Hi, I have a 4 month old working-line puppy and finding it quite overwhelming. We have just finished his weekly one hour puppy classes. He was very over-threshold during the classes because of the proximity of other dogs, and also because the trainers sometimes used high squeaky voices and wandered around giving him high value treats when we were trying to work with him. I got quite upset at puppy school - other puppies did so well and Monty just couldn't concentrate which was really stressful. One of the trainers just looked at him and said 'he's very...err...excitable isn't he' - as though there was something wrong with him. We're continuing his training every day at home (most of his food is fed as rewards), but progress is slow. My questions are: 1) How do I best follow on from this early experience - with another obedience class where he'll be with other dogs and still be over threshold, or with 121 training? We are continuing his training at home, but feel we need support. 2) do trainers usually excite puppies at classes (ie should I be looking for another puppy school or is this 'normal'?). The trainers are accredited/members of IMDT and APDT.
Hi Monty's human, I have raised a couple of puppies and three of them graduated as assistance or guide dogs. I would have them until 14-16 months old at which stage they'd enter professional training. In my experience 121 with a positive reinforcement trainer works best. Once a week, meet up, agree a training plan and go at Monty's pace. He can still be around other dogs/ distractions with you, where you decide on his threshold there and then. Every pup is individual, don't compare. You are doing great. He's only 4 months. Enjoy him and his puppy crazies. Let him explore the world and build up resilience. Training will come. And you know yourself labs take a while to grow pup. Building a bond with Monty and figuring out what he likes/ dislikes is more important than obedience at this stage. Hope this helps. Just an opinion.
I guess it depends on the training group. My over bouncy, boisterous lab went to Kennel club obedience classes for her first year. Each week there were different dogs to be distracted with. She started off worst in the class, but with patience and perseverance she passed her bronze and silver obedience awards on her 1st birthday. The silver includes a 2 minute stay whilst in a room of other dogs. She is an amazing calm dog with a super sharp recall and a easy manner with other dogs. I really believe training around distractions was the making of her.
Thanks for your response Katrin, it's really useful to hear the experience of others, especially as this is our first puppy/dog. I saw a guide dog in training in a pharmacy a few weeks ago...she was so beautifully behaved, I didn't realise that professional training didn't start until 14-16 months. There is time for Monty yet!
Thanks EDP - it's good to hear that others have boisterous labs too - everyone who lives by me seems to have had a very docile lab puppy - or perhaps they just have a selective memory! Perhaps we'll stick with the classes but mix it up with some 121 work too...perhaps more for me than for Monty!
