This is about a 3-year-old who has been with me for about a year. He came to me completely untrained at 2, except for being house-broken, but has done great with general obedience and has been what I consider to be very well-trained for over 6 months.

Almost all his nature calls are answered on the walks (several walks every day), when he is released from heel to do whatever doggy stuff he wants (to the limit of the leash, I mean). He gets lots of exercise.

But once or twice a day he goes outside, in the yard, with no leash, while I stand in the doorway.

Until this week, he would go out, sniff around for a minute or two, and do his business. Then I'd clap ("come") and he would trot right back to the door.

Now he has started sniffing around and exploring, and waiting for the clap ("come") to choose the spot and pee, and THEN come.

Does anyone have thoughts on this? This dog has never rebelled in any way before, and he's not dominant. Do I need to put his leash on for these little trips to the yard, or what? This seems to me to be a test of who's in charge. Am I over-thinking it?

Thanks.

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..... This seems to me to be a test of who's in charge. .....

Forgot to say: This is a (mostly; maybe all) GSD.

Hello Connie,

Have you received an offline response? I'm also interested in
the answer.

Best,

Martin

I'm not an expert by any means, but....my first guess might be that at almost 3 years old (& as you said, mostly GSD that mature mentally between 18 to 36 months) he is coming into his own (being fully matured) and may be trying to test the waters a little bit. You might try going back to basics (training) & ground work (read Ed's article) to establish leadership and complience to commands. I just did this with my new 3 year old male ( I have had since early October)& it made all the differance in the world. The more experienced trainers here may have some other imput for you. Okay Will, you can let me have it now !!!!OUCH !!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> I don't think that I overstepped my bounds & knowledge level here. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Put a long line & pinch on him. Then use your command ONCE (with his name)& give him a quick jerk. If this works, keep using this method so that he knows every time you say "here" (or whatever) he knows you're serious. After a week or so, he should be ok, but I would be inclined to not let him loose even in the back yard until he responds every time (without a jerk).

I forgot to say "praise him" when he responds correctly.

is he maybe associating the clap w/going potty, ie, a signal that he should "go"? i know this is a little old, but as i was reading your post, that's what occurred to me...

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is he maybe associating the clap w/going potty, ie, a signal that he should "go"? i know this is a little old, but as i was reading your post, that's what occurred to me...

OK, this is totally embarrassing....... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />..........after I posted this in January I didn't see any answers, and I didn't want to re-post for such a small thing.........then I started seeing the topic on the "Active Topics" list, but I had forgotten what I had called it and I didn't know it was my thread........

Then when I read about clapping and potty just now, I thought, "That almost sounds like my question!"

DUH!

So now I have several things to try, and I'll do so immediately and tell everyone what works. THANK YOU for the replies! It felt like a stupid question, but still, one that I wanted to solve. He may indeed be testing me, but he never has been anything but eager to be trained.

I'm going to try that last item. Maybe I have to teach a potty word so the clapping doesn't signal potty.

THANK YOU!

Do you remember the commercial "clap on, clap off...the clapper"? Just change the "l" to an "r" (my sad attempt at humor) <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

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Do you remember the commercial "clap on, clap off...the clapper"? Just change the "l" to an "r" (my sad attempt at humor) <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Wow. That WAS sad.

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Not as sad as not recognizing my own thread's title, though........