Help!! Feel like a useless owner

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Oldashthearab

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Bob is now 11 months and a terrier......my 1st ever terrier!!
When its just the 2 of us (i live alone) he is pretty good....occasionally a bit 'deaf' but nothing terrible, but when we with other people it all seems to go wrong!
At the stables he runs loose, comes when called and goes in stable when i ride and jumps in car when time to go BUT when owner is at yard Bob really shows off and wont come near me when time to go in stable/car....owner constantly tells me i am too soft on Bob - i call him to me regularly and give him fuss/treat, he thinks i shouldnt be doing that. So today when he wouldn't come i got cross with him...but all he did was run away with tail between his legs and i ended up catching him when he had hid, cowering, under table :-(
Now whilst i agree he prob doesnt respect me quite as much as he should i dont want a dog that is scared of me!!!
So....how much tougher should i be? Half the prob i think is that i put too much pressure on myself to have the 'perfect' dog, esp as people warned me off getting a terrier!!

Ps....well done for getting to end of this post, i did try to make it short!!
 
He's only 11 months and probably just starting to find his feet as an adult dog. It sounds like you are doing the right thing calling him back to you regularly for a fuss etc but you can't tell them off for not coming back or they have no reason to come to you and the problem will get worse. Can you maybe use a favourite squeaky toy that only comes out for training and use that to get his attention in a more exciting situation - you need to be the most interesting thing in his world :D You could also teach him a down command then just walk over and pick him up....

I would also say some training / socialisation classes would help him realise other people and dogs are nothing to get worked up over.
 
Thanks Brownmare...unfortunately......i follow all that advice already!! he goes training, has squeaky ball that i only use for walks/ training, does 'down' etc! I do think its just me, wanting to have the perfect dog and putting too much pressure on myself!
The yard owner is 'old school', his terrier is month older than Bob and got to say she is really good! But i just cant see how i get Bob to that point!!
 
Brownmare said:
Does he have some non-squeaky balls in need of removal? ;) :D
Click to expand...
Hehehe....they were removed 3 months ago!
The little angel is now curled up on my feet, good job he is so cute! Although i didnt think that yesterday when he found a dead rabbit and was hooning around with it....before he ate it!
 
Oldashthearab said:
Bob is now 11 months and a terrier......my 1st ever terrier!!
When its just the 2 of us (i live alone) he is pretty good....occasionally a bit 'deaf' but nothing terrible, but when we with other people it all seems to go wrong!
At the stables he runs loose, comes when called and goes in stable when i ride and jumps in car when time to go BUT when owner is at yard Bob really shows off and wont come near me when time to go in stable/car....owner constantly tells me i am too soft on Bob - i call him to me regularly and give him fuss/treat, he thinks i shouldnt be doing that. So today when he wouldn't come i got cross with him...but all he did was run away with tail between his legs and i ended up catching him when he had hid, cowering, under table :-(
Now whilst i agree he prob doesnt respect me quite as much as he should i dont want a dog that is scared of me!!!
So....how much tougher should i be? Half the prob i think is that i put too much pressure on myself to have the 'perfect' dog, esp as people warned me off getting a terrier!!

Ps....well done for getting to end of this post, i did try to make it short!!
Click to expand...

Don't ever punish a dog when he (eventually) comes to you, its the worst thing you can do! Has he had his balls off yet? If not, get 'em off. Practice recall regularly & if he likes foody treats, use them. Don't despair, he's at the teenager stage but with regular recall practice, lots of exaggerated praise & treats he'll come good. Just remember, 1. he's male, 2. he's a terrier & both can be easily distracted!:D
 
Thank you...guess i just needed some reassurance! And dont worry Bob never gets told off...thats why i get told im too soft on him!
And i agree....why would a dog every come back to you when he is going to get told off?!!
 
The others have given you some excellent advice. Terriers need loads of stimulation and sounds like you are doing it all correctly. When he gets a burst of unneeded energy try distracting him. ie run away in the other direction or give out a high pitched squeak, this should get his attention. You can even try laying down or jumping up and down, anything just to get him thinking that you are loads of fun and good for a game of play. ( sometimes I look like a nutter trying to get my weimaraner puppy to come to me but hey who cares if it works)
Good luck :)
 
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