Dog training tips needed please

~Chameleon~

Lillys_mum wrote: »

Can anyone recommend anything to help - even a reasonably priced trainer in Huntingdonshire would be a possibility.

Hi, I'm so sorry to hear you're having difficulties with your dog. Have you asked your local vet or one of the nurses whether they can recommend anyone to help you with the training?

I have no personal experience with any of these, but here are a list of APDT registered trainers in the Cambridgeshire area. There wasn't a list for Huntingdonshire so I assume this would be closest to you.

http://www.apdt.co.uk/trainers_area.asp?area=Cambridgeshire

pboae

Keep her in a harness, if you think it helps you physically to hold on to her, you might also want to get a double leader (a lead with two ends with clips on) and clip one to her collar (but please not a choke collar!) and one to her harness. You could also try a head halter, I used a Kumfi Dogalter on my dog (a very powerful St. Bernard), after he nearly pulled me in front of a lorry. It helped me keep control of him while I got on with his training.

Then start the training. It's simple, but time consuming, and as with any training you need to be absolutely consistent with it.

The problem you have is that she has learned that pulling 'works' it gets her where she wants, faster. So from now on you have to make sure that pulling stops working for her.

Start walking and as soon as she pulls stand still and hang on to her so she can't pull you over. At some point she will ease up a little, if only to turn around and see what you are doing. The moment you feel her ease up, walk forward, she will start pulling again and so you stop immediately. You keep doing that over and over again.

Ideally you would actually turn around and walk in the opposite direction when she starts to pull, but I suspect you won't be able to do that because she will be such a strong dog. So you will probably have to settle for stopping and starting.

The first few times you do this, you probably won't even get off the driveway. Eventually you will make it on to the pavement and then you'll feel like an idiot stopping every two paces, but keep it up and she will learn. She may also get worse before she gets better and will pull even harder to get going. That's a good sign because it means she's learning that her old habit doesn't work so well anymore.

Once you start on this, every time you let her pull and get away with it, it will put you two steps back, and encourage her to pull harder. So you need to be ready to stick with it, even though it's inconvenient and time consuming.

You can also teach a dog to heel using a clicker and treats, but with a GSD x Husky I imagine she will be far more motivated by the potential walk than she would by food.

olibrofiz

Ahh, just reading about Harley. Hope his toileting has come on in leaps and bounds by now. My doggie was a nightmare as a pup, I'd be picking it up at one end of the lounge while she was leaving me another present in the kitchen.

She still doesn't like going out when it's raining and I have to shout encouraging 'go wee's' from the doorway, I don;t let her in till she has. It's consistency I think, no matter how much she's cringeing in the rain she can't come in till she's done her business. And she hates walking on wet grass, usually leaving me 'sculptures' on the garden path but hey, it's easier to pick up!

WeirdoMagnet

I second what pboae says, and would also suggest that you do some basic obedience in your house and garden, including 'heel', so that 'training' is somethng that happens all the time, rather than just an inconvenience to your dogs' walks! Lots of training (esp. clicker training) will also tire your dog out mentally, so she may not be so eager when you do go for a walk!

Like Chameleon says, the APDT run excellent classes - please don't go to trainers who suggest choke chains and all that old fashioned stuff! You will get much better results training your dog using positive methods. And if you explain your circumstances, they may well let you take your kids with you. The APDT class I went to only cost £2 per week!

Good luck,

Georgie

Lillys_mum

Thanks for the advice so far.
Where would I get a "double leader" lead from?
Are you saying I connect one to the harness and the other to her collar? would that not just form an akward shaped loop to hold on to - I don't know, maybe I just haven't grasped this properly.

The start stop sounds good too. How far do I take it? if we have been out for half and hour and not even got to the end of the road do I stop the walk and go home, then go back out later?
How many times should I take her out?

I forgot to mention I also have a pushchair with me when walking as I have a 2yr old who loves walking but I can't deal with the two of them walking together so I only have 1 hand free to control the dog with.

Thank you so much for all the advice so far, keep it coming!!!

LM
xx

Lillys_mum

Georgina wrote: »

Like Chameleon says, the APDT run excellent classes - please don't go to trainers who suggest choke chains and all that old fashioned stuff! You will get much better results training your dog using positive methods. And if you explain your circumstances, they may well let you take your kids with you. The APDT class I went to only cost £2 per week!

Good luck,

Georgie

Checked the link and they are all far to far for me to travel to. Great idea though.

~Chameleon~

Lillys_mum wrote: »

Checked the link and they are all far to far for me to travel to. Great idea though.

Have a look through the county list then and see if you can find someone closer. I just took a guess at Cambridgeshire as I thought Huntingdon was somewhere near Cambridge, sorry

http://www.apdt.co.uk/list_trainers.asp

Lillys_mum

~Chameleon~ wrote: »

Have a look through the county list then and see if you can find someone closer. I just took a guess at Cambridgeshire as I thought Huntingdon was somewhere near Cambridge, sorry

http://www.apdt.co.uk/list_trainers.asp

No you were right, we are about 30 miles from cambridge, but the places on the list were further than cambridge.
I have checked the list and there are some in bedfordshire but again these are quite a distance to travel - probably around 30 miles.

pboae

Lillys_mum wrote: »

Thanks for the advice so far.
Where would I get a "double leader" lead from?
Are you saying I connect one to the harness and the other to her collar? would that not just form an akward shaped loop to hold on to - I don't know, maybe I just haven't grasped this properly.

Imagine a dog lead that starts off with a handle like a normal lead, but turns into a Y shape with two clip ends.You should be able to get one from any good pet shop, although they may have to order it in for you. They are also used to walk two dogs together.

Lillys_mum wrote: »

The start stop sounds good too. How far do I take it? if we have been out for half and hour and not even got to the end of the road do I stop the walk and go home, then go back out later?
How many times should I take her out?

Yes, that's exactly what you do, set your time limit (at first 15 mins might be enough, because it's hard work and it's important not to get really stressed or loose your temper), and get as far as you can in that time then turn round and bring her back in. Seriously, you probably won't make it more than a few steps at first.

Do it as often as you feel able, but bear in mind she will need other exercise and entertainment (i.e. playing games in the garden) if she's not getting her walks.

Lillys_mum wrote: »

I forgot to mention I also have a pushchair with me when walking as I have a 2yr old who loves walking but I can't deal with the two of them walking together so I only have 1 hand free to control the dog with.

If you can do it without your toddler at first, I would recommend it, or if you have to take them, try and explain the 'game' so they understand why you aren't going anywhere. Eventually, the pushchair shouldn't be a problem, controlling a large dog by physical force is never going to work long term.

Kimberley

Georgina wrote: »

Get your waterproofs on, close the door behind you and wait for Harley to go. He is only 11 weeks old after all, and probably has only been with you for 3 weeks?

I agree, 11 weeks is so young, he obviously does not like the wet weather, so yeah go outside with him.

I get foster dogs who need to learn housetraining over again and what i have to do sometimes is stand outside in the garden with the door shut and wait, sometimes i'm waiting there in the bleedin cold for up to an hour until the dog wees and poos, you have to do it until the dog learns. He will learn, but he's not even 4 months old yet, give him time.

Having a puppy is like having a baby with toilet training etc but i'd have a puppy rather then another baby

Never tell a dog/puppy off for soiling indoors though, it's not their fault, it's down to you to spot the first signs that they want to go. My foster dog runs in circles indoors if she wants to wee or poo so we have to quickly run and open the door if we see her do this.

Sorry for any spelling mistakes i can't be asked to check it all