Dog training book?

[etpm]

Hi All,
My son recently married for the first time. His new wife is also on her first marriage and she came with a couple teenage kids, a boy and a girl. The boy is 13 and just got a dog from his dad. The dog looks like an australian shepherd mix, but I don't really know. I'm not a dog person. The dog is about 9 months old and is not well behaved. This, of course, is not the dog's fault, but the dog does need to be trained. When I come by to visit it jumps right up into my face, knocking whatever I have out of my hands. It does this to everybody as near as I can tell, I'm not special. It does this even when restrained by a leash connected to a harness. I can get the dog to sit by pushing down on its rear and telling it to sit but it takes a few minutes. Really. Like 3 minutes. Then I give the dog lots of praise for sitting. But it is not my dog and I don't want to train it. I also don't want to see it tied up all the time. So I'm thinking I could buy my new instant grandson a dog training book and we could maybe spend some time together training the dog. So any good dog training book recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Like I said I'm not a dog person but I don't hate them, I just don't want one. But I am willing to help train one. In my opinion if the boy trains his dog to behave well it could build a durable bond of love between him and the dog and this would serve them both well, especially since the boy is shy. If I can help them it might also help me develop a bond with the boy. I would really like this. My wife and I have new grandkids, our first, and we really want to be able to have a good relationship with them.
Thanks,
Eric

 

[Torvy]

In that situation, a book is OK, but I would recommend finding a local dog trainer that has classes with the boy and the dog. Some offer those in groups, others will do private lessons. This will better help both dog and boy learn more quickly with less frustration.

As for the jumping...I personally found that bending your knee out and up into the dog chest (just meet it, don't try to hurt it) and firmly saying No will work. I personally like to train with treats, but others will say to avoid that. Praise definitely works, but tends to take more time. I usually start with treats and praise and eventually, praise is enough. Most dogs want to be trained. Lots of exercise, both physical and mental is important. Good luck!

 

[David in KY]

Watch some you tube videos from The Monks of New Skete. I like their methods and results. They also have books available if you find their style agreeable.

 

[CalG]

Even a mix with an Aussi Shepard is likely smarter than your new grandson ;-) (good hearted intent)
Food is definitely NOT going to spoil any dog/ Their stomachs and mind are one.
I like clicker training, I once got a biddable Brittany to "ride" a bongo board in only three sessions using the clicker (after the reward association was well established)

Sorry I don't have any books off hand, and google search is better done by you, the user.

I'm "dog sitting" atm , a whippet that is the household pet of my eldest son while he is on family vacation. Not a bad dog, but without any character nor sense. And.. could care less about treats or even FOOD. She goes off her chow at the drop of a hat. won't eat for a day or two, all while acting quite normal. Then when she gets settled, she eats again. Like nothing was amiss (In real dog fashion! They are not meant to be full all the time)
She is good about coming when she is called, and that's all I can ask as a dog sitter. ;-)

 

[Jstpssng]

My last dog had the jumping habit. I broke her by putting putting my foot on the leash when somebody approached her, so that she couldn’t jump. Until the day she died at 14, when somebody approached her she would go up like she was jumping, but stop as if my foot was still on the leash.

Harnesses make it harder to train them. You will have a lot better luck with a collar. The important thing though is to work with the pup every day, until they know what you expect of them.

 

[ponytug]

I like the suggestion of the Monks of New Skete, and of a local dog trainer. I would also recommend searching YouTube; there are lots of good training videos there as well.

Australian shepherds are smart, adoring, high energy dogs, as are many of the mixes. I think that they will need to learn something new pretty much every day, and have a chance to work at tasks. Fun dogs, but not door stops by any stretch of the imagination.

The dog sounds like it might a great project opportunity for your son, and his stepson. Agility competitions? Sheep herding trials? Search and rescue?

All the best,

Peter

 

[Sigarms]

NO dog should be tied up.

We had a couple of wild ones that were chained 24/7. Jack and Mollie, came together. Actually Molly was ok, jack was the wild man.

First thing needed is a fence. Do they have a fence? You don’t keep a dog tied up, take it off the tie out and expect to train it.

Did the biological father ask permission to give his son a dog from the mother? If the answer is no, you have way bigger problems than the dog.

How old was the dog when it came to your sons family? Where did the dog come from and what is known about it’s past?

And you’re right, none of this is the dogs fault.

 

[scootr]

We Love dogs. Herding dogs (our favorite) are the smartest and thus easiest to train. Honestly the old step in and step on their back feet will end this simple problem. No harsh words needed. Just step on the back feet when they stand up and it will that behavior will end PDQ.
Be sure to teach a good come response with treat rewards. Also you need to teach drop it and get out and bad These basics make a dog livable.
Pet smart offers basic training courses.
Good luck.

 

[2manyrocks]

Australian shepherds can be great dogs. Someone may not have taught the dog good manners during the first 9 months, but they are intelligent and can be worked with.

 

[Rockbadchild]

I know that I do not know the boy but I don't have much faint in a 13 year old reading a book and training his dog, I would suggest you educate yourself ether by internet researched/videos (there is tones of content out there) or books then training the dog with the boy but you might have to do most of it yourself.

Remember a good dog is a tired dog so lots of exercises especially for a Australian shepherd these dogs are made to work a heard of sheep or cow all day long.
Then most of it is, repetition, consistency (in the training and in the commands), praising and patients...

I agree with Jstpssng harness are not made for trainings they are made for them to pull things or for them to be comfortable. For walking I highly recommend a head collar and a simple collar for training.

My lab she was a jumper as well, (I should try Jstpssng method but she is rarely on a leash) what I did was when she would jump on me I would push her with my hips or my thighs while she was in the air, now she still jumps but not on peoples, she still jump a bit but on the side of us, she respect our bubble... the other things is as long as the dog is crazy exited ignore it and tell your guess that as well until it calms down, don't incentivize bad behaviors.

​

 

[Rockbadchild]

If you buy a book I would recommend buying one that is oriented toward that specific breed, I have only read the book description but I would recommend this one looks like a good book to have.

The Complete Guide to Australian Shepherds​

Amazon.ca

 

[newbury]

Even a mix with an Aussi Shepard is likely smarter than your new grandson

Or equally intelligent.
I've had not so smart dogs, smart dogs, and brilliant dogs.
The really smart dogs need consistent training over a period of time. Unless you, your son, his wife and both children on on board for a strict training regime it could be difficult.
By strict I just mean if a rule is decided all must follow it. Some people like the attention of a dog jumping to greet them.
The really smart dogs are like

 

[2manyrocks]

Sometimes they want to jump because they are excited to see you. Sometimes starved for attention. At 9 months, there's still a lot of puppy behavior and it's a new situation for the dog coming from what prior situation?

 

[Jstpssng]

I have been told I’m wrong but have no tolerance for a dog jumping up. If somebody else’s dog jumps on me and the owner stands there laughing I will gently but firmly put a hand on each shoulder and push them down. As a friend explained to me back when we were in HS, if they are dressed to go to work they don’t want a dog jumping on them. A large breed dog can also knock a frail or young person down, without meaning to.

Any dog I have is raised to love people and I try to get them out in public. That requires them to have manners; also for me to understand that not everyone likes animals.

 

[scootr]

I also notice when sharing development and training with my wife that the dogs learn to behave as I like when they are with me and like she likes when they are with her. ... darn they are smart.
Agree on some key command words. Harder to train when one person says NO and the other person says why would you do that
It takes a good disciplinarian to make a great dog. Teach consistency. Give lots of treats for the smallest progress at first. GL