So just a little update on my almost 10 month old puppy and I regarding what we’re doing training wise. I have really been focusing on LAT training pretty much daily at the park by my house. There is a track that goes around the park that a bunch of dogs and people walk around. It gets pretty busy in the evenings. In the middle of that is a huge grass area with fields and such. So I been putting my pup on a long line in the middle grass area by the track. We watch people and dogs go by using LAT training. This exercise has really helped greatly with him seeing and reacting to other dogs. He doesn’t lunge as bad anymore and he doesn’t whine and bark in frustration anymore when seeing other dogs up close. It took a while, as he is almost 10 months now, but I can see the improvements from even just a month or two ago. He is now much calmer around other dogs than he was before and LAT will continue to play a role in that. On another note, we’re able to leave our puppy with free roam in living room for periods of time now. We try not to do it too long, unless he’s napping, but we leave him for a few hours here in there. For trips to do chores, etc. The chewing of anything and everything has pretty much gone away. He will steal the occasional sock from the laundry, but it makes me laugh. And he always gives it back so easily knowing I’m going to come get it lol the table surfing has passed. No more counter surfing either. We can eat on the couch in relative peace now. He’s been really great and doing such a good job with all his training lately. I got him to get me a beer from the ice chest, get my keys from my night stand and bring them to me in another room, and put his toys away in a box. He’s great with all his tricks as well. I need to continue working with him on his jumping on visitors that come to the house. He gets so excited when people enter that he will jump when they enter before calming down. Although he’s improved, he still needs work in this department. I’m waiting for the day his jumping fades like all the other stuff did. I’m working on it lol
Hi sounds like Bud is doing really well. It's nice to read of positives as it gives hope to all of us out there who are maybe struggling. Well done to you both
@Saffy/isla meant to respond to you more thoroughly but haven’t had the chance. Anyway, there are definitely still struggles with Bud. He’s a wild one when we go to the vet and his jumping and overexcitement around new people is still definitely an issue we’re still working on. And around kids he’s not very well behaved because of his jumping so I have to closely monitor him in those situations. But at least the other stuff I mentioned is ok lol
@Bud Light/Dilly Dilly curious how long you stayed the first few times in the center while the dogs and people went around. Have you made it out to walking along with them now or are you still continuing LAT? I love LAT and LAM
Yea we typically walk around the track first a couple of times. Then after going around the track I just like to practice LAT in the circle because all the dogs pass him and we get to encounter them all. But yea, he’s gotten pretty good with his heeling as well while walking around the track. Some days he pulls a bit, but he’s improved a lot in the regard.
Sounds like Bud is becoming a great dog. He must be about the same age as my pup - he'll be 10 months on 22nd May. Please would you mind telling me what LAT is or where i can find an explanation on the site? Thanks.
@Gill Smith of course! I linked the thread below. https://thelabradorforum.com/threads/look-at-that.22184/
Hi thanks for that. Bud really does sound like he's doing very well. My girl is 14 months now, she was doing so well on recall, walking without pulling, not chewing everything ect then adolescence hit and she seems to have forgotten everything! She is being kept on lead at the moment as she's to excited when other dogs are in the park, she runs over to them, won't leave them alone or be recalled to us. But this is causing problems as she's not able to run off any energy so is more hyper at home and then digging, running of with anything she is quick enough to steal. It's very exhausting and a little demoralising after her being so good. Our trainer says her manners have not gone just that she's testing us and boy do we know it!
Just got to keep at it! It’s tiring but you’re doing a great job! Like @Michael A Brooks always says, dog training isn’t linear haha it is frustrating when they have such good days and you think they’ve figured it out, and then they revert a couple training sessions later. I remember he said the lab he had that was his most loving and loyal lab was also his worst behaved through the first year. Just got to get passed that phase it seems.
Thanks for the link. I had actually read it but hadn't remembered the acronym. Will definitely give this a try. Good luck with Bud.
Thanks for the reply. Interesting that you actually go right into the center. Need a lot of patience for these dogs,lol
