Need some quick training tips, pics included as bribery

Bossdog

Bossdog

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So, all is going pretty well with Barnacles so far, I have had previous experience with Cavs and he is by far the most intelligent one I have ever met, he can now sit, down, paw, wait (including for his dinner until released!) AND recall away from other dogs on walks.... the credit for all of this goes to CC (thank you!!) who advised teaching the watch me and it has worked a treat. He knows where he is and isn't allowed in the house, sleeps on his own in the kitchen with no fuss and is generally a lovely happy dog to have.

BUT.... he is proving a bit difficult in two situations, with the cats and barking at other dogs when he is on the lead.

So, the cats. It's definitley movement triggered and they are quite flightly cats although they did get on beautifully with my GSD who had a really high prey drive so I know they can do it but he is really gobby and will chase in the house. I started off by having the tortie in the living room in the evening with him on a lead and doing watch me everytime he so much as looked at her but if I was a split second too late and he started barking it is really hard to make him stop. But this was really stressing the cat out and I'm not sure I'm doing the right thing so need a really basic strategy, I know they might never get on but it would be nice to try. He did make some progress when one came down this morning without me realising, shot off back up the stairs and he stopped at the bottom because he knows he isn't allowed up there.

Also, whilst he is brilliant with other dogs on walks off the lead and has a rapidly improving recall, on lead through the village he is excessivly gobby towards other dogs. Again, if I catch him before he gets 'the look' he will watch me and gets loads of praise for doing so but if I miss that window of opportunity he is a demon possessed and it's really hard to get his attention back.... wha should I do in this situation, drag him away out of sight?

TBH, for a rescue he is pretty awesome generally and I know it's early days but just want to be consistent with him and not keep changing strategies

And I love this becuase he has a lovely heart on his forehead!
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Apologies for the essay!
 
Once they are gone they are gone- best thing you can do is be super vigilant about catching him before he kicks off, and just remove him quickly and calmly from the situation if you miss it.
 
Why isn't he allowed in the house ? Are there different types of king charles, I thought they were the little ones but he's bigger than I expected ta
 
NOISYGIRL said:
Why isn't he allowed in the house ? Are there different types of king charles, I thought they were the little ones but he's bigger than I expected ta
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he is!!! Just not everywhere LOL "he knows where he IS and isnt allowed in the house"

Also I "think" it is a kid holding the lead in 2nd pic, making dog look bigger!
 
Just keep on keeping on with the watch me stuff, it's still really early days and like has been said, catch him before he zones out and up the reward the longer he holds contact, you can practise in the house and in the garden too.

Do not drag him away from other dogs, you will just heighten the frustration.
Walk him on a half-check collar or similar so you can have control over his head area and direct him away if you need to.
 
Took our rehome spangle with a strong chase drive 2 weeks on the lead and 'watch me's' in the house before we let him off with the cats in - cats came in every night (4 of them) but had him on loose lead

All of our cats were pretty flight as had never lived with a dog - we have no probs now with the dog, the young female cats still keeps well out of the way but the others are happy to rub their heads round him and be doggy licked! Dog only wants to play but cats dont quite understand being offered a plastic christmas bear or a tennis ball :D
 
As you have correctly identified, with all training it is the timing that is key!! You are aware of this, so that is a good starter. Pre-empt all situations, prevent them occuring and reward the good behaviour. Have your dog attached to you via a body belt if needs be.

Alternatively, assuming it doesn't stress your cat too much, put the cat in a cat basket/crate in a room and work your dog around it. The cat is safe and you have more control over the situation to enforce the watch me if your dog is on a body belt/long line.

If things go wrong, remove the dog from the stimulus (cat, other dog or whatever) regain the focus, regroup and try again. This assumes that he is having adequate and positive interaction with other dogs off lead.....if you deprive him of all interaction then, yes, you will just increase his frustration. Imagine, you are a martian and these people feed you, give you shelter and generally care for you. They don't speak your language and when you see one of your own kind of course you are going to want to go and say hi. They prevent it.....you are going to go bonkers!! Same for your dog.
 
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I have exactly the same problem with my rescue dog too (had her 4 weeks) The Dogs Trust told me she was reactive on the lead but as she's only 10 mths I feel it is workable. They said for me to distract her with food but, quite frankly this does not work as she doesn't care about food when out - even though in the house she'll snaffle all she can get!

I am perservering though and am trying to teach her the "leave it" command which she can respond to so I am hoping we'll get there eventually. She also barks incessantly when she wants to get near the dog, wants a toy or wants to chase our stable cat. I am trying the "quiet" command in the house with her if she barks for a toy or anything.

I have no idea if thsi is right or not and i am hoping at my training classes they may have more tips. I have half check collar on her which helps and i know then she can not slip it (Dogs Trust had her in a harness but i think that's mad as you have less control!) I am considering putting a halti on her as well as she will stand on her hind legs if you get the lead short so leaves me with nothingmore i can do. She will bark at people 9more often men) too so I think the halti will help me get her head turned away to where I want her to be.

i amusing the "watch" command and she seems to be picking up on it but I am not convinced she'll listen when out and about - as said, once in 'the zone' it's v hard to get them to concentrate on you.

it is early days yet though, i am sure you'll get there!
 
gunnergundog said:
This assumes that he is having adequate and positive interaction with other dogs off lead.....if you deprive him of all interaction then, yes, you will just increase his frustration.
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Yes, he is allowed off lead for most of the walk (usually on a very busy, dog intense route around our local loch) and is superbly behaved with all other dogs, he plays with friendly dogs of all sizes, ignores anything that shows aggression or nevousness and will leave any dog I tell him to (I don't let him apporach other dogs on leads unless owner is happy. He walks well on the lead in the abscence of distrations but if he catches sight of any other dog at any distancewhile he has a lead on he just goes nuts and it is so hard to get his attention back, he reacts in exactly the same way if he sees a cat or squirrel, it's really strange.... could it be a previous bad experience on the lead?! I have considered my own reactions and I certainly don't feel stressed or anxious about it (just a bit embarassed when people tut!). Will perservere with catching his attention before he escalates, will be easier when the kids are back at school and i can walk him on my own.

Nice to know I'm not alone LadyT, hope all is going well with your girl too, taking the lead off for the first time is so scary but such a relief when they don't bugger off over the horizon!!!
 
On a lead he has no escape and will also feel any tension coming down the line from you.
Even the embarrassment will be felt, we do these things even if we don't realise - sing a song, hum, do something to take your mind off it, I guarantee when you see another dog you will tense up, even if you don't mean to.

Try not reeling him in when you see another dog, try directional changes, keep moving, never stop, call out to the other owner saying he is a bit grumpy and it is something you are working on etc.
 
Mine is like yours though with the other dog thing - absolutely fine when off lead. Dogs trust people essentially said it's a nervous thing as they cannot make the choice to run away when on the lead so they resort to the behaviour that has worked previously to defend themselves.

I am not 100% sure tis is what mine is doing although she is very nervous of strange people. With dogs she just seems to want to get over to them.
I try to explain to her it's rude for her to shout at other dogs and some do not like it! Lol. I am sure we will get there eventually - if you find any certain 'trick' that works though then let me know!!!
 
CaveCanem said:
On a lead he has no escape and will also feel any tension coming down the line from you.
Even the embarrassment will be felt, we do these things even if we don't realise - sing a song, hum, do something to take your mind off it, I guarantee when you see another dog you will tense up, even if you don't mean to.

Try not reeling him in when you see another dog, try directional changes, keep moving, never stop, call out to the other owner saying he is a bit grumpy and it is something you are working on etc.
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You are right there - try to make sure I am not tensing as I know they pick up on this. i find it hard though, not so much with other dogs but when approaching people as I feel I need to reel her in a bit in case she lunges - she tends to get the hackles up and barks at (some not all) people she feels threatened by. Of course, that's not acceptable as many people are scared of dogs. With dog owners round here i have asked several if she's ok to come and say "hello" to their dog and if ok I have walked her up to them, let her and the other dog have a good sniff then walk on. On the odd occasion I have walked with the other dog owner for a bit and she settles fine then.

I guess it's just a case of repitition but it is difficult to not make the problem worse my becoming too over-reactive yourself.
 
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