I am new to dog training and have been going through the "groundwork" program with my adopted dog-a 10 month old labrador. This has worked wonders to getting the dog focused on me. I am crating her when she is not on a leash, and I am the only one who interacts with her at this time. The dog and I are beginning basic obedience, and have sit and down pretty good. Also, I use a prong and she is walking with me pretty well. I used the advice from the basic obedience video to correct her pulling.

How far does my dog have to go in basic obedience before my girlfriend can take her out to potty?

From what I understand from I believe it was Basic OB, or maybe 8 weeks to 8 months, and from my personal experience, designated people can take the dog out to do it's business, then return the dog to the kennel. This is how I'm doing it now with my pup when I am at work.

I've told my two designees no play, no extra free time, no nothing. As for their inquiries about how to "train" my pup to not jump up, and what to do when he does this, I've showed them how to put their hand(s) down, then turn their body facing away from the pup. I've succiently stated it's not their job to do any training.

I believe it is a natural response for dog lovers to become "trainer" (in it's varying capacities) when on the end of the leash, so it's important that others understand you are the one doing the training.

Thank you for the quick response!

My girlfriend is very jelous that she cannot play with the dog. Why can't she play with the dog, and how does this rule relate to pack drive?

Hi Rick,

I also have a 10 month old Lab...have had him since he was young...and even though my dog is not going to be a "working dog" I followed Ed's advice as much as possible.

My fiancee played with our pup and interacted with him a lot. He is, after all a "family" dog. However, I do the training...period...and it shows. My dog will occasionally blow off my fiancee, act a little disrespectful, or take a few seconds longer to obey a command then he will with me. He loves us both but he respects me more...which means I either did a great job or a lousy job training him

With a puppy, and I would think especially with an adopted older puppy or dog, one person needs to stand out as the pack leader. Right now you are getting to know your dog (and she's getting to know you) and it is far less confusing if only one person takes charge of the dog, lays down the rules, and shows her what is expected. I think it is very difficult for 2 people, unless they have tons of training experience, to be on the same page.

I'm new to all of this, too, so I may be wrong.

Rick: my understanding (of Ed's thinking) is that you want your dog to see YOU and only you as the center of its universe.

When dog owners start letting their friends, kids, neighbours and every stranger off the street pet the dog and play with it, the dog has no reason to focus on you. Why would he? Everyone can provide him with affection, play and entertainment.

So when you're training the dog and he sees someone walking by, he might as well just blow you off and go get petted by the stranger. Why work for you when he can get what he wants for free from someone else?

People who raise working dogs or sport dogs want their dogs to focus on them (and only them) and they want the dog to bring all the intensity it has to the training.

This is hard when the dog gets distracted by everything and everyone and doesn't see you as special

If you're just raising a family pet, I don't see a problem with letting your girlfriend play with the dog. She is a pack leader after all. Just don't ask her to do any training with her. One person should do all the training.
Once the dog is solid on the commands (even with distractions around), then you can show your GF how to give the commands and how to correct/praise the dog.
She has to handle the dog the EXACT same way you did when training the dog in order not to confuse it (this includes intonation in how the commands are said, how to praise, how to correct, timing etc).

Oh and it's not a problem for a family member to let the dog out to do its business or to feed it. Just have them treat it as a sterile exercise (no playing, training - just hold the leash or just put the food down and that's it).

I hope this helps...

Of course in the end it's all up to you. If you're fine with a dog that will look to both you and your gf for its needs, then by all means let her play with the pup
If you want to take this dog to a high level of competition, then you may want to continue as you're doing now and be the only person in this dog's life to actively engage it, play with it, give it affection, give it commands etc.

Good luck, it sounds like you're doing a great job with your pup

I think the key word here is "ground work" and establishing good solid ground work means, to me, that for a period of time ONE person is responsible for all the necessities and joy in a dog's life, like feeding and play time. In the case of a working dog this may continue for the life of the dog. With a family dog, such as mine, we didn't follow the "rules" so strictly.

My fiancee and daughter did and do play with True...try keeping a 10 year old away from a puppy...but in the beginning, when he first came home, I spent the majority of time with him and made myself the most interesting, fun, and central person in his life. I didn't ban anyone from interacting or playing with the dog but I made sure I was present during play time and that I spent more time with him than anyone else.

Editing to add that I type too slow and you got great advice from Yuko and Mike. They know best!

Oh and Rick, to give you an example of the finished product; I raised my male shepherd (now 13 months) pretty much the same way, following Ed's philosophy.

I did let family members pet him and play with him here and there, but 99% of the pup's play, affection and attention came from me. I was the only one to feed him, the only one to walk him and the only one to train him (family members did let him out in the yard or occasionally hand him table scraps).

He does a great job of following my commands now and his focus and attention are exceptional (although he was always like this, even as a baby, so I can't take full credit for this ).
I taught my family how to handle him and he listens well to them and even has no problem taking corrections from them (he will NOT take a correction from a stranger).

He does however glance over to me a lot when working with a family member, as if to check with me that this is what I want him to do.

If I give a command, he'll obey my command over anyone else's (family members can't call him out of a down-stay that I put him in, for example).

If I call him while he's playing with family, he'll drop what he's doing right away and come charging over to me. Same if he's playing with another dog; he's always more interested in what I'm up to than anything else that's going on around him.

So yes, there are definitely great benefits in raising a pup the way you're doing it. How far you want to take it is entirely up to you


Edit: lol, Sarah beat me to it. Yep, same advice as her - a little play here and there from family won't hurt when raising a pet. Heck, I'm raising a competition sport dog (2 of them at the moment) and I still let my family give them a pat and affectionate words here and there or toss a toy to the dog.
They are house dogs after all, no harm in allowing them to interact a little with fellow pack members

I just want to add that I too allow playtime with my son/husband and step son, and even with our "extended" family IF I am present and dog is on lead. So far, this seems the safest and best method for reaching the training goals I have for my boy. Important IMO, to have family fun with the dog...