dog training tips and questions

[Rockbadchild]

Every once in a while there’s folKs here looking for advice for themselves and their best friend (me included). I figure instead of derailing the dog picture thread It should have its owns. Feel free to share pervious issue and what you did to fix it! or your ongoing issues behavioural or simply a hiccup with a new trick… Maybe someone encounter that issue and can shared what he/she did to resolved it or tips to go towards the right avenue to get the answer. Also feel free to share good trainer/books (for specific breeds or generic)

 

[JJT]

Start with aaaabedience 101, it's mostly about training the trainer. Consistency and patience are the keys. I used to teach dog obedience training 30 years ago.

 

[Rockbadchild]

I have one issue with my GSD female she is in your face, playful type, dominant and stubborn, very stubborn, and her and my Lab (also a female) gets right into it. The lab can’t smell the GSD and the GSD knows it, the GSD and the lab for that matter goes from 0 to 100 in a second, I never really saw it to the full extent because I get in there (mostly when it’s too late) and separate them but my wife experienced the full brawl. My wife now keep them separated pretty much all the time other then outside at the property, to be honest I was also starting to keep them apart more and more. At least inside and especially when the wife is around… we tried many things and trained the GSD a lot and we are both good trainers in our own ways but yet that fixation and preying on the lab was and still is there.

The wife is against physical punishment, I try to avoid it as much as I can and in front of her it’s challenging, let’s just say that she is against it and I understand that. I agree and willing to do anything else but I am a believer of the saying “as less as possible but as much as required” and sometime for some dog it’s required.

We extensively research it and we didn’t get much as far as alternative answer, actual mainstream “trainers” would say you just can’t have multiple female or I had to gave one away, or I keep them separated … I started to try to reason my wife and I was scared I couldn’t, I told her we will have to give one away for a while, I mentioned my brother in law he will fix her, (he also have 2 female and he had 3) she asked how? he will correct her I answer …. I started implementing a glove or a crocs to correct my GSD when she stair at the Lab, i immediately saw some improvement, the wife was not convinced then I show her these two videos, she is convinced now but she has to convinced herself to do it…

Preventing Dog FIGHTS - My German Shepherds try to fight​

 

[Rockbadchild]

Start with aaaabedience 101, it's mostly about training the trainer. Consistency and patience are the keys. I used to teach dog obedience training 30 years ago.

My favorite obedience training technique is combining it with fetch with the sit, lay and stay between throws that way you really test them while being enjoyable for them…

 

[Dftodd]

My favourite obedience training technique is combining it with fetch with the sit and stay between throws that way you really test them while being and enjoyable for them…

We enrolled our GSD into an obedience 101 course at the local pet store.

The other pup was dumb as a brick hound pup.

Our GSD used to get mad at the hound when it wouldn't listen or had trouble understanding the command

Anyway, my wife and I alternated tskimg her to the class depending on our schedules.

I ended up taking Gypsy for the finals.

One of the final tests was to hook her too a leash that would go the lengh of the store. Trainer had her on one side of the store and I had to get gypsy to come to me without getting sidetracked.


We had quite a few spectators and the recall was three times back and forth across the store.

On the last recall gypsy came tearing down the aisles to me.

Just before she got to me, I gave her the command to sit.

She immediately sat sliding the last couple feet up to me.

I then said "Give me some paw!!!!"

Which she through her paw up for a high 5

I then heard about 50 "Ahhs..... that's do cute!!!!"

 

[grsthegreat]

ive always just lucked out and had smart dogs that seemed to want to please. my current lab female just loves to learn new tricks.

when i go to the dump, theres always a pile of boxes than need to be broken down and placed in cardboard bin. after showing the dog 1 time to bring the boxes to me, she does it everytime i lower the tailgate and start loading cans.

when its time to feed, i tell her go get your dish. she races into kitchen and brings back dish.

heck, when coming indoors i tell her to wipe her feet and she will go in circles on her blanket and wipe her feet.

this dog is amazing.

than theres the neighbors dog....man, thats one thickheaded dog. friendly, but dumb. and 120# doesnt help.

 

[Runner]

How do you train a dog that doesn't respond to food? I have a dog that won't climb/descend steps (even just three steps). Offers of food/treats don't seem to have any effect.

The problem is, getting the dog to go up/down steps is critical to going in/out of the house for bathroom breaks and it is a pain to have to carry the dog in/out of the house every time. To make matters worse, the dog is extremely submissive and pees every time you pick it up.

Getting this dog to go up/down steps would solve all the world's problems.

Any ideas?

 

[bigtiller]

I had a female Maltese puppy that was being difficult during training. I then observed a 2 legged female that also was ignoring the rules. So I relinquished control of the puppy schooling to the other female.

Life became easier.

 

[drssg]

To my reading, the OP is primarily having an issue with pack hierarchy. The dog(s) don't truly believe that the people are the top dogs.

For me, the first step is to teach the dog to consistently come on command. I like to start this on a long retractable leash, so I can add a gentle tug to reinforce the verbal command. When the dog responds correctly, I give him pets, verbal praise, and treats.

The next step is more involved, and he needs to learn that he MUST come when I call. I also start this on a long leash, but I wait for him to get interested in something else. If he ignores me, I offer a sharper correction with the leash. The severity depends on the dog's personality, but it needs to be enough to make an impression.

The final step is to introduce the zap collar, so I can influence him from a distance, if he ignores me. For a dog that is intent on pursuing prey or scraping with another dog, this works like magic. You are almost instantly the most important thing in his life, no matter what else is happening.

I'll add that our dogs are not at all traumatized by this experience. When I power up the GPS/zap collars, they start bouncing around like it's Christmas morning, because they know they are going for an off-leash walk.

 

[drssg]

How do you train a dog that doesn't respond to food? I have a dog that won't climb/descend steps (even just three steps). Offers of food/treats don't seem to have any effect.

The problem is, getting the dog to go up/down steps is critical to going in/out of the house for bathroom breaks and it is a pain to have to carry the dog in/out of the house every time. To make matters worse, the dog is extremely submissive and pees every time you pick it up.

Getting this dog to go up/down steps would solve all the world's problems.

Any ideas?

Have you had the dog for very long? Peeing and refusing treats can be a response to fear. It might just need some time and patience to feel safe and at home.

It sounds like almost the opposite issue from the OP. For this dog, even a harsh word could almost be considered abusive. I'm guessing you aren't happy when the dog pees on you, and any negative response is likely exasperating the issue.

I suspect the fear needs to be resolved before the issue with the steps.

 

[JJT]

How do you train a dog that doesn't respond to food? I have a dog that won't climb/descend steps (even just three steps). Offers of food/treats don't seem to have any effect.

The problem is, getting the dog to go up/down steps is critical to going in/out of the house for bathroom breaks and it is a pain to have to carry the dog in/out of the house every time. To make matters worse, the dog is extremely submissive and pees every time you pick it up.

Getting this dog to go up/down steps would solve all the world's problems.

Any ideas?

Are the steps open, no riser? If so, time to install risers.

You'll need to find a motivator. What about her favorite toy? Make it a game and she'll be doing stairs in no time.

Will she go down the stairs on a leash? Off leash?

We had a dog that would do anything for a car ride.

Bribery works with dogs.

 

[grsthegreat]

Wish i could help, but labs and goldens are treat *hores. Will do anything for a treat. My current dog we got at 7 weeks old. Did not know what a step was. I had to kinda just sit on stairs and gently push her from one level to next while playing. Very gentle like. In a few days she was running up and down them. A few days later she jumped up onto me is my lounge chair and fell asleep on my head. It seemed like only a few days till she did a flying leap into the side by side and assumed her position…which she still retains.

 

[Rockbadchild]

How do you train a dog that doesn't respond to food? I have a dog that won't climb/descend steps (even just three steps). Offers of food/treats don't seem to have any effect.

The problem is, getting the dog to go up/down steps is critical to going in/out of the house for bathroom breaks and it is a pain to have to carry the dog in/out of the house every time. To make matters worse, the dog is extremely submissive and pees every time you pick it up.

Getting this dog to go up/down steps would solve all the world's problems.

Any ideas?

don’t feed her that morning and use that food to bribe her, maker her treat more appealing or find what gets her going, favourite toy or objects.

 

[Rockbadchild]

To my reading, the OP is primarily having an issue with pack hierarchy. The dog(s) don't truly believe that the people are the top dogs.

For me, the first step is to teach the dog to consistently come on command. I like to start this on a long retractable leash, so I can add a gentle tug to reinforce the verbal command. When the dog responds correctly, I give him pets, verbal praise, and treats.

The next step is more involved, and he needs to learn that he MUST come when I call. I also start this on a long leash, but I wait for him to get interested in something else. If he ignores me, I offer a sharper correction with the leash. The severity depends on the dog's personality, but it needs to be enough to make an impression.

The final step is to introduce the zap collar, so I can influence him from a distance, if he ignores me. For a dog that is intent on pursuing prey or scraping with another dog, this works like magic. You are almost instantly the most important thing in his life, no matter what else is happening.

I'll add that our dogs are not at all traumatized by this experience. When I power up the GPS/zap collars, they start bouncing around like it's Christmas morning, because they know they are going for an off-leash walk.

yes exactly, I haven’t gone the shock collars route yet, I had a dog one time that knew when he didn’t had it on and when he did so I am hesitant to go that route … she has a excellent recall but once that prey drive kicks in it’s a different ball game… I also have to do more work with that 30’ leash yes that’s that a good tip.

 

[Dftodd]

With just the GSD with me and or the wife we have no problem it’s once we start binging other dogs … well I mean my Lab.

Ours is not good with dogs smaller than her. She will snatch them by their throats and give them the death shake

Dogs her size, or bigger, she's fine with.

She's a one pooch household now though for the past 6 years. So we won't bring another one in the household.

She's old and set in her ways, and not used to sharing us.

 

[Dftodd]

yes exactly, I haven’t gone the shock collars route yet, I had a dog one time that knew when he didn’t had it on and when he did so I am hesitant to go that route … she has a excellent recall but once that prey drive kicks in it’s a different ball game… I also have to do more work with that 30’ leash yes that’s that a good tip.

Ours is that way with the pinch collar.

She miss manors with the pinch collar.

She's pretty decent if walked with her regular collar. The issue though is if something gets her undivided attention (Squirrel, bunny, etc..). She knows she can tug with the regular collar so you have to have enough strength to reign her in.

Son in law and I are the only ones who walk her without the pinch collar.

 

[Rockbadchild]

Ours is not good with dogs smaller than her. She will snatch them by their throats and give them the death shake

Dogs her size, or bigger, she's fine with.

She's a one pooch household now though for the past 6 years. So we won't bring another one in the household.

She's old and set in her ways, and not used to sharing us.

ouch that’s not good, mine is scared of my mom Chiwawa lol she is no viscous by any means she just has some character.

 

[Dftodd]

ouch that’s not good, mine is scared of my mom Chiwawa lol she is no viscous by any means she just has some character.

Mine isn't either. She's extremely happy to ring a little dogs neck Just walks up to it all happy, snatches it by the neck and gives it a quick shake

Neighbors across the street used to let their chihuahua's and Yorkie run loose.

So gypsy used to get attacked by them when she was a pup. So she has no patience for them now.

She did eventually get a hold of and kill their Yorkie. We were in our driveway when the ding bat let it out.

I was holding gypsies head up, but that stupid Yorkie launched right at Gypsy's face. So gypsy opened her mouth and caught it by it's head

Gypsy was on a leash and on our property. She didn't have anything to stand on. But boy did she get all butt hurt over it

 

[CalG]

"Clicker training" for food motivated dogs. REWARDS! REWARDS! move off the food as soon as possible.

Never hit your dog with your hand!

Never give a command you are not in a position to enforce.

For a no slip "stay", only release the dog with your contact. No calling "OK"! That is the three step command to failure.

 

[newkiotiguy]

Do not feed them anything but dog food and treats. No people food ever. My dogs never beg for anything we are eating because they know they won't get it.

Never let them jump on people. Hard knee to the chest over and over until they get it.

Make them understand you are the boss. If they don't, grab them by the throat, put them on their backs, and stare in their eyes until they give up. They will eventually turn away and quit fighting. A few times of that, they will get it.

Don't be a pushover. If your wife complains you are using force on the dog tell her to get over it. The dog needs to know it is on the bottom of the pack hierarchy so she may have to do it also