I'm very close to rehoming our puppy. :(

MurphytheLabrador

The trainer obviously knew what she was talking about, spoke through things with us and gave us advice, but we have read all the same things online over the months. The trainer wasn't the problem, I just can't see how he is going to improve with the training classes. Thanks for the links again, will look at them. Sorry if I seem negative - but he is not improving in the slightest. My husband hasn't actually said it, but I know that he thinks it would be best to let him go.

krlyr

It can seem very hopeless when you're "in the moment" - been there, done that a few times myself! It will pass though, but not without work from everyone. Even if the kids are too nervous to do any training themselves, they need to be taught to act in a calm manner around the dog - if he starts to get into nipping mode then they need to calmly walk out of the room, maybe crossing their arms across their body if they're worried about their hands getting nipped, rather than run around flailing their arms about which will just raise the excitement levels in an already over-excited dog. And make sure you include the kids in some training sessions you instigate, e.g. getting the dog to settle in the evening and have the kids sit nearby, so the dog learns to be calm around everyone.
Also make sure your husband is on-board, dogs soon twig on to who will let them get away with murder. Again, even if he's not actually doing the bulk of training, he needs to be in on the 'rules' and not doing anything to worsen the dog (my OH got some strict instructions when dealing with the separation anxiety with our dog, e.g. leaving her alone when she's on her bed as I was working on that being her calm area to settle on)

Talking of settle, here's a video on teaching a dog to settle, I'd work on getting him used to settling on a blanket/mat that you can take with you to various places so you can teach him to have an 'off switch' wherever you are. Babysteps again, so teach him to settle in a very boring place - indoors, without the kids around, then slowly introduce one new distraction at a time (so, settle with your hubby in the room, then settle with the kids sitting quietly ignoring him, then settle with the kids moving slowly around the room, etc. - increase the difficulty but only once he has the last step down 100%)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQ0Rii_5ckE

I would perhaps suggest you join the Dogpages forum and post up in the Training & Behaviour section - lots of very savvy people on there including several trainers and behaviourists who are happy to give free advice.

dibuzz

Please don't give up on him.
Training takes time and consistent effort. Our staffie was a rescue dog and 3-4 years old when we got her and growled/snapped at every dog we saw, she was also a nightmare for pulling on the lead.
We were told she needed to know she's not the boss so we had to make sure she was always last in and out of the house and keep pulling her back using the same command when we walked her so she was never in front of us.
I know not everyone agrees with treats but we started to give her a treat if she ignored another dog. we are now at the stage where she sees a dog and just looks at me then sits down for a treat, probably not the perfect outcome but much more pleasant for everyone.
We also taught her a few tricks such as roll over, high 5 and cuddle where she puts her paws either side of you and snuggles in. It was hard work at first but we kept at it and she's now (4 years later) a lovely dog who loves cuddles.

bethie

If you didn't get a good vibe from the trainer, it may be worth trying someone else?


what type of advice was the trainer giving?

Raksha

MurphytheLabrador wrote: »

The trainer obviously knew what she was talking about, spoke through things with us and gave us advice, but we have read all the same things online over the months. The trainer wasn't the problem, I just can't see how he is going to improve with the training classes. Thanks for the links again, will look at them. Sorry if I seem negative - but he is not improving in the slightest. My husband hasn't actually said it, but I know that he thinks it would be best to let him go.

Talking the talk is very different to actually being able to teach. The fact that she set your dog up to fail by letting him off the lead without knowing what his recall could be like rings alarm bells with me to be honest.

Where abouts in the UK are you?

Welshwoofs

Op - please don't take this the wrong way, but it's sounding to me as though you've all got into a negative mindset and that you really weren't prepared for the hard work that having a puppy is. I said earlier in the thread, it's not the case that you can have a few train sessions and all will be well.

My Neapolitan Mastiff spent his puppy classes sitting on a plastic chair at the side of the hall with all the dog owners. He'd go straight into the hall and up on a chair because as far as he was concerned he was 'overseeing'. He wouldn't do anything asked. The trainer, clearly exasperated, took him off me to 'show' me how it was done and my pup promptly laid down and refused to do a damn thing. He came out of his puppy classes well socialised but pretty much useless at every command that had been tried. It was only once he'd matured a bit mentally (which is about 2-2.5 for a giant) that he suddenly clicked that he was meant to be following the commands....and he didn't need showing them again. He surprised us all by showing he knew all those taught as a puppy; he simply couldn't see the point in doing them before.

If you don't think you can cope with long (and on-going) training then perhaps invest in residential training? www.royvon.co.uk for instance do residential courses - it'll cost you, but if you can't face the work involved that may be a way to help.

Caroline_a

I'm so sad reading this. All of those of us who are experienced dog owners have been through naughty teenage pup stage and know how difficult and trying this can be. However, I can also see that in her head and in her OHs, the OP has already made up her mind to rue home her dog. I'm not sure there's much we can do to make them change their minds so I think the best thing we can do for this family is to help them with the reforming process.

OP, your first port of call should be to the breeder. A good breeder will always be prepared to take their pups back. If that doesn't work, come back and we will try to help you find a knowledgeable home for your dog.

littlesnuggy

MurphytheLabrador wrote: »

Hi everyone.

He wasn't in a class with any other dogs, it was a one on one lesson.

All I can say is that it was a nightmare I was hoping that he would be quite well behaved.



I know she must see worse dogs, but I was really embarrassed

Rochelle

I've got a one-to-one session with a dog trainer tomorrow and I keep telling my 2-year old dog that he's got to be on his worst behaviour tomorrow! I want the dog trainer to see all the behaviour we want to change so he can help us do something about it. I'll be furious if the dog decides to sit angelically for the 3 hours!

This is the second trainer I'm trying - we had a different one in January but he was all about being the Alpha of the pack and making the dog be submissive so we didn't follow through with that. This trainer is the one who did the basic puppy training classes so I know his techniques won't be based on this.

OP - if you weren't happy with what the trainer advised, go elsewhere. That said, I don't think one training session is ever going to be a miracle cure, so don't give up on your dog yet

zaksmum

It seems like most of us on here have seen first hand the hassles a pup can give the family...some more than others. The two dogs I have now were both nightmares as pups and many a time I was sorely tempted to offload them!!

One poster, Elsien, had a dog she called Mutt that was naughty throughout her life, but Elsien persevered and forgave every time.

When Mutt passed away Elsien was devastated, and that's what dogs do to us - we love them no matter what.

They do give us a lot of grey hairs along the way, but if you can see beyond these mischievous adolescent dog years you will be rewarded with a calm and laid back dog that the family couldn't bear to part with.

Seems like your puppy is just pushing the boundaries - if you're firm with him when he's naughty and reward him when he's good, you'll get there in the end, I'm sure you will.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

MurphytheLabrador wrote: »

The trainer obviously knew what she was talking about, spoke through things with us and gave us advice, but we have read all the same things online over the months. The trainer wasn't the problem, I just can't see how he is going to improve with the training classes. Thanks for the links again, will look at them. Sorry if I seem negative - but he is not improving in the slightest. My husband hasn't actually said it, but I know that he thinks it would be best to let him go.

It's not the trainer that's the problem. It's not that the dog is incapable of improving.

I believe it's because neither you or your OH want to believe that whatever you did, it wasn't right for your puppy.

One assessment session does not make a miracle cure. To expect him to suddenly become perfect, when you are both already convinced there is no hope for him and it would be better to get rid, well, you're sabotaging him.




If you do decide to get rid of him, promise that you will never have another dog as long as you both live. As it's not the dog's fault they have not learned the acceptable behaviour. And it's not the dog's fault everyone has lost interest in him and are looking for the bad rather than the positive - the trainer said it would take work to teach you how to be good dog owners so he can learn what to do. The trainer did not say dump him. Don't subject another newer, sparkly, trendier pup to that.