Slave to my dog - who's training who?
You can't say dogs aren't smart. What seems like a straight forward training exercise can turn upside down and inside out in a flash.
I suspect that I am not alone in experiencing the frustration of the puppy that performs excellently at home, attentive, responsive to commands, etc. but won't pay attention on the street or at the park, or worse, is actually bossing you around out there.
Treats alone do not do the trick. When we get to the park, once my puppy has cottoned on to the command/treat routine, she'll either ingor my call, going about her business until she's darn well ready to see what I'm up to, or, if she looks up at all, wait to see if I really have the treat at the ready and not respond until the hand goes to the treat pocket. The message I'm getting is to respond when she gives me the signal that she is waiting until I do.
It's not always like this but it is more like this than not and it is damned frustrating. Is my voice not authoritative enough? (probably) Have I simply not done enough repetitions for a simple recall to become a reflex? (definitely)
What makes it all the more complex is what I feel to be the "failing bond" between me and my puppy. She is despondent at home, stubborn on the street and depressed at work. I am making an exceptional effort to ensure that she is not left alone, taking her practically everywhere but doing this is unrewarding and increasingly embarassing. What I am getting back from her is the message "Nada unless you take me to the park... and even then."
What I think right now is that my puppy needs a lot LESS attention from me. She needs to be part of my scene, not the centre of it, and until that happens, she is going to try to train ME to be part of HER scene, which basically involves "How do I get him to take me to the park." "How do I get him to accompany me wherever I want to go in the park." and "How do I get him to stay in the park all day."
Whew, you can't say dogs aren't ambitious!
Answers? Try this link to the article, which notes that dogs are natural geniuses at training people: "Why Dog Training is Important" by I can't figure out whom or even what book it's in... Google failure alas...
I suspect that I am not alone in experiencing the frustration of the puppy that performs excellently at home, attentive, responsive to commands, etc. but won't pay attention on the street or at the park, or worse, is actually bossing you around out there.
Treats alone do not do the trick. When we get to the park, once my puppy has cottoned on to the command/treat routine, she'll either ingor my call, going about her business until she's darn well ready to see what I'm up to, or, if she looks up at all, wait to see if I really have the treat at the ready and not respond until the hand goes to the treat pocket. The message I'm getting is to respond when she gives me the signal that she is waiting until I do.
It's not always like this but it is more like this than not and it is damned frustrating. Is my voice not authoritative enough? (probably) Have I simply not done enough repetitions for a simple recall to become a reflex? (definitely)
What makes it all the more complex is what I feel to be the "failing bond" between me and my puppy. She is despondent at home, stubborn on the street and depressed at work. I am making an exceptional effort to ensure that she is not left alone, taking her practically everywhere but doing this is unrewarding and increasingly embarassing. What I am getting back from her is the message "Nada unless you take me to the park... and even then."
What I think right now is that my puppy needs a lot LESS attention from me. She needs to be part of my scene, not the centre of it, and until that happens, she is going to try to train ME to be part of HER scene, which basically involves "How do I get him to take me to the park." "How do I get him to accompany me wherever I want to go in the park." and "How do I get him to stay in the park all day."
Whew, you can't say dogs aren't ambitious!
Answers? Try this link to the article, which notes that dogs are natural geniuses at training people: "Why Dog Training is Important" by I can't figure out whom or even what book it's in... Google failure alas...
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