Is a submissive dog easier to train?

[elsielouise]

The lab thread has me decided.

We are looking for another 'big dog" to go with our two JRT and the decision is now down only to colour preference of lab.

We want a pup in the new year and it's primary purpose is family pet in a house with small child and the terriers. I may want to obedience compete later.

So my research starts to find the line and type most suited to us. I prefer a bitch and think I find I prefer the more submissive type based on the two we've had.

There lies the question really- is it submission I'm looking for or something else?

One of my Jacks is, and she is lovely and was very very eager to please. She hates getting things wrong and seems to sometimes try and take the blame if her son is in trouble even. She was so easy to train and her recall is superb for any dog never mind a Jack.

But I don't want a fearful dog and she isn't tht either. Hmmmm not sure what to ask a breeder as really Im wanting a lab with my JRT eagerness to please and train ability.

Does this make sense? Do you think it's the submissive part of her makes her easy?

Not bought a pedigree pup before. Very keen to make right choice so goes without saying all common sense health etc checks will be made.

Oh and feel free to pm me if you know a good breeder in the south east.

 

[CorvusCorax]

TBH submissive dogs are not my cup of tea...when they are pups it can be hard to distinguish between submission/shyness/bad nerves and when you know the answer it is too late.

I would also steer clear of breeders who breed from submissive (when I say this I mean a dog who throws itself on the ground and rolls over, wees in excitement, is contantly 'fawning') stock on purpose.

I'd use the term calm, or stable, or docile, as opposed to submissive.

JMO though.

 

[echodomino]

I have a submissive JRT and although she's very easy to train/eager to please, to be honest she gets on my wick! lol. It makes her extra clingy and the slightest thing wrong, either her doing or mine, or the wrong tone in my voice and she goes to pieces.

I would also steer clear of breeders who breed from submissive (when I say this I mean a dog who throws itself on the ground and rolls over, wees in excitement, is contantly 'fawning') stock on purpose. .

Oops lol, I bred from Mouse and ^ is exactly how she is however she has many good qualities too. Luckily Dora is too much of a fruit loop to have inherited anything more than pushing for cuddles

 

[piebaldsparkle]

I prefer a confident dog to a submissive one.

 

[millimoo]

My lab is submissive, but not the grovelling, widdling type. She give everything up with other dogs ... Balls, food, anything.
Shes very sociable with people though. She is not the puppy I picked. I had chosen one of the other bitches, and when I collected her, Molly was all over me, whereas my chosen one wasnt interested (it was a friends litter so flexible) so I took her home instead.
She is great as plays happily with other dogs, and will play with the over dominant ones who can start fights as shes no threat.
She's a rubbish gaurd dog, but will bark a little if theres a knock on the door.
She's also very obedient with little effort and training from me.... She wants to please, and I am top dog.
She is genuinely no bother, however I'm a believer in putting very thorough foundations on for the first 4-6 months. I really played it by the book in terms of socialisation and interaction, and I think her temperament and nurture equal a very well rounded dog - I adore her
Her mum has a fab temperament too, and my friend always wanted me to have one out of her, rather than her Auntie who was more wick and sharp.
Her neighbour has a littermate, and more dominant bitch, and shes having no end of trouble with her attacking other dogs - this is nurture as well as nature.
My bitch has a strong Stormley parentage on her mothers side, and Rocheby, and Oakhouse on her dads.
My friends have just bought a pup, and whilst I was helping them research 'Lindalls' were recommended by a few.

 

[CorvusCorax]

My worry with submissive dogs and training is if for some reason you have to use a correction or you make a mistake, it can set them back perhaps more than the type of dog that 'puts it up to you'.

I know I complain about my young dog but I have had made quite a few booboos in training and have had to go back and start again and he is a confident, bolshy type and has coped with all my mistakes quite well and been able to carry on without it setting him back too much.

Depends on the type of trainer you are and the type of dog you have I suppose.

 

[PucciNPoni]

I find it more difficult to groom submissive dogs than confident ones. The quality of a groom highly depends on how well a dog is trained in many respects - it must co-operate. A submissive one just wants to go foetal the whole time which isn't condusive to grooming and itsn't particularly useful for training purposes in general.

 

[elsielouise]

My lab is submissive, but not the grovelling, widdling type. She give everything up with other dogs ... Balls, food, anything.
Shes very sociable with people though. She is not the puppy I picked. I had chosen one of the other bitches, and when I collected her, Molly was all over me, whereas my chosen one wasnt interested (it was a friends litter so flexible) so I took her home instead.
She is great as plays happily with other dogs, and will play with the over dominant ones who can start fights as shes no threat.
She's a rubbish gaurd dog, but will bark a little if theres a knock on the door.
She's also very obedient with little effort and training from me.... She wants to please, and I am top dog.
She is genuinely no bother, however I'm a believer in putting very thorough foundations on for the first 4-6 months. I really played it by the book in terms of socialisation and interaction, and I think her temperament and nurture equal a very well rounded dog - I adore her
Her mum has a fab temperament too, and my friend always wanted me to have one out of her, rather than her Auntie who was more wick and sharp.

Her neighbour has a littermate, and more dominant bitch, and shes having no end of trouble with her attacking other dogs - this is nurture as well as nature.
My bitch has a strong Stormley parentage on her mothers side, and Rocheby, and Oakhouse on her dads.
My friends have just bought a pup, and whilst I was helping them research 'Lindalls' were recommended by a few.

Thank you

This is really useful. I agree, its about basic training foundations too and I worked really hard with both my Jacks in the early months to establish this. The lines you mention are useful too. A Lab version of my JRT is what I'd love and I wasnt sure its possible but your bitch sounds like the kind I am after. My Jack is very confident and also keen to please so I dont think its an either/or situation and the nurture is very important. Am not too worried about that as geneally all my dogs are started the same way.

I know its impossible to tell quite what you are getting at 8 weeks but I want to get my name on the right waiting list for next year so anyone else with line suggestions for this type warmly welcomed.

Just don't find me one ready to come home just yet..... Husband will go potty if I add another this side of Christmas