Off to the library I went. The idiots guide to dog training. That was it, one book on training. I did think it rather apt , I did feel such an idiot for believing I could train a dog. I had a biddable labrador already, I just didn't know it. Cesar whats his name was the order of the day. I could not let this dog dominate me. Ha! ha! Ha!. Jake had all humans trained to do his bidding and domination it wasn't. First step was pulling on the lead. That was the easiest, buy a halti. It did the job and he never seemed to mind it. The barking, another easy one , ignore it. In truth my stomach churned the whole time he barked as I worried about disturbing the peace. Jake barked for everything, this was how he got what he wanted. I told you owners well trained. Now the running away. No "total recall "then. We went for a walk and as long as he was A: on a lead. Or B: had a frisbee/ball to chase after he kept coming back to me. The problem I think is he read my body language whether I tried to fool him or not, he knew when playtime was over. Now I didn't even know about longlines then, so he was free as a dog with four very fast legs. I could see it , that look, the one that said " you're ready for home. Emmmmm! I. Don't. Think. So. Byyyyyy" Off he went this big shiny black streak into the distance. The recall training really consisted of me carrying some biscuits or whatever was available. I really had know idea what I was doing. As he got older I did get more reading material but it was never any good. Remember dogs want to rule the world. I took Jake to dog training classes. He loved it. He got to bark at all these other dogs. He got to sit in the front seat of the car ( strapped in to a harness of course). He was so regal sitting there and never once trying to get nearer to me. The class was held in a large high roofed hall. Cold and draughty. I was asked Jakes details and sent to the puppy training. This was an area seperated by the same orange chairs that were Jakes temporary fence in our garden. I thought I had misheard, nope we were to go to puppy part. On meeting puppy trainer I asked why I had been sent here and we agreed this was no pup. Off to big school. Find the big dog trainer and told to take a seat and watch what happens, then We could join in. Jake loved that he got to bark and bark and bark, I was there for help and so far I was exhausted and stressed and so was my poor boy. We were told to join the others. We were getting taught how to walk to heel. Lines and lines of us, all following the one in front. I still have a problem with teaching walking to heel. We went back twice more, after all Jake did enjoy the car ride , and stopped all formal training. Back to the idiots guide or whatever other idiot had written a book. I really don't remember what books I got all this next load of "please don't do any of this so called dog training, ever. The stealing. Where do I start with the stealing. You put a slice of bread on the board and lean to get the butter, go to butter the bread, it's gone. You bring a biscuit out for your coffee , gone. The children forgot to lift their plate, licked clean. Dishwasher door not shut properly, Jakes in it. I had to teach everyone and I mean everyone,do not leave anything lying around. Training consisted of cans filled with pebbles tied together and put on worktop. Put food in Jakes sight and when he goes to steal food ( that you've deliberately put out, heck it was asking for trouble) you pull the string ,cans fall, make a noise and dog gets fright and doesn't do it again. Ha! Ha!ha! Ha! He looked about as if to say what's the racket and continued eating what you had put out for him. The only thing that stopped Jake stealing food was to not leave food lying about. Ever. A major issue really was the running away. Anyone with teenagers knows they ,for the most part ,are really lovely, but they do somtimes do not listen or obey the simplest tasks, like SHUT THE GATE. We use the back door in our house, kids get home ,gate not shut, dog goes out , they don't notice , dog takes off. Small village thankfully, but this was my biggest worry , was the bin raking. There was a couple of houses that didn't empty their bins regularly. These were the first place I would look for him. I was always scared he would choke on something or get food poisoning, this was second to getting knocked down. I tried one suggestion from a book , was to wear a belt and attach Jake to it with his lead. I am not making this up. I was desperate, I think it had something to do with this dominance crap. I really, really dislike myself for believeing the garbage about dogs dominating us. I fed Jake after we were fed. You know the one where you eat in front of your dog first and then he can get fed. How cruel is that. I did it . These people were supposed to be dog trainers and like a million other fools ,I believed it. The worrying thing is I have been told to do similar things with Cupar by people we've met out and about. Jakes training continued for most of his life. In the meantime ,we as a family had fell hook line and whatever for what he became affectionately known as Jake the rake and the rake was nothing to do with his size.he was our counter cruising, bin raker and we all loved him to bits. Jake had settled into our family as if he had always been here, but things were about to change. To be continued............ I was going to give you the final installment tonight, ( it's taking me hours to type this, I'm hopeless at typing as well) but I have another couple of wee additions that were part of Jakes life , so.....
Re: Jakes training begins...... Brilliant stuff! Thanks for all the typing....and yes, keep going for us!
Re: Jakes training begins...... Oh my he really sounds like a character and a half can't wait for the next instalment
Re: Jakes training begins...... [quote author=drjs@5 link=topic=9123.msg130741#msg130741 date=1418684239] You aren't helping our Forum addiction you know! [/quote] Compulsive reading!
