Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 8:28 pm Post subject: 7Mnth old pup - mind of his own!!
Mackie is now 7mnths old and he used to be the worlds greatest dog now he is the dog from hell. I have not been treating or training him any different to how i used to. But now he pulls with all his weight to get to anything and everything benches/tress/people and his favourite DOGS! He is not aggresive infact the complete opposite its just there is one nasty dog around and as Mackie can already pull me over im scared one day he will get very hurt if i cannot stand up. I am going to firstly start major training to heel when on a lead...he is normally great but once he sees something it goes from bad to worse, i love him dearly and would hate for anything to happen to him he is my life! I even got a full grown staffie to walk to heel around other dogs and he was a vicius dog so i have no idea why i cant with Mackie. Any tips for me? [B]
The joys of the teenage pup....I've never experienced a teenage lab before, but Toby is just starting to show signs of his early adolesence mostly in that he gets selectively deaf, especially when he's off his lead.
I can't really offer any pearls of wisdom but I'm sure someone will
He is trying to push the bpundaries the 'kevin' stage we call it.
Go completely back to basics with training and don't let him get away with anything he's not supposed to do but lots of positive praise when he gets things right
Thanks for the help. When you say dont let him get away with anything what exactly do you mean? i think would seem like this dog only gets told off as he hardly ever does anything he is told, pretty soon i can see the words no and leave meaning nothing at all to him...i have total sympathy for you _wendy_ and for anyone in the same boat as me!
Do lots of training with him and praise him to the hilt for what he gets right
Using no too much will have no effect if he still repeats doing things that you have said no too time him out for a few mins behid a stair gate don't let him back in till he has clamed down and isn't whining then try again.
I only give 2 'no's' then its time out for a while away from everyone.
Agree with Carroll, def need to work on his training when you are out walking him. Keep him on the lead with you, and don't let him off as then you will have no control at all, if you see 'something' coming up that is going to attract his attention turn around and walk another way, or practise making him sit next to you until it has passed. Use treats or a ball, something that will keep his attention on you.
When you say don’t let him get away with anything what exactly do you mean? I think would seem like this dog only gets told off as he hardly ever does anything he is told, pretty soon I can see the words no and leave meaning nothing at all to him
This is so very true Eleanor, and a very real risk.
The secret is to really allow no wrong. I know it's not easy. When you say sit for example, mean it! If he does not then on the next command enforce it! No messing, no choice. A command is not a discussion point!!
Try to never give a command if you are not in a position to enforce it. Commands ignored are devalued. Ignore a command often enough and it becomes just a sound we make, with no real meaning. Obviously if it is a safety issue then you MUST give the command and hope, but so many times you do have the option of getting into the right place first.
I'm not saying, be hard on your dog, but I am saying be firm. Because I ALWAYS, without fail, talk softly and quietly to my dogs I have volume and tone controls than the average HiFi system if needed. And my "Anglo Saxon" has been known to turn a young puppy bright red in embarrassment!
The walk today was almsot a total succsess, i took out his favourite toy which i had hidden the night before so i onyl use it on walks. And when there was someone comming towards us i distracted him and started playing..i changed pace directon and route aswell so he is always interested.the onyl downside is that the whole distraction thing doesnt work around dogs i tired biscuuits chicken and his fav toy...no improvment. Although i am extreemely impressed with his improvment!
Any tips for the oncomming dogs???
I am so glad that he has started to improve today.
You need to make yourself more interesting than the other dog. What I done with mine was;
When I saw another dog I would start running backwards sqealing calling his name, he got more exciting about me doing this than what the other dog was doing and would turn and chase me.
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