Dog Training Motivation needed: 1st class was tonight!

[bonnylass79]

I found my first agility trainer through my local vet. They will know if there are any local dog trainers, especially if you only have one or two vets in town. Most agility trainers will make you take an obedience class with them before you start intro agility. It ensures that you have some kind of control before introducing obstacles. Plus many obstacles are taught by putting the dog in a sit stay, then calling over the obstacle.

I know what you mean about long hours. If I can't find a class after 7 pm, it's not going to happen. And most trainers show on the weekends, so that idea's out. Most trainers I've met try to accomodate and do offer evening classes. After all, most of their clients have to have jobs so they can afford training.

Mental exercise will tire him out faster than physical exercise. Most focus and clicker exercises can be done inside. You'll see a big difference just by working with him 15-20 minutes a night. Once he learns that good behavior means a click and a treat, you can make everything a training opportunity. It's pretty funny when they start offering behaviors in an effort to get a treat. Get one of those slinky key chains that goes around your wrist. Then you don't have to hold the clicker all the time. Just remember that if you have the clicker, then you have to have treats. Every click is a contract with your dog that he gets a treat, even if you click on accident. I was never a fan of the clicker, but I am amazed at how much faster my Aussie learns with it. It made a huge difference on some of his agility obstacles. I am a total convert. See if you can find a shaping workshop near you. Those are a lot of fun. You'd be amazed at what you can teach a dog to do.

 

[Brindlebtch]

Shoot, 'bout the only thing we offer at Leap n Bounds nowadays is evening classes. Its too hot most of the year to have daytime classes. Morning classes during the summer have to be at 6am!

 

[NellaBean]

Well, I tried keeping good ol Frankie on a leash next to me and he got overexcited, crashed into the laptop cart and spilled a glass of wine all over my brand new laptop.

Now it won't even turn on.

Argh.

 

[Brindlebtch]

He got accidently locked in his crate with my CAT one time, for 8 hours while I was at work. Everybody came out just fine. I'm sure they glared at each other all day, but no injuries.

I bet their eyeballs dried out they were in so much use!

I have a very similar dog. An AmStaff breeder died and we took an older pup off his hands because he was trying to place the dogs. She had been born during the breeder's extended stay in the hospital and at 4 months had received no training or attention because the husband was at the hospital all the time. No fault of theirs, just extremely unfortunate circumstances. She was a hyperactive, manipulative monster. Just like yours. It took us a year to calm her down. Her name is Maggie.

Always crate inside when you are gone. Easy and far more civilizing than leaving a dog outside. You want the dog in your environment and it is safer for the dog and your belongings. I had a GSD that actually ripped her way out of 2 different wire crates. I was also given this GSD, who had been kennel raised. I put her in a giant Varikennel and she couldn't get out of that. Once I convinced her that I strongly desired her to stay in a crate, she was fine with it and viewed it as her den.

Temper tantrums

You are exactly right. This is the dog displaying extremely manipulative behavior which it has learned works for it. Maggie did the same thing. She would throw a tantrum. Every time this happened I would take her by the collar and hold her firmly by it until she stopped throwing her self around. If she tried to throw herself on the ground, I just brought her back up into a (potential) sit position. I didn't say anything or get excited or upset, just stood bent over holding her collar while she flopped around tantrumizing. As soon as she stopped I said good girl and we proceeded with what we were doing at the time.

Quite honestly she will still try this, very occasionally, and she still gets the same response and stops much, much sooner.

Try feeding him from your hand only. Every particle of food he ever gets comes from your hand. You might try only feeding him when you train because he seems to learn behavior beneficial to him, try to make good behavior beneficial. Measure out his food and put it on top of the fridge or someplace he can't get it and every time he does something good or noteworthy give him a kibble.

You might PM me for other help.

 

[brownlikewoah]

exercise, exercise, exercise. Will he play fetch? Do you own a chuckit? Can you go running with him? Find an activity you can do with him, that makes him REALLY tired - THEN start training. My Aussie is the same way, and if I don't burn off that top layer of scatterbrained energy he can't focus enough to actually be trained. My general rule, is when in doubt, exercise. Tired dogs don't have enough energy to be bad dogs haha.
I would also suggest using a very high reward treat when training him, I like hotdogs or chicken.

 

[SillyChicken]

What about ralley ball?
Herding?
Carting?
Search-n-rescue?
Theres' harnesses you can get to hook up to your bike - go for a ride.
Do you have a lake or river in the area?
There's alot of other options out there.
He definatly needs a job!

And I know alot of people think they are crewl, but I am a huge fan of the prong collar. If used correctly, you can really gain alot of ground with these. The struggling on leash will stop with this collar as he will correct himself. All you have to do is stand there until he decides his "fit" isn't going to get him out of it.

I lost my couch once to a dog.... but that was my fault, I allowed him loose when he was going through that unsure stage in his life. Your's may also be unsure of his home yet.

Good luck!

 

[farmerlor]

Quote:
Okay, I'm just thinking maybe with THIS dog putting him on a harness and allowing him to run beside while you bicycle is NOT such a good idea. LOL! I have visions of him hauling you and bike through some forest or into a lake or something. He really is a beautiful dog and I surely hope you can find a way to give him some good consistent training that will benefit both of you.

 

[Brindlebtch]

She can't do any sport with him until he is under control. I agree lots and lots of exercise is a great idea. You can also make a dog very tired by exercising his mind. How 'bout an obedience class?

 

[walkswithdog]

I agree with exercise exercise exercise. The Bike attaching Springer attaches to the hind wheel and most dogs cannot pull the bike over, even some way over 100 pounders I've tried out with it. When in doubt a long leash and a car and a dog on an empty dirt road, aka road work.

I agree with all the recommendations for Chuckit's if he'll fetch, swimming if you can find it and PULLING stuff in harness. I had one hyper one when we were stuck in the city, I started small and conditioned him but soon had him pulling a cement filled tire up and down the block - in a dog over two with fully developed joints that's an option, so is cart work and log pulling.

A tired dog is a good dog, a dog that can focus. A dog that can then finally "hear" you over the SCREAMING NEEDS of it's body and mind to DO SOMETHING.

A dog's behavior IN A SHELTER is never an indicator of the behavior of the dog once it adjust to your environment. Some dogs appear fearful or shy and turn out dominant pushy greedy buggers. Shy and reserved often hide huge energy needs and screaming need to work, especially in breeds that don't kennel well like shepherds. It should be assumed that ALL shepherd mixes need sometimes insane amounts of exercise, especially if crossed to a nervous or other high energy breed.

It's rare a person has enough dog experience to tell from the behavior of a dog in the shelter, what it will be when adapted to a new environment. Very rare. Really terribly rare. Think UNICORN. And most people aren't unicorns.

 

[NellaBean]

Frankie could really benefit from an obedience class. He needs to learn to deal with distractions and would thrive on the individual attention. Now if only I could find one

He finally irritated my Jersey Giant rooster enough that he got flogged in the face today. A few times. He was all freaked out and would run about 10 feet away and be watching over his shoulder the whole time. Then put his butt up in the air and dance around.....as soon as the rooster would come at him again he would take off to get away. He eventually ended up on one side of the yard and I was on the other.....with the rooster in between. I was calling him over and he ended up creeping as close as he could get and then darting as fast as possible between the rooster and the wall. He was totally afraid of him

I live in a rural area...if I rode a bike, I would get chased by every loose dog in the neighborhood. Also, I don't own a bike (LOL). Frankie does not play fetch very well. He will often chase after a toy but not bring it back.....or will bring it back once or twice then get distracted.

I live on a hill so him running up and down should wear him out pretty good, I just need to figure out a way to get him to do it. I need a GAME to play with him. Food as a motivator is fine. If I could come up with a game for him to play, even if it just training, he would enjoy it. He really thrives on any individual attention.....he is 1 of 3 dogs, plus I have a cat and a million chickens and work full time. So he doesn't get much one on one time. He absolutely loves 'chicken time' I think more because it is him getting to go out back WITH me and getting to spend time running and playing but also me out there interacting with him.

I definitely need to start at least carrying treats when we are out back. I used to do that when I was trying to teach him to come when called. He loved to play 'throw the dog biscuit'. It's like fetch but with food. I buy the 'puppy' biscuits that are teeny tiny so I can use a bunch without it being a huge amount.

I think I can incorporate a short training session into our backyard play time....he knows how to sit and that is it. What would be the next command most easily taught? Down? Stay? It's been years since I have trained a dog...I'm rusty!