7 1/2 month old GSD. He is at training classes.

When I walk him on my own he is superb, like glue to my leg. When my other dog comes with us and the children are there too he is silly. Also for the first 15 minutes or so he is stupid at obedience classes too. Took him to town today and had to come home HE WILL NOT LISTEN to me when he is out.

What can I do to rectify this and ensure he listens to me. He has a correction collar on.

He is pretty young to expect perfect obedience under such distractions, I would think. You need to take a step back in training & start with very little distraction & work up over time to greater distractions. The other dog plus family is way too much distraction overload for such a young dog. IMO

Ed just put out a pdf on ground work. It summarizes very nicely how to get your dog on track. You should read it carefully, and think about things you can do to improve your skills as a pack leader.
Please also remember that 1. you have a puppy and what you are describing is puppy-like behavior that hasn't yet been properly corrected, and 2. some of his behavior is due to the lack of reinforcement in his training so far. If I were you, I would never give a command you can't enforce and start doing some short and very positive training sessions under distracting conditions. You might want to start with small distractions, like a ball and such. Also be sure that your pup understands the command you want, and you just aren't telling him no with no real direction as to something he can do to please you. What I mean specifically is that lets say you are walking and he sees someone he wants to go to. So he starts pulling you and you say no and jerk the leash. You are tugging and keep walking and he is still pulling and you are just saying no and getting frustrated. (not saying this is how it is happening, but a for instance). So instead, you should give the dog a command and correct him if he breaks the command (like a down, heel, or sit), and put him back into working the command immediately. This is called "proofing". You should only move onto proofing your dog if you are absolutely positive he knows the meaning of the command. If not, you are expecting way too much from the dog. The proofing stage can take some time for puppies because their learning can be very situational at first (although this is not true for all puppies). Thats why proofing in as many situations, with as many distractions as you can imagine will be the best for your dog.
Good luck.
Michelle

One other point is to make sure you know how to give a motivational correction and that your prong collar is properly fit. However, unless your pup is super hard, I don't envision you having to give veyr motivational corrections to your dog at this point. BUT, then again, one good corrections is better than 1000 nagging ones, so you have to match them to the temperament of your dog. And remember that you will have to correct harder when your dog is in drive to get his attention.

You have received good suggestions already, but, if I may, I'd like to add a small thing that might sound counterproductive but can be helpful with an excited pup in classes.

QUOTE: Also for the first 15 minutes or so he is stupid at obedience classes too. END

In this situation, it can make a big difference to take him for a good walk before you go in, to take the edge off. Classes with other dogs and new humans are so exciting!

You don't need him exhausted, but nicely un-wired can be good in an Ob class.

 Quote:

7 1/2 month old GSD. He is at training classes.

When I walk him on my own he is superb, like glue to my leg. When my other dog comes with us and the children are there too he is silly. Also for the first 15 minutes or so he is stupid at obedience classes too. Took him to town today and had to come home HE WILL NOT LISTEN to me when he is out.

What can I do to rectify this and ensure he listens to me. He has a correction collar on.

Mike, this is the rescue GSD you've only had a couple of months? If I remember correctly, he was not taken care of before you got him, so probably not trained at all as well. If it were me, I would not even take him to training classes yet until he was obeying simple commands at home, under graduating levels of distraction. A puppy (or otherwise) training class is full of intense distraction for a pup that hasn't been exposed to different levels of distraction at home first. You'll be fighting him all the way.

Taking him to town is just as overwhelming distraction-wise as a training class. I think training classes are good for "proofing" the dog after he's been proofed at home. I'd go a lot slower with your rescue pup, he's had not such a good babyhood before you came along. He needs lots of play at home with family and small sessions of training with gradually bringing in distractions, small at first. Like a family member standing around while you train, then later family member walking around as you train, then 2 family members walking around, etc. This is the proofing at home phase. Then proof in the front yard, then a bit away from your house, then on a walk. Then he's ready for major proofing at a training class or out on the town.

Go slow, cause if you continue slowly and consistently, he will become consistent as well. Expect small, praise big. You'll be rewarded.

Thank you all once again. Super advice.

I will take him for a walk before I go into classes as advised.

When he wears a correction collar (choke chains we call them <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> ) he plays up, when he has a prong on he doesnt BUT the man doing the classes WILL NOT allow prong colars to be used even though his mood is far far better when wearing it.
He said they only train with choke chains and nothing else. Thing is the other day he was wearing his correction chain and really played up for me in town. Today I took him to a street carnival, with fireworks, floats bands dancers etc and he had his prong on and he never batted an eyelid. NOTHING fazed him. He is like a new dog with his prong on. Very obedient, walks great and is very calm. The difference is like chalk and cheese.
Reason I bought the prong is he is a reasue and obviously I need to be able to control him in different circumstances. As I dont know him I need something he takes notice of, the prong. With a pup I have raised I may not use one but as I dont know his background other than he was abused I need to be careful till I know him better. He tried to bite my daughter when we first got him as she went running past and I gave him a big correction on the prong. Since then he has never done it and totally ignores her which is fine with me, but he wears it till I know him and know what things set him off. I am just trying to be cautious and a good dog owner. I have bought 4 of the Leerburg DVD's so am watching them.


Seems to me that I should keep him on the prong and his behaviour would be like this all the time. I have in a way answered my own question <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Just one thing though why do the prongs have to look so barbaric lol. In the US I think they are widely used but here in the UK they are not and I fear going out sometimes because of peoples reactions. Problem being they take one look at it and their minds are made up.

Anyhow THANKS once again very much appreciated

Mike, I think you did answer your own question. Tie a bandana, scarf, etc. that will cover the prong and hopefully nobody will notice. Sounds like you are learning your dog. Good job!

As you are beginning to see you just have to try different things to see what works best for you and your dog. How hard I push my dogs depends on how hard they push me. It's up to them. However, it's up to me to outsmart them and figure out what works best.

Best of luck, sounds like you are trying hard to do what is right and fair with this dog.
Debbie

Well Connie, I guess we were posting at the same time!!!!