Me again and another question!

stez1234

stez1234

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Hiya,

Well me and Holly have started training classes!! She is and has been a total star when she is on the lead and out of the house. She will sit, lie, walk to heel and ignore other dogs.

The problem is when we are at home all this goes out the window. She wont sit, she ignores and rewards and will not understand the word no. No matter how much repetition we do nothing is sinking in.

So my question is do you think we would benefit from some 1-2-1 training in the house from a trainer?

If you do do you know of anyone in the Midlands, Warwickshire who offers these sort of services?

Thank you all for your help and advise so far!

A xxxx
 
Is it you with the rehomed young Staff cross?

It has sunk in if she will do it at class- she probably just has little respect for you in the house where she feels safe, Dex was exactly the same, but his resulted in humping/arm grabbing- ESPECIALLY if you told him no (gobshite! :)). It does get better promise, and there are far worse things than ignoring you!!

Whatever you ask her to do she HAS to do it no matter if it takes 10 mins to get her there- if you give up she has won, and therefore does not see the need to do what you say.

Higher reward treats- (those fridge raider things- are amazing- thanks to Spudlet for that tip), so she really wants what it is you have.

We were also advised not to pander to him to much- in that its not all about him getting attention, it was always to be on our terms. Keep all toys in a box so that again they are ours and we choose when he gets them. Plus the eating after us (widely poo pooed on here- cant say it made a difference with us either). Keeping them off all furniture- for the time being.

We haven't used anyone in the house, but wouldn't rule it out!!
 
Dogs done generalize.

They may know it in the kitchen but it needs to be re taught out in the garden.

Up the motivation, treats, toys, sniffing whatever works.
 
She probably has learned that the house is for chilling in, you probably are not as firm/precise in the house also and you are not being watched by a trainer, keeping you right.
Sit means sit means sit, wherever you are. If she is disobeying/not listening, and you give up, even asking for one last sit, then you have taught her to ignore you in the house.
Also, make sure she is hungry, if she is full she'll hardly work for food.
Make sure you are not boring her - you say 'repetition' - keep everything to short five or ten minutes bursts and ALWAYS end with a completed command and a reward, just don't let her dander off when she feels like it.
Ease off on the no, no, no, no, you will deaden her to the word.
 
Thank you for the replies.

I only keep it to short bursts of training and always end on a good note which is normally a sit!

I have to say I am struggling with her in the home environment and I have probably not helped. It seems to be a constant battle of wills. Earlier we were attempting to plat fetch and she will fetch the toy and bring it back and touch it into your hand but will not let go of it. We were stood outside for an hour and a half with me holding one end and her on the other.....

That was probably not the right thing to do.

She has also taken to jumping on the kitchen table when I shut her in the kitchen with the stair gate.

Thanks
A xxx
 
Don't hold on to the toy.

You need to trade. I wouldn't give a toy up for nothing.
You need to start playing the trade it up game.

As for the table i would invest in a crate.
 
You're right, that sounds like a big stress fest.
I know people competing to world level with their dogs who would never dream of doing any activity for an hour and a half solid.
That's not playing fetch, that's a tug of war/stalemate/an ordeal. She's part bred to hang onto things, you'll never win that game.

Have you ever tried exchanging a toy for food?

Also, sounds like she has great play/ball drive, use it.

Get two of everything. When she is on the recall with the 'dead' toy, have the 'live' one in your hand, keep it moving, keep it interesting, throw it about a bit. She'll drop the 'dead' one. Repeat ad nauseum. Reward her for bringing back one toy, by giving her another one. Give her an incentive to let the first one go - you're just taking it off her, what's in it for her, of course she won't give it back :)

She sounds like a clever girl, again, use it!
 
Thank you guys much. Some wonderful advice and a bot of hope that things might get a bit less stressful.
I will be trying the 2 ball approach shortly!! I have tried to swap the ball for treats and she won't even swap it for cheese or chicken!!! I think the 2 toy approach has the best hope of working!

Thank you again for the advise. I am sure I will be back with more questions!

A xxxxx
 
Get a nice light bodywarmer with loads of pockets and have a ball on a rope in a couple of them, don't have them in full view all the time, tease her with them whenever you want certain behaviours, make yourself the BALLIE lady, and, er, mind your hands :p :D
 
Lol!! Have already got a few nicks from where she has caught me when being over excited when I actually manage to get to the ball before her!!
 
Categorically will not win the tug game. We were also told never to engage in that type of play with himself.

As CC says she brings you the ball, you say drop- she gets another ball/treat.

Dex still, 4 months on will not give up the ball without getting something in return.
 
Ah, been there, done that :o
You can also shove the ball in your left armpit for some snappy heelwork, when she's done a good few paces looking up, calmly just relax your arm and drop the ball to her.
Just be careful with your boobies if she is as smart as she sounds :o and do expect her to try and get two balls in her gob at the same time *sigh*
 
lexiedhb said:
Categorically will not win the tug game. We were also told never to engage in that type of play with himself.

As CC says she brings you the ball, you say drop- she gets another ball/treat.

Dex still, 4 months on will not give up the ball without getting something in return.
Click to expand...

You need to build him a flirt poll!

Also really suggest you get the book "mine"
 
Jane Donaldson wouldn't be the biggest fan of choke chains in the world but apart from that I found it a terrific read, scales falling from my eyes type of thing, and the chapter about the Gorns made me a bit weepy!!
 
Well the two ball fetch game is a success!! We played for ages this morning and she looked so happy to think she had to balls!! She would even drop the ball when I asked!!

Thank you so much for the idea!!
 
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