agree. Just make it your goal to reward the slightest glimmer of attention or relaxation. A puppy class in a hall is like rocket fuel to a young Labrador. Low expectations and microscopic goals are the go I know how embarrassing and stressful it can be when you have the Labrador that is turning itself inside out on the end of the lead while all the people with the tiny, quiet lapdogs are having an easy time of it and are apparently looking down their noses and feeling superior. Been there, have the t-shirt, survived it If you're going with a partner do the class in shifts, where you swap the dog every 10 mins so you can have a break. Definitely agree with Julie's advice to pop outside anytime you need to - your sanity is important!
Re: Advice needed Just catching up now and you've had great advice already so I don't have too much to add,except to say that my puppy classes at 5 months old where a waste of time while I was there .....but useful in that. I really used them to teach me things to go away and practice at home,.Then at 9/10 months when we were a bit more together we went back and did a second lot to practice around other dogs .....much better second time round ....... Easier said than done but try not to get embarrassed or stressed,just come out for a break when it gets too much.I've been there exactly as Rachael says,it's horrible and you feel self conscious but you are definately not alone. Come back and tell us how you get on,good luck x
Re: Advice needed Echo what everyone else has posted, a boisterous 6 month old labrador is really, really hard work! When they get over excited it is virtually impossible to get them to focus, however learning how to settle or focus on you are valuable lessons for later. Just keep your expectations really low, and if you can hold his attention for more than a nano-second in that environment you have made more progress that we did! ;D
Re: Advice needed When my sons were misbehaving I always said to myself 'he won't still be doing it when he's 18' With Tatze I say 'she won't still be doing it when she's 2'
Re: Advice needed Oh but she will ;D ;D Maybe at 8 she won't going on my present experience with a two and a half and eight and a half year olds ;D
Re: Advice needed No,no,no Dexter is 2 tomorrow....I'm expecting an amazing through the night transformation ,don't disillusion me Stacia ! ;D
Re: Advice needed Thanks for all the useful tips and advice, went today expecting the worst so anything else was a bonus. It wasn't brilliant but a 100% better than last week. Positioned ourselves strategically in the hall, clicking and treating for all eye contact and focus, less barking still manic if a dog was within reaching distance and skating around the floor. Tom definitely seemed less stressed but that was probably as I was less uptight. Actually focussed on his Kong so when he did this we just watched what was going on. Walking on a loose lead in the car park was not going to happen so again tried to encourage him to sit and watch with clicker and treat, this was challenging! We were by no means top or middle of the class but he didn't create havoc and though boisterous I think he did get some thing from it, so we'll persevere lets see what next week brings. T and C
Re: Advice needed That's excellent, well done I'm sure you'll see a gradually improving trend over time
Re: Advice needed Thanks glad we persevered it would have been easy just to not go back, have appreciated all the feedback as it has made me think things through in a practical sense. Regard T and C x
