Dog School

F

frankie7

Well-Known Member
Joined
14 March 2007
Messages
357
Visit site
Chimo (British Inuit) is now 9 months old. she has done her Bronze Good Citizen award and has nearly finished her basic obedience award.

She goes twice a week to school both obedience classes but she is rather frustrating as a lot of the time she does not listen and just wants to play, although she knows what she has to do and is capable of doing it when she wants to! Perhaps i am expecting a bit much due to her age, but did not know whether to call it a day with classes. How many people carry on with school other than for puppy classes? (which were great and she was a real star!) Do you feel they benefit you and the dog or would just spending time together, going for a nice walk be a better use of time?

Thanks
 
Not sure when that breed matures, but she sounds very much still a baby. Give the training classes a break for six months, and just enjoy her company on walks. Dont forget to do a little bit of training every day, even out on walks. You will know when she grows up a bit more, then you can join classes again and push her a little bit more. If you try to push her too much before she is ready, you will get problems. Just relax, take a break and enjoy the summer.
 
My collie loved going to school but my German Shepherd hated it. Ater having successfully competed with my collie I wanted to compete at obedience with something other than a collie but it was not meant to be. He does not like obedience as such but he is a very obedient dog in everyday life. I discovered tracking and nose work with him which he adores and will do it all day. I also enjoy watching him doing what he does naturally.

From this I learnt that the school environment does not suit all dogs.

You dog is still very young and maybe you should try just one class a week and see how you get on. Spend that rest of the time just being with your dog and going on relaxing walks together.

Also, have you posted any pics of your dog yet? I think Inuits are gorgous
smile.gif
 
We did puppy classes with our JRT puppy but then stopped and continued basic training at home. She was hard work because all she wanted to do was play! When the trainer was trying to explain what we were going to do she just yapped continuously, so i know how frustrating it can be, especially when all the other dogs are being angels!!

She is not as bad now, probably because she has grown up alot and it is easier to hold her attention than it used to be. She will still sometimes pick and choose what she wants to do and when she wants to do it, so we have a magic word we use - NOW.

I would say if it is what you want to do and she seems to enjoy it, eventhough her attention may wander, then i would say keep it up. Perhaps cut it down to once a week or like has been said before take a bit of a break, use the training you have and just enjoy time with her out on walks, then try again once she matures a bit.
 
I think i keep forgetting how young she is as she is massive! she is just over 5 stone and i think a bit big for the breed, there is no fat on her at all, she is quite leggy and looks dainty but is so strong!

here are a few pics of her

CIMG1223.jpg


humm.jpg
 
i think she is beautiful too! they are wolf look alike dogs, and bread to be a non guarding which is certaily true, she very rarely barks, even when someone comes to the door and will let anyone in, would no doubt help any burglers!
 
Lovely dog!

I had similar issues with my spaniel. I've been taking her to training classes once a week since she was 3 months old (she's now 16 months), and she went through a phase of paying no attention to me whatsoever. One of the best tips I had was to do away with her food bowl, and to make her earn her food rather than just being given it. She still gets fed the same food and still has meal times, but she has to do something to earn each bit of food (eg sit, stay). It helps to reinforce you as pack leader, and should help with her attention. It's worked really well with my dog.
 
Yeah she is my first dog, my o/h has had them before (not inuits, a spaniel and a rottie cross).

she is asleep in the middle of the hall at the moment, making a good rug and everyone has to keep stepping over her....
 
I tried when Andy was young but getting him to focus when other dogs were around was a nightmare, esp as he had already been trained by myself and was bored by it all
smile.gif
 
I've been taking mine for a few years now. The both love going, they get soo excited on Mondays!! Millie is in the advanced class and has her kennel club gold and Gizmo, my JAck Russel is the the middle class and has his silver. We still go because we all really enjoy it and there are a lot at the advanced class that have been going longer than me so its nice to meet up with them all.

She will grow out of the wanting to play, your right she is still very young. She'll get there!! Oh and she's georgeous!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top