Hello everyone, I was hoping for a few opinions/suggestions on what to train next and also how to introduce distractions or enhance what we have done already So far we have trained Sit - very good Sit and stay - how long do you ask the pup to stay for? Dexter can stay for 20ish seconds, also when I leave the room/turn my back on him etc Lie down/lie down &stay - really good Fetch and drop - better at home than on a walk but coming along nicely Drop - only when he can see treats Look at me - can ignore distractions at a distance on lead Come - very good if not distracted Settle - we need to try this with distractions but worried about too much at once In your bed - only works if I'm standing next to it and pointing Leave - pretty good Loose lead walking is awesome unless we are on a walk with other people then he wants to walk with everyone at the same time I think that's almost everything we have gone over so far
You could try under. Luring him to crawl under something (like a dining chair). Up. Yep I know you spend most of the time telling him to get down. Useful when you do want them to get up on something. Have you tried putting a treat in your closed fist under his nose ( he will be excitedly) and slowly opening your fingers. Closing the fist if he tries to grab at or paw the fist. Eventually you will reach the point when the treat is on your open palm and he doesn't take it until told to do so. Sounds a bit pointless but it does teach them self control. "Weave". The dog weaves it's way in a figure of eight in and out of your legs (you lure them with a treat). Molly enjoyed it when she was a pup but isn't keen now probably because she is a big dog and I am rather short.
I wouldn't be introducing any new training ideas but focussing on having a really strong response against the current; for instance with the stay gradually increase the time in the stay, a few seconds at a time. I know that at Grade 2 of the Gun Dog Club there is a scheme of stays to practice the first of which is 2 minutes 30 seconds at 5 yards , then 10 yards and then 20 yards until you reach 4 minutes at 30 yards. Leave and drop are both great training and so useful when you are not only at home but out on walks and to work on Dexter leaving and dropping without receiving a treat all the time in exchange. I also work at not saying anything to Juno at times and wait for her to offer me the behaviour I want, sitting at the door for instance before it is opened, and also again sitting once we've gone through the door allowing me to lock it when we're going out without worrying about what's doing, sitting in her bed when I'm preparing her food. You've already identified the need for adding distractions but can't really help you much there apart from they see something and the close they get the less interesting it becomes - Juno doesn't bat an eye at cyclists going past us on our walks - if she's having a smell around the grass she doesn't even always notice them, which is mainly due to the sheer numbers of cyclists we have seen since she was little. I'm sure others will be along to offer suggestions, particularly on distraction
It's really common for people to ask "what should I train"? The best answer, I think, is "train what you want your dog to do". I don't mean that to sound flippant, but it's really important to work out where you are going. So imagine your fully trained dog, and imagine what that would look like. What is it that you want your dog to do? For example, some people spend ages training a down stay and then only ever use that to train a down stay....without thinking about whether they need or will ever use it. If you might be interested in a sport, then look at what that sport requires, and try to break it down so you understand what you'll be asking your dog to do. One of the best ways to do this is to visit places where you see trained dogs in action, and it'll give you a better idea of what you should be aiming for.
I like a good 5 minute down stay - I get them to wait while I unload and re-load the dishwasher. Also when I'm putting my shoes and coat on
That's fine. You've worked out why you want a 5 minute down stay.....and use it once you've put all that effort in to train it. I just proofed "go to mat" and I don't care if he stands, sits or lies down....but I still worked out what I wanted and why.
I would work on your recall with more and more distractions, and moving forwards I would start working on a stop whistle. Those two things, combined with good heel walking, both on and off lead, are the most important things you can train, in my opinion.
ARe you in a group training class? A class will guide you as to how to introduce new things, when, and the other dogs and people are a great distraction. It's hard to go from your own house to the great big wide world of a walk, a class with other dogs under control is a great intermediate step to that. Your list is pretty impressive though. Dexter is, what? 5 months old now? Pretty good going I think.
I agree with Julie. Think about what will actually be useful for what you want to do together. Your list is pretty long for such a young dog and I'd work on the 3Ds duration, distance and distraction for what you've got going at the moment. Most of all keep it fun for both of you
I also agree with Julie when she says to train what's important or useful for you. For example: we are currently training Ella to settle (sit/drop/stand doesn't matter) at the rear of the car when we reach a destination. So we stop, get her out of the car and clip a lead to the towbar and reward her for settling and not pulling on the lead. We are increasing the time and distance that we move from her (e.g. we might go back and close the back or front car door). This might be a completely useless thing for you to train but for us, as we're expecting a baby in January, it is very important that Ella will settle while we sort out getting the pram and baby out of the car and ready to go. Maybe have a think about things that you have always done in day to day life that have become a little more tricky now that you have a puppy and see if there are things that you can train to make them easier. ☺☺
