Hi can someone please help. I have an almost 5 month old labrador who is great. I am trying my best to train her but only discovered the brilliant information on this site last week so I am kind of re introducing things following the steps. I feel she may be getting confused and beforehand I probably put things in place and hoped for the best winging it and am now trying to tighten things up and possibly now being inconsistent. I am struggling a bit still with her sitting or lying down when I am walking her - ie doing it in her own time and sniffing everything. Getting her to look at me for cues. Also, although she is ok off the lead as far as she will come back to me when there are not too many distractions and I have cheese - she is now running off and ignoring me to go and play with dogs who are passing by at a distance. I know it takes time and I need to be consistent and persevere but feel sometimes she is not listening and I am just wishing I could go back a month or two! I think in short - she is fly and I am not being as firm as I should be and she is testing me and winning!! But how do I get past this??
I don't have any advice as we too struggle with training our 8 month old Maxx. My hubby is at home while I work in the city so he has the time but not the patience. So weekends are the only time he gets proper training so the inconsistency shows. That said we see small successes each week so hang in there and soon you will too
Hi @CarolT consistency is your friend. It is perfectly ok to start your training from the start again but you need to be consistent with how you train and reward otherwise you and up with a confused dog who diesn't know what you want. The running off and ignoring recall is probably because your recall training hasn't been 'proofed' against the distraction of other dogs who represent fun. I would work to prevent this by using a long lead with a harness and working on recall around the extra level of distraction with great reward for coming when recalled, also by tge introduction of games/play on walks to make yourself more exciting - you have to compete with everything in the environment so you need to be fun and exciting (and provide excellent rewards) so your girl wants to be with you.
@maxxs-mum @Jojo83 - thank you for your replies - great advice which I will utilise. I have been putting the recall to use in the park and on the beach - it is going well, however today she had a bit of selective deafness when faced with two other dogs playing and running in and out of the water - the recall worked at times and not at others - that is where I need to up my game of being more exciting that they are I would take it?! Goodness - perhaps a new toy or something of surprise for her so that keeps her attention. I will keep being persistent in this area and others. Have been trying out the heel training from this site too as her lead walking is sometimes a bit sticky - so far so good. I just need to read more and practice more and keep at it. Thank you for your help.
Hi Carol - our boy Kipper is now 9 months and I completely sympathise with you. I'd echo @Jojo83 that consistency seems to be the key to everything, alongside clear commands so your girl understands what's being asked and rewards that make you the best person in the world to be around! Kipper still seems quite excited by kibble, I'm really hoping that lasts but I have been mixing in some dried duck breast chews for variety which adds a bit of rocket fuel to his responses. Definitely hang on in there as @Maxx's Mum says, and before long you'll feel the progress. What's your pup's name? Do keep posting, it's great to see how they grow!
Absolutely! You were up against a hugely exciting interaction with other dogs so you need to be more exciting, and have the very best treats etc. Also everytime you face a new scenario expect your recall to fail - it's a learning experience for you both. Gradually though your pup will return because the training has a firm foundation but it takes time and effort . Also with the loose lead walking , again expect pulling on lead etc when you are in a new environment but just revert to your training and gradually again your pup learns how to walk nicely on lead, even in a new situation
Max is now almost 4 and half months. He has been mostly well behaved but last night he lost the plot. He was running through the house like a bull in a china shop not listening to me at all, not even enticed by treats. He was chewing and jumping on furniture and chewing and pulling carpets and just would not calm down. We did walking and ball playing in the afternoon and we have a big garden where Max can roam freely - so I don't think this behaviour was because he felt claustrophobic. His leash walking this morning has also deteriorated to zero and he was not even interested in the treats I had to offer - just pulling me like a bulldozer to eat more sheep droppings. We passed a flock a sheep and he caused the sheep to run away from the shepherd - how embarrassing! He keeps on taking his leash into his mouth as if he is guiding me and has managed to chew it almost right off. I never wanted him to have a chain leash but it seems it is the only solution. Oh how I wish there was a dog trainer where we live. I feel I am not equipped to train Max properly - although he does sit when I tell him to and he has stopped chasing the broom when I sweep. I guess I would just like to know his behaviour is normal. I probably have a long road ahead!! And right now Max is sleeping like a little baby at my feet and one can hardly believe it is the same dog.
Hi Helen, everyone has to start somewhere, and a lively four month old can be quite a handful. Take it one step at a time. Many pups have a crazy half hour in the evenings, if you guide him out into the garden each time he gets a bit zoomie, he'll gradually learn that the garden is the place to race and jump about. Sometimes the day gets a bit much and pups just need to unwind for 15 minutes with a chew or a frozen kong - in a crate if necessary. Don't feel you have to entertain him all evening. . Max's reaction to the sheep sounds pretty normal. You'll need to keep Max on a leash around livestock until he is able to focus on you as he walks past at a distance. So yes, all this is very normal. And you have not failed, you've only just begun. I suggest you pick one thing to work on, perhaps teaching Max to go onto a little mat or his bed for a few seconds. Something that you can build on and feel successful at. Don't worry about distractions yet. Just teach him something basic in your kitchen or garden and make a note of your progress. We can help you with that - you'll get there!
Thank you for replying Pippa and offering to help Max and I. Max finally snapped his leash and we now have a fancy chain one. I don't think he likes biting on it and since we've been walking with the new leash Max has definitely been walking more with me than by "himself". We saw a very large flock of sheep approaching this morning and decided to leave the track and wait in a field until they were well down the road. Max was so good and did a l o n g sit next to me until I said it was ok to go.
