Hi. I have some problems with my dog and don't know what to do. When people come to our house she gets really excited and jumps all over them. And when my 11 month old nephew comes over she licks him in the face and every once in a while she knocks him over. Me & my husband would like to have a baby soon, but are afraid to because of her. She's also really jealous when we pay more attention to my nephew. She'll bark and try to get in the middle. Another problem we have is when we eat she barks and barks. I've told my husband we should try obedience training, but he says it's too much money and doesn't work. He wants to use a shock collar, but I told him absolutely not. Does anyone have any suggestions on what I should do?
My dog is out of control!
- Thread starter youngr51
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YOu need to start immediantly with basic obedience. You could take a class or you could read a book, whatever you do you need to be the one in control. Right now your dog is. A leash, a collar, and several short sessions a day where you make training fun, but you also be persistant. I grew up working in a kennel and the best thing my old boss ever taught me is never give a command you do not enforce. I would put her on a leash to start with and keep it on her as long as she is around people. Start with sit and down. When people come over you have her on a SHORT leash and you put her in sit and down. You make her stay there. You reward her for good behavior only...that is where i would start if i were fostering.
My pointer VIc came with every bad habit imaginable and this is exactly what i did.24-7 i demanded a certain behavior. I also understood that he was very young and excitable. I didn't expect miracles right off and yes making him down was exhausting but my mother is 80 and i certainly couldn't have him jumping all over her or my grandaughter. Jumping up, climbing up on people, clinging to people was All he wanted to do. He was post stress and desperate for affection and attention. I used t-touch (tellington touch) when he became confused and uncertain of what i was asking him to do. He was stubborn and muleheaded but i can be more so. Consider this breaking you in for parenthood. Dog training and toddler training is about the same thing. IF your dog yawns when you are working her it is because she is confused. Learn to read her body language too. There are a zillion good training books out there, the hardest part of all is getting people to DO it and be consisitant.
Tell your husband training doesn't cost a dime, it takes some study, bucket loads of common sense and your time.
IT is never necessary to isolate, (actually that does the absolute opposite of what you want in the end) to strike, kick, or slap a dog in training. Shock collars are a human crutch for lazyness. Keep that dog under your control at all times until you don't need the leash. Once she understands what is is you don't want her to do and that you will redirect her to what you want with love and affection she will gladly give you her best.
A stern NO with a deep voice, and a frowny face, i use hands on my hips so my body language is easy for them to read will get the message across. The only time a shock collar was ever used in our field training was for dogs that ate the bird instead of bringing it back. Period.
Always make sure your dog has tons of exercise. A tired dog is a good dog. if Victor is being extra stubborn it is almost always because he hasn't had enough run time. Since he is an english pointer he needs more then the average dog.
You CAN do this.
forgot to add..i find using treats to train to be defeatest in the long run. The last thing i want is a dog refusing to do what has been told because i have an empty hand. Love should always be enough. Sitting pretty is my one exception.
My pointer VIc came with every bad habit imaginable and this is exactly what i did.24-7 i demanded a certain behavior. I also understood that he was very young and excitable. I didn't expect miracles right off and yes making him down was exhausting but my mother is 80 and i certainly couldn't have him jumping all over her or my grandaughter. Jumping up, climbing up on people, clinging to people was All he wanted to do. He was post stress and desperate for affection and attention. I used t-touch (tellington touch) when he became confused and uncertain of what i was asking him to do. He was stubborn and muleheaded but i can be more so. Consider this breaking you in for parenthood. Dog training and toddler training is about the same thing. IF your dog yawns when you are working her it is because she is confused. Learn to read her body language too. There are a zillion good training books out there, the hardest part of all is getting people to DO it and be consisitant.
Tell your husband training doesn't cost a dime, it takes some study, bucket loads of common sense and your time.
IT is never necessary to isolate, (actually that does the absolute opposite of what you want in the end) to strike, kick, or slap a dog in training. Shock collars are a human crutch for lazyness. Keep that dog under your control at all times until you don't need the leash. Once she understands what is is you don't want her to do and that you will redirect her to what you want with love and affection she will gladly give you her best.
A stern NO with a deep voice, and a frowny face, i use hands on my hips so my body language is easy for them to read will get the message across. The only time a shock collar was ever used in our field training was for dogs that ate the bird instead of bringing it back. Period.
Always make sure your dog has tons of exercise. A tired dog is a good dog. if Victor is being extra stubborn it is almost always because he hasn't had enough run time. Since he is an english pointer he needs more then the average dog.
You CAN do this.
forgot to add..i find using treats to train to be defeatest in the long run. The last thing i want is a dog refusing to do what has been told because i have an empty hand. Love should always be enough. Sitting pretty is my one exception.
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I recommend highly that you read a few books. Culture Clash by Jean Donaldson is one. Don't Shoot the Dog by Karen Pryor is another. There are other good books too, but I'd start with Culture Clash. It's amazing and will really help you.
Here's a link for ya.
Smkie gave you good advice. I only disagree with one thing and that is the use of treats. There is something called a variable reward schedule when using treats which will eliminate the objection about having a dog work only for treats. I always use treats when I'm training. My dogs are now very obedient and well mannered whether I have a treat for them always or not.
The best way for you to improve the situation with your dog is to get educated. Here's some reading for you.
http://www.dogpatch.org/obed/obpage4.cfm
This next one has a front page...interesting. Then you can click on the links to get to some training help.
http://www.clickersolutions.com/articles/2001/hierarchies.htm
I seriously recommend Culture Clash. I only wish I read it a long time ago.
Here's a link for ya.
Smkie gave you good advice. I only disagree with one thing and that is the use of treats. There is something called a variable reward schedule when using treats which will eliminate the objection about having a dog work only for treats. I always use treats when I'm training. My dogs are now very obedient and well mannered whether I have a treat for them always or not.
The best way for you to improve the situation with your dog is to get educated. Here's some reading for you.
http://www.dogpatch.org/obed/obpage4.cfm
This next one has a front page...interesting. Then you can click on the links to get to some training help.
http://www.clickersolutions.com/articles/2001/hierarchies.htm
I seriously recommend Culture Clash. I only wish I read it a long time ago.
You have been given wonderful advice. All dogs, regardless of size, benefit from obedience training. And just in case your hubby still wants to get a shock collar, please let him know that except on the rare occasion when one might possibly be used it is never used when a dog does not 100% know the command and never as a form of punishment. Used incorrectly or on the wrong dog it can create many more problems than the owner was originally trying to correct.
I have been involved in obed. training for years and it does work. I have seen totally uncontrollable, hyper dogs come in and it is amazing to see the difference. They can definitely learn manners and in turn be a welcome member of the family in all situations. It just takes time & dedication along with a heap of patience and sense of humor. If during a training session you find yourself getting upset or frustrated end the session. Keep them fun and upbeat and you'll find that your furpal will respond better and in turn, learn quicker.
I have been involved in obed. training for years and it does work. I have seen totally uncontrollable, hyper dogs come in and it is amazing to see the difference. They can definitely learn manners and in turn be a welcome member of the family in all situations. It just takes time & dedication along with a heap of patience and sense of humor. If during a training session you find yourself getting upset or frustrated end the session. Keep them fun and upbeat and you'll find that your furpal will respond better and in turn, learn quicker.
Pets and praise goes a long way for some dogs. I did a lot of Gunnar's fundamental training that way. We use a ball as a reward for a lot of things since that is his favorite thing to do. Even in classes, I would use a ball. Of course, I couldn't throw it far, but just a toss to him and letting him hold it was good. Sometimes we would play tug with his leash for a few seconds after finishing a drill as well. I've tried treats, while they motivate him, he takes so long to eat even an eraser sized bit that he focuses only on that. He literally savors every bite of the treat. At least with the ball or leash tug, he's still focused on me.
Regarding the shock collar, definitely NO if you don't know how to use one! You really need to know what you are doing with one of those, and it's not something you can teach yourself. If you use it with bad timing or for the wrong corrections, you can really mess up the dog because he doesn't know why he's being shocked. I would say a shock collar is more for proofing a dog when he is not right with you, like a field dog that is working remotely and you need to remind him of a behavior. I would never use one on a dog that doesn't have it's basic obedience down pat and I'd never use one on a pup.
Regarding the shock collar, definitely NO if you don't know how to use one! You really need to know what you are doing with one of those, and it's not something you can teach yourself. If you use it with bad timing or for the wrong corrections, you can really mess up the dog because he doesn't know why he's being shocked. I would say a shock collar is more for proofing a dog when he is not right with you, like a field dog that is working remotely and you need to remind him of a behavior. I would never use one on a dog that doesn't have it's basic obedience down pat and I'd never use one on a pup.
I use soft treats the size of a pea. Yes, you don't want them chewing the treat and taking a long time...just one taste and down the gullet. That's all you need. I agree that praise is great too and toys, if your dog likes that. But sometimes toys too, get the dog's attention for too long and he forgets what he's doing. So, when I was getting Lyric's heel better, for instance, I'd keep walking and use my clicker and just pop a quick treat, a tiny (soft piece of hot dog or white cheese, homemade liver treat) into his mouth and he kept right on walking. It didn't distract him much. He learned what position got him the tasty treat and which didn't. There was no need for leash corrections or anything.
Shock collars are aversive and even when they're used correctly, I don't believe in them as it makes a dog do something out of avoidance of pain or discomfort....of something not good. I much prefer to cause a dog to think and try to do something for the purpose of earning something good....a paycheck. It makes for a very happy dog who wants to learn and loves training.
Please don't use a shock collar. If one mistake with timing or one mistake in the context or situation is made with it, it can cause a dog to become severely neurotic and fearful. I've seen that and it isn't pretty.
Shock collars are aversive and even when they're used correctly, I don't believe in them as it makes a dog do something out of avoidance of pain or discomfort....of something not good. I much prefer to cause a dog to think and try to do something for the purpose of earning something good....a paycheck. It makes for a very happy dog who wants to learn and loves training.
Please don't use a shock collar. If one mistake with timing or one mistake in the context or situation is made with it, it can cause a dog to become severely neurotic and fearful. I've seen that and it isn't pretty.