Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007 9:34 pm Post subject: Help me with 2 things, please!
I have a 9 month old chocolate lab named Bella, and yes, she is adorable. I have 2 problems though.
The first one is she runs off when she wants. She sees something that distracts her, and she doesn't care how much I call her, she just takes off. It's sad because I live in a busy neighborhood, and I can't even let her out to play unless on a leash.
Secondly, she jumps on people a lot. When my friends come over to my house, she gets very annoying and they get fed up fast.
Can anyone help me out? This is my first dog, so I know nothing about training, and being in college I can't afford formal training. Please help me turn this cutey into a smart cutey!
PS: She can sit, stay, lay, all the normal things, but won't come when called (outside), won't stay with me when I try to run with her (a huge pain), and jumps too much.
For the recall training, why not try training her to a whistle? It is a lot clearer to them than your voice calling. You need to use high value treats (liver cake, bits of chicken etc) and start off by whistling her in to her tea. (I use an Acme 210.5 pitch whistle and 3 peeps to recall)
Follow this up by training in the house then in the garden, so she gets to realise that whistle = come to you for exciting food, then try outside. If she's any sort of Lab it should take her no time to realise the benefits of coming to you
Ask anyone coming to your house to ignore her - turning their back and/or refusing to provide any attention soon makes a dog get bored of that game. The key is consistency - if just one person makes a fuss dogs nearly always reckon its worth a try every time.
Try the treat thing every now and again when you're running too (although she's a bit young yet for going out jogging - wait until she's over a year) to persuade her that staying with you is much more fun than stopping to sniff. The anticipation alone should work, but you have to reward her now and again.
You could also try using a long line when you are out with her - that'll give her space but will also allow you to return - and give her lots of praise and treats when she does.
You're right, I did read to wait a year to run with them, so that is my mistake. The only problem with trying to teach her to come outside is there is TONS of dogs in the neighborhood, with the houses very close together, so she gets excited very easily. Also, everyone that comes in turns their back to her, but she does not slow down. Thanks for the tips everyone, I will try them out.
A long line is by far the best way for the dog to think it is free, and to get more exercise, but you have ultimate control as the poster above said.
You don't even have to buy one, just make one out of a washing line or some thinish rope that you can knot onto her collar, then let her out long when you want to and bring her in when you don't or you see a hazard coming (like another dog).
Di
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The boys!
Read: Wylanbriar Dog Blog on the website: Updated! 1st February 12´!
do you have a cage? they are worth their weight in gold, if you have put her in her cage when visitors come and give her about 30 mins in there and then let her out. The time spent in the cage may help take the edge off the fact you have visitors
its worth a try
____________ The Velvetine gang. Sookie, Solo & Darcie.
You have had some good advice on getting Bella to recall and stop her jumping up.
I would recommend joining your local training club - it's not expensive and it's worth every penny. I pay £3 a week! Just think of the money saved in vets bills (in case of Bella not coming back when she's in danger) and dry cleaning bills (Bella jumps up at someone in their new suit!!). Not only do you learn how to train Bella, but she learns to behave calmly in a room full of other dogs.
For the jumping up, everyone, including you, who comes into the house, needs to walk straight past her I'm afraid. It's tough when they're so cute, but she won't be as cute when she's fully grown and covered in mud!
When she jumps up, you need to turn your back on her as soon as her paws come up, without a word, so that she slides off onto the floor. Keep doing this until she sits or stands sensibly then give her a calm stroke under the chin and say hello.
You can practice this by getting some friends over and repeatedly coming in and going out until she is finding it boring. She gets a treat and praise for sitting nicely and ignored for jumping up.
She'll get it as long as you are consistent, she's only 9 months and is still a baby really.
I have a feeling that the poster is in the United states by her use of the terms 'Neighbourhood' to describe the streets around her and 'College' to describe being at what we would call University... BUt i could be wrong, but the postage might be a tad high on your very kind offer Hilary...
Di
____________
The boys!
Read: Wylanbriar Dog Blog on the website: Updated! 1st February 12´!
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