Hi,

My 5 month old German shepherd puppy is an awesome dog and will obey when food is present or a treat is available, but I have to repeat a command two or three times before he will do it otherwise. Even then he will do it slowly and it almost seems like out of boredom he is sitting down and doesn't care too much to lay down after he's sit down. I praise him after he does each exercise physically whether he gets food or not.

He knows all of his commands when food is there, and he will sit, down, stay, come, stop, wait without delay. I was with him in the front yard today trying to get him to sit, down, and stay. When I recall him with come, it's no problem because that's what he wanted to do all along. He will obey commands at a distance if he receives food.

In my honest opinion I have not overused food as a bait. I used it for the first week or training at 10 weeks, then after that I used it every now and then but mostly used physical praise, such as a pat on the head or rub behind the ears with a cheerful 'GOOD SIT!'

I'm not necessarily looking for advice from members here but that is readily appreciated. I'm a very visual learner so I'm asking which DVD would be recommended for my problem. I know I can read the summaries of each video but I'd rather have someone's opinion who has used and was successful with a video that has the same situation as me.

I'd also like opinions on starting corrections at 5 months? I will research all proper techniques and I'm interested to hear whether corrections can make the dog fearful and which method I should use for him. He's learns the actual command quickly but he just feels that everything else in the world is more interesting than listening to me telling him to sit.

Any and all advice is very much appreciated.

-Eliz O'Donnell

So you started out using the food as a bribe rather than a reward? (Just trying to get the whole picture.)

I mean, you exhibited the food as you gave the command?

Do you have this?

http://www.leerburg.com/302.htm


And have you read this?

http://www.leerburg.com/markers.htm



P.S. Welcome to the board!

No, I used food as a reward rather than just petting him(and I kept the food behind my back). I'm saying "baiting" because after he ate the food I'm sure that's what he was waiting for after he initially performed the command correctly. The food made him want to complete the command on cue but now he keeps expecting it even though I haven't used it as much. I'm going to the links you gave me, thank you for responding so quickly!!

edit:

Oh my God, I never saw that Marker Training article, as I read it I think I told myself "DUH" about ten times. It all seems like common sense now. I've been looking at the Basic Dog Obedience video for a while and I was skeptical about it since I've actually bought a few obedience videos that were very disappointing. I'm going to browse through the comments on the video but this sounds exactly what I'm looking for.. I want my dog to pay attention and I obviously have a lot to learn as well. Thanks so much for your help Ms. Sutherland!!

Edited by Elizabeth O'Donnell (10/15/2007 07:25 PM)
Edit reason: update

 Quote: elizabeth o'donnell

Oh my God, I never saw that Marker Training article, as I read it I think I told myself "DUH" about ten times. It all seems like common sense now. I've been looking at the Basic Dog Obedience video for a while and I was skeptical about it since I've actually bought a few obedience videos that were very disappointing. I'm going to browse through the comments on the video but this sounds exactly what I'm looking for.. I want my dog to pay attention and I obviously have a lot to learn as well. Thanks so much for your help Ms. Sutherland!!

LOL. Yes, it's the way to go. Anything but marker training (IMHO) is wasting a huge resource. :>

The video #302 goes right along with the same methods. You'll love it.

P.S. BTW, the marker ("yes" in the article) can be a clicker if that's what you prefer.

I use my voice (with "yes"), but there are lots of people who feel that they are faster and more consistent with a clicker.


Another P.S.:

There's a merker podcast (free) here: http://www.leerburg.com/dogtrainingpodcasts.htm