He's not exactly "bad" per se...

[carolinagirl58]

Quote:
I like that hint about pepper to stop digging! Great idea!

 

[Lothiriel]

We've put powdered cayenne pepper on spots he likes to chew, and it's worked so far.

 

[punk-a-doodle]

He needs to be on a leash outside 100% of the time until he truly understands what a come command is. Calling him, and having him ignore you, only teaches him that being called means nothing.

x2 One method of improving recall involves a loooong leash, so the dog learns your command to come can *not* be ignored at any time/any distance.

I personally find a mix of reinforcing good behavior, and redirecting or punishing bad behavior has worked best for a wider range of dogs. That tends to be the mix that lab rats respond best too as well for learning, rather than all punishment or all reward. Lab studies have also shown that after initial training, not offering a reward each time the behavior is offered actually increases the rate of following. They found that out while doing studies on gambeling, which makes sense if you think of how slot machines work.

 

[sourland]

Enter the pup and yourself in an obedience training class. I t will be an excellent learning experience for both of you as well as a bonding mechanism.

 

[chickbea]

You are right, herding dogs will herd, but there is more to it than that. They are also known for their "independent nature" (ie: not listening). This is due to the fact that a lot of herding dogs work on their own much of the day and in that situation it is beneficial to have a dog that has the confidence to make its own decisions.
Having said that, you also need to work together, and you need to be the boss. Only training and hard work can get you to that point. Basic obedience can certainly be helpful, and depending on the area you live in, you may be able to find someone who works herding dogs who can give you some advice.

 

[xchairity_casex]

Quote:
dogs like collies,cattle dogs,and shepards were not to be left alone to do the work they are some of the best listeners dogs like great pyrense and rottweilers however were left alone to guard the animals so they are more independant.

 

[dainerra]

Yeah, herding dogs basically NEVER work alone. Focus on the handler is one of the foundations of herding.

How much exercise is he getting? How much training? You have to tire out his mind AND body. 5-10 minutes of obedience a couple times a day with a long (30 min to hour) session once a week. Not boring or repetitive, make it fun and interesting. Make him work for his dinner, either by using kibble to make a trail through the yard to his bowl or maybe get an interactive puzzle and put his food in that.

And exercise exercise exercise!

 

[Lothiriel]

We finally found a trainer and she's coming out this weekend -- either Thursday or Friday. Yay! I'll let you guys know how things go with that. I'm not sure if this trainer is just training or includes obedience. If not, we might look around for a class as well.

As far as exercise, we try to get in about 2 half mile walks a day. The past 5 days have been incredibly busy and tiring so I'm not sure if he got enough... We're learning right along with him. He is different from the other puppies we've had, so it's a bit of a challenge for us.

 

[dainerra]

on leash walk? or off leash run? Honestly, a walk is just warm-up for an active breed dog, just a chance to work out the kinks before the REAL exercise starts. At your pup's age, my boy was doing at least 45 mins of running twice a day, then his walk of 3/4 mile, then short obedience several times a day. And that was on the weekdays! Weekends is when we really pulled out the stops - 3-4 hour off-leash hikes or trips to town for him to take in all the new sights and smells. Now, that much exercise is barely enough to keep him contained. Then he has obedience class. And conformation class. And "meet the public" demos with our kennel club. etc etc

Does he like to play fetch? Does he like balls? Get 2 throwing toys or balls. Chuck-its are awesome for this. Throw the first one. When he brings it back, immediately throw the second. You don't want to over-do the running with a young pup, but you can get him tired pretty quick. Also, please don't forget the mental stimulation. Aussies are VERY intelligent as are all the herding breeds. If you don't give him a job, then he will find one. And his idea of fun is probably pretty different than yours. If Singe doesn't get his brain wore out, he likes to take all the shoes in the house and hide them in weird places - in cabinets, in the laundry, stacked on the basement shelves....

Teach him to pick up his toys. Work on "nothing in life is free". Play hide and seek with him and the family. You can even teach him to find people by name. Teach him the names of his toys and then have him go get it for you.

As I said, at 4 months old he isn't even hitting puberty yet. In a couple months, he is going to forget everything he knows and become a teenager. No coincidence that 6-10 months old is the age that most dogs go to the pound. You want to have a good solid foundation before then.

As for teaching come, don't EVER call him if you don't have the means to insure that he will come to you. Even one time lets him know "oh I don't have to unless I feel like it" Start with him like you would an 8week old puppy. Always on leash. Get a long line and keep it on him all the time. Have him wear a 6ft lead in the house (supervised of course!) that way you can grab him at all times. Get the whole family outside and work on "come" If he knows the basics of the command, then have everyone get in a circle about 15 feet apart. Tie a small weight on the long line so that you can toss it from person to person. Throw it randomly around the circle and whoever has it calls the dog. Use the line to reel him in if he doesn't come instantly. Get down on one knee and use your happy voice, encourage him the entire way. Most importantly, NEVER call a dog and then punish him. If you need to correct him, always go and get him.

Personally, most dogs do better in a class than one-on-one training. They provide distractions, a chance to socialize, and more different techniques to see. Another student might teach a command in a different way that would work for you. Plus, classes are a LOT cheaper.

 

[Animalian]

There are a lot of "favourite things" a dog will do that you can't stop but can guide how or where the behavior happens.

For example, you don't stop your dog peeing, you guide them into doing it outside. If your dog loves to dig, teach him to dig in a designated place (eg sandpit) rather than to not dig. If they love to chew, give them something they are allowed and get praised for chewing, rather then trying to teach them not to chew anything at all.

I'd take him somewhere to be taught how to herd properly. He obviously loves it so being allowed to herd can be his praise, but he can only herd when he listens to YOUR instructions on how to. It will help deepen your connection and improve his obedience.