This is ridiculous...

[Cimorene]

I feel really stupid asking for help with this, but I'm kind of at a loss: our new Sheltie (I've written about him before, he's shaping up gradually) is only nine weeks old now, and as I say, he's improving daily, but he has an aversion to being obligated to do ANYTHING! Getting him to "come" is worst of all: I am handicapped and can't go chasing after him, nor can I do a whole lot of training; I have to rely on my husband and teenager for that. But he will NOT come to me under any circumstances. Yummy treats?! Ha! Making a game of it? Nope. And I've raised all these dogs, and this is the only one who has never wanted to come and be petted, picked up, etc. We finally got him into a collar and little leash (he acted like he was being killed), and at least I have some control with that (right: I can step on it as he's darting away, which only annoys him further, but at least lets me get hold of him when I have to).....and he's SO cute and he actually follows us all over the house, along with our big Sheltie, and seems to enjoy petting and like us....but he really is determined to stay out of reach! I'm really puzzled about how to get started with this. So far, I'm trying to make it kind of a non-event, not let him know it's a big deal to me, etc., until I figure out how to handle it. But this guy is really in charge, and it's not that he isn't interested in fitting in with the "pack," he will do other things, and is gradually getting it together, as I say--and he IS young--but if a dog has no interest in treats or other conventional methods for training, what do you do? All suggested deeply appreciated......

 

[Mutt Luv]

Well what DOES he like? Thats what you have to find out, think outside the box, its not that uncommon for dogs not to like treats, and some are hand shy so what does he/she like? A toy, sock, hair tie? anything the he REALLY likes, and train with that. What really works for me with getting a dog to be petted or come to me is to talk in a happy sqeeky voice, dogs LOVE it, just not to high that it scares them but just really happy and when your around the dog talk like that, dont really WANT him to come over just talk to him that way and he may like that so if he does come close to be petted kneel down and keep talking to him like that DONT try to pet him let him come close if he IS close you can also give him a reward what ever he LOVES.

Haveing a shy dog that doesent like food treats or petting will take a LOT of paicents, time and hard work, but once you can get a dog like that to trust and love you, you will have to BEST dog in the world that will do anything for you, it just take time.


Good luck
Dont hesatate to ask if you have more ?'s

Reesa

 

[Cimorene]

You know, I've asked myself this question many times. I can "baby-talk" with the best of them; he will become interested in something briefly (String cheese was a big opening, but after a few nibbles of that he lost interest)....he quite liked to play with his sock for awhile, but now that's a no-go. I think what he likes BEST OF ALL is playing "let's drive Mom crazy"! Hmm, wonder how I can put that to use. And yes, I keep telling myself he's young, I just seem to have had several lovey-dovey dogs prior to him.

 

[girlbuffalo1]

I taught Wrigley to come by tying a long lead on him (about 10 feet) and then calling him "come Wrigley come"--if he didn't come I would give a gentle tug on the long lead and he would get the idea and come. I would then treat and praise. We probably had to do this for about a week before he really really got it.

 

[Cimorene]

Magic Forum

This forum is magic! Maybe we just need to be reminded of what we already know from time to time....but with your encouragement, I changed my behavior with Pippin, and he's doing much better! Maybe he just needed to know I cared!

 

[Mutt Luv]

Glad to here that, keep up the good work, shelties can be sensative things.

 

[otch1]

Hello Cimorene... you have a smart pup and recognizing age appropriate behavior is important. (As it sounds like you already are.) Dependant on your physical challenge, reccommend during this bonding period with the family, that you're the one that feeds him. You'd be suprised how much training you can do from a seated position. It doesn't sound like you're in a chair if you're able to step on lead, but you need to rely on upper body cues and corrections, in your circumstances, as timing is everything. You don't want him to ever realize he's faster than you are. (Or everyone else in the family soon) Lol. Start working with him on a 4 ft lead from a seated position. Your husband or your teenager are to fix meals, hand the bowl to you, then he's to eat next to you with leash attached. You're to touch his collar several times, very gently while he's eating. You're going to give him his meals, verses trying to bait him when he's not hungry, if he's not a very food motivated pup. It's simpy your mission to get him to make eye contact with you first, stay close to your feet, before you set his bowl down and allow him to eat, then allow you to touch his collar without resistance. If you do this for the first week, you'll find next week, before setting that bowl down, you can start asking for a "sit" and position him with food held in correct position to teach that "sit". First, you have to teach him to acknowlege you in the sequence I mentioned, before he's given a meal. When he starts looking at you as a "provider" , he'll start focusing on you more. Then it will be safe to start some training without resistance, i.e. that recall/ "come". Good luck!

 

[Cimorene]

Thanks all, especially Otch1, who gives important and detailed instructions here. It is true that having problems with movement is making this very difficult, and I will use these well. It is a very different training process, and slower than usual: he still will let his big brother distract him when he is out, and come in and sneak away and poop on the floor. I've started keeping a leash on him at all times, though, so I'm going to have to act on that. I'm not training as effectively has I once could, as consistency is difficult, but with the leash I can do it. He's starting to bond now, actually come over to be petted and made much of, and that is a BIG advance! I'm seeing that he's really sweet and willing, but he just needs very detailed and specific information on what he is to do: he's a Sheltie, after all! by the way, I'm not in a chair--yet--but have severe rheumatoid arthritis, and need to have knee surgery, at least, when I can find the funding. I am in constant pain, so that is why it's difficult to be consistent and patient, with this little guy darting here and there. But we're making it, just a little more slowly. I like the idea about being the one to feed him, especially as I am the one home with him most and need his obedience the most!

 

[daaqa]

for some reason i thought of the monks of new skete. i believe it is there practice to train a puppy by keeping the pup on a lead at all times [except when they are in a crate at night] so the pup is with you ALL DAY. apparently it creates this huge bond between the dog and handler and makes training way easier.
anyway, apparently, it teaches the dog to pay attention to you entirely and stay with you around the house. also, you are never chasing after the dog. the on-lead thing is temporary until the dog is conditioned to stay near you and paying attention to you.
they wrote a book about it, which i read part of several years ago. so it might be helpful for you in your position in how to walk through training in a situation where you have the dog on leash constantly.

 

[otch1]

Hello again, Cimerone! Got your email, sent you another one. Just want to add, that because this is a Sheltie and they're very "keen" on movement, there are a few things you can do to help him right now, with the training process. Your movement is going to be a little different, more abrupt. You won't walk with him, pet him or handle him quite the same way other family members do and he needs to be most responsive to you, in my opinion. Start desensitizing him to that, right now. Reccommend a weekly object be introduced by a family member, that's going to be dropped while he's on leash with you. Have someone drop a broom, the handle hitting the ground., tip a chair over, drop a book on the floor. Bait him, (i.e. chicken when he's hungry)and reward him for staying close and not trying to bolt. You can keep lead under your foot, to keep him close, verses having him pull on your hand. Be very upbeat about this. This exercise right now will be as valuable, if not more, than the "sit". He's learning to stay close to you, feel safe near you, regardless of circumstances, especially if it's you that's eventually dropping something, unintentionally. This is an important exercise for puppies in these circumstances. Can't wait to see more pctures of him!

 

[Ratboy]

Your dog reminds me a lot of King. This is the usual reaction I get when I call him to come in, or to do about anything else. He does sit for food, and knows what "HOT" means. Anything else, and it's a 50/50 chance at best he listens. Most of the time, the head cocks, and the nose starts sniffing, and he just stands there. Sometimes he really frustrates me, other times he just makes me laugh. Since he's 8 now, I've surrendered long ago to the fact that he's not going to do much of anything he doesn't want to, and I should be happy he LIKES to go to the Vet! And that he ignores things that make every other dog in the neighborhood bark their head off, including sister Molly.


At least Molly comes, but she's a basket case most of the time. She only seems to enjoy herself when she's finishing off some Possum that dares come into her yard!