Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 9:24 am Post subject: Can anyone give me some advice?
Hi! we have recently rehomed a 10 month old yellow lab and as gorgeous as she is she has had no training at all! she doesn't sit, stay, she doesn't understand no, she is awful on the lead, poos and wees in the house! (even after her 2 mile bedtime walk!) She is our fourth lab, but she is by far the naughtiest! (typical lab mischief!) i am really trying to be patient with her training but i feel i am getting nowhere and i am getting so frustrated with her! i would really appreciate some advice from some of you more experienced lab owners! my uncle used to train gundogs, but he died and i so wish he was here right now!! he would have here sorted by the end of the week! lol! please dont be angry with me for not knowing what to do! i feel like i am letting Honey down! she is a beautiful dog!
____________ Kirstie xx
In memory of Freddie xx the big bear!
Hi Kirstie, firstly, welcome to LF, and secondly, why would anyone be angry? You are fantastic for re-homing Honey after someone else has cast her aside, so well done you!! She's lucky to have you!! You are way more experienced than me, having 3 labs before. All I can say is that if Honey is as food orientated as Rolo, then use this to your advantage, Rolo will do anything for food. And it won't happen overnight. Repetition is the answer. And when she has learnt something, loads of praise and more treats, e.g. cheese!
Which rescue did you get her from? Did they not provide back up an support in how to overcome the first few months?
What is her background, was she puppy farm or kept outside?
In any case, you need to go back to basics and get her into a routine, when does she soil the house is it overnight or during the day? In front of you or when you are out fo the room?
As far as basic training is concerned, a dogs mentality is 'whats in it for me'? Use a positive reward based system of training, have treats to hand, in your pocket, in your bag, everywhere!
When she does something good, reward her and say good girl. When she sits on her own and you see her as hse plonks her bum down use the word sit as she does it and reward.
When she does something you don't want her to do, try using the AH firm and sharp, when she stops the behaviour, reward her and say good girl.
Are there any specific problems that need addressing such as nipping, or jumping up?
Find a really good training club in your area and go along to it, or find someone who will work on a one to one basis with you.
Remember the 3 P's
Persisitance, Postive reward and Praise
Last edited by Littlelab on Wed Nov 22, 2006 9:51 am; edited 1 time in total
____________ Natalie x
LAB LINK RESCUE Co ordinator and Forum Administrator for my sins
Jack, Molly & Maia, watched over by Tara Banana from the Bridge
Thank you Lindsay, she does love food! (She is very thin!!) so i will use it! lol got a tub full of gravy bones! and i had forgotten how much dogs love cheese so will use that too! thank you! PS Rolo is gorgeous!
____________ Kirstie xx
In memory of Freddie xx the big bear!
Be careful with the food Kirstie, she maybe underweight now, but Labs can really put it on quickly, feed her a really good quality food the right amount for her goal weight and you should be fine.
Keep back high reward treats such as cheese for the sole purpose of training, this really can help.
____________ Natalie x
LAB LINK RESCUE Co ordinator and Forum Administrator for my sins
Jack, Molly & Maia, watched over by Tara Banana from the Bridge
She sounds a little like Millie - the only method which appears to work with her (and she gets very excited by) is clicker training! Even then she will only concentrate for a few minutes so I keep training short and sweet. Nat is right about the 3 p's though - we have had to be soooo patient with her! Doesn't help as she came into season a few weeks after we adopted her and even now she is still very hormonal - which makes her very frustrating too. But what we get back rewards us a hundred times over!
HOney belonged to a lady in south kensington who is over from china to go to uni! she is now going back to China! Why she bought a dog i have no idea!!! but she said she had trained her etc, but blatently (sp) hadn't. Honey used to sleep in the lady's bed or on the sofa or in the bath! she seemed to do what she wanted, so i think there was no authority there! Honey pretty much pleased herself!
I will be careful about over feeding honey, and will definately try the clicker! i have weaned her onto James Wellbeloved Junior performance, as when she came she was on Bakers and she didn't look very healthy! Her coat was very dry and dull, so i will definately stick with the 3 p's!! thank you so much for your help, think i just needed to hear some good advice and was feeling a bit overwhelmed by her behaviour!! She is booked into the vets for a health check and i will ask for a recommendation for a good trainer!
____________ Kirstie xx
In memory of Freddie xx the big bear!
That's what LF is all about, we are all here to help and support each other.
Honey just needs structure, you can give that too her very simply, lay down the ground rules now, if you don't want her in the bed, tell her off and reward when she gets down (3 P's). Maybe invest in a crate, these are worth every penny and will give her her own sleeping place and when you go out somewhere where she sill be safe and not destructive, also can help with soiling in the house.
One other thing, at 10months old, I would be putting her on adult food, the puppy/junior stuff tends to give them too much energy, try JWB adult now.
You will find loads of info on nutrition on here, but stick with what you, your pocket and your dog is happy with.
Good luck with her, any other questions shout, although unless subscribed (worth every penny ) you can only post 10 posts.
____________ Natalie x
LAB LINK RESCUE Co ordinator and Forum Administrator for my sins
Jack, Molly & Maia, watched over by Tara Banana from the Bridge
Has she been wormed ??? you can waste a lot of food on a wormy dog
We took on one very simular to your Honey and it took about a year to sort her out but we went to puppy classes with her so that we made the effort once a week to go and it helped socialise her to as she had been shut in a shed for months
I always try to make it fun for them to learn and they will do anything to please there owners and i found the praise was even better than the food.
Good luck with her and here is to a well mannered lady in the future
Its getting worse! she isn't even house trained! i have been completely lied to by the previous owner, and feel like an idiot! and the worst thing is we are starting to regret taking her in! she is so beautiful though and it isn't here fault! she isn't house trained, she doesn't understand No, sit, stay, heel, down, she jumps up at everyone that moves, if i go upstairs or go to the toilet she shouts her head off! i am feeling so drained! i really don't know what to do! i thought i knew labs and thought i could take her on, but i have never known a labrador like her!
____________ Kirstie xx
In memory of Freddie xx the big bear!
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i would really appreciate some advice from some of you more experienced lab owners! my uncle used to train gundogs, but he died and i so wish he was here right now!! he would have here sorted by the end of the week! lol! please dont be angry with me for not knowing what to do! i feel like i am letting Honey down! she is a beautiful dog!
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