Dealing with the uncooperative trainee

[StunnedMonkey]

Darby is just now 5 months old and finished puppy class a week ago. She did really well. We generally do training sessions at home 2 or 3 times a day for no more than 15 minutes each. She's always been very attentive and eager to please...at least as eager to please as a Wheaten gets.

Within the last week she's become uncooperative with regards to training sessions. I'm talking sessions where I've got a handful of treats and a clicker, and we're going to do something specific. Maybe I'm having her do puppy pushups and I'll give her a down command, and she might just stand up and walk away. Or I'll ask her to heel (we've been working on this and she'd gotten pretty good) and she'll just lay down and stare at me. These aren't situations where there are distractions and she's interested in something else. She just refuses to participate.

Is this normal for a 5 month old? How do I handle situations where I'm asking her to do something simple (like sit) that she clearly understands but refuses to do? Do I just forget the session, and risk giving her the message that my commands are optional and that we'll train only when she feels like it? Do I somehow force compliance even to the point of physically moving her into the proper position?

I admit I don't understand why she's suddenly become so uncooperative. I mix up the treats and introduce new ones, and I try keep variety in the sessions. I guess you get the diploma and think that learnin' time's over.

 

[Herschel]

Puppy's go through funny phases so don't lose hope.

Have you tried using some really, really attractive treats? Last night we used Jarlsberg cheese microwaved for a couple of seconds to soften to teach Nala recall. She was starting to get sick of Buddy Biscuits but she was literally jumping trying to get more cheese.

Are you keeping your training sessions fun? Is your voice scaring her at all? (You've mentioned before that she's soft so you have to keep things really upbeat)

When teaching her down, keep treating her while she is down to let her know that it's good to be laying down. As far as heel, keep walking (don't stop if she stops). She'll get the point.

Always end your training sessions on a good note. Nala's (4 month old Border Collie) have been ending in belly rubs lately. We'll go through some things, then I'll have her sit, down, then start a roll over before I start gushing "good girl", etc. and give her a belly rub.

 

[otch1]

Hi stunnedmonkey. Five months! Darby's growing up so fast. Just a thought... this is often the peak of a teething period for puppies. A sore mouth, swollen gums, achey and uncomfortable. They can be quite distracted. Reccommend you let her chew a few ice cubes beforehand, then work her with very soft treats. If you see a difference in focus and cooperation after something very cool is introduced to the gums, open her mouth and make sure all of her teeth are coming in properly, check for blood around a tooth, any puppy teeth still inplace with an adult tooth coming in over the side of it. When behavior changes abruptly, I usually rule out any physical source first. If not, Herschel's right, they go through funny phases as they mature. One week a command they've consistently performed correctly, can the following week appear to be something they've never heard before. When you encounter a training plateau, up your "game" to get over it and move foward. Herschels Jarlsberg cheese sounded pretty yummy to me!

 

[RedyreRottweilers]

She is a baby dead in the middle of teething. She is telling you she is not ready for so much.

Training should be so much fun for puppies that they can't wait to do it. You might need to re-evaluate your rewards, praise, and how you are going about your training.

 

[StunnedMonkey]

Training should be so much fun for puppies that they can't wait to do it.

I guess that's what had me confused. She was always so eager, then suddenly...poof. No use for it.

Could be a teething thing as others have suggested. I've found a couple of little dog teeth on the carpet recently so she's definitely turning them over. She also seems to be going through another fear period of sorts, and gets spooked by stuff that normally wouldn't phase her.

I'll take it easy for a bit. Maybe she just needs a little break. She was just doing so well with everything that it's frustrating to see her taking steps back, so to speak.

 

[RedyreRottweilers]

I understand. Make it FUN. Jump about with her. Don't be rigid, and don't require precision. Play fetch or tug between exercises, and if she is just not interested, take a break for a while.