Still new to all of this so here goes:

Puppy should be on a leash/line outside?
What is the reasoning for this/ how do I apply it in action/ and I notice that usually the pups end up pooping or peeing on it at some point! Is this what everyone else deals with? 3 and 4 mo

Can I try to train these dogs to do more than obedience (not 100% sure what all the obedience commands are) maybe things like jumping up to touch something or running on a see saw- just some fun things that we can learn and work on together when they are ready.

The 4mo I have -on his walks he does like to pull on the leash- is this normal at his age? Do I need to do anything special in this situation?


PPD- does this mean personal protection dog? If someone owns one and a *bad guy* breaks in what does the dog do? Just curiousness on my part- trying to understand the scenario!

Anywho- Just had a few questions if anyone has any thoughts or info- my videos haven't arrived so I am chomping at the bit!

The reason for the leash or line is so you can easily grab it in case the puppy doesn't come when called and heads somewhere he shouldn't. If the puppy isn't prone to running away you can just let him drag the leash around. If he is prone to running off you may want to tie it to something. Also you can work on the recall with the long line. If you call the puppy and it doesn't come you pull it to you with the leash to show it that you want it to come to you.

Most common obedience commands are of course the, "come". Others are sit, down (lie down) and the different commands related to good manners like off (not jump up), don't bite (Molly never has gotten that one. I call her a landshark. :grin and general safety commands like, "drop it" and "NO!" (usually the puppy will mistake the "No" command for it's name at first).

What words you use for the commands are up to you unless you want to compete in shows or other events that require a certain command. Not sure how that works so someone else will have to clarify that.

Pulling on the leash is normal for some dogs. Molly did it a little but she was extremely easy to train to a leash. Overall it's common but it depends on the dog for how easy it is to break them of it.

I'm pretty sure PPD refers to a trained Personal Protection Dog. Never had a need for one myself since all my dogs have been protective when they need to be without any special training.

What videos have you ordered? I have Basic Dog Obedience, Electric Collar Training For Pet Owners, Establishing Pack Structure with the Family Pet and Dealing with Dominant & Aggressive Dogs. I liked the one on dominant and aggressive dogs. Not that Molly is the least bit dominant or aggressive but I often take care of a neighbor's dog who is dominant and aggressive.

Edit: If the puppy poops or pees on the line you can use a nylon or cotton line. Cotton is preferred.

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

Edited by Matt Wyrick (06/07/2008 05:49 PM)
Edit reason: Added a comment

Thanks for the info

I ordered the puppy 8 weeks to 8 months, Basic Obedience, and Pack Structure to start with.

I work with the dogs in the back yard and most of the time they come when I call them but I am sure I will learn more in the video.

My dear dog Daisy was in the house when someone broke in and she slept thru it all! She was on the older side but not aggressive or what I would call *protective*

I remember my old neighbor had a Rotweiller who was the sweetest dog and she always said "Ernie will let you ( bad guy)get in the house but you won't get back out" She never elaborated though.

 Quote: Elizabeth Stewar

I work with the dogs in the back yard and most of the time they come when I call them but I am sure I will learn more in the video.

A little hint: Your goal of a perfect recall is set back when you call at a time when you aren't certain of compliance and have no way to reel him in. This teaches the dog that it's optional.

You'll want to refuse to *ever* play keep-away, and for your dog to want to come when he hears you call.

That means that while you teach the recall, you never call to correct the dog or for anything bad. You just go get him.

This will all get clearer and clearer..... you'll love the videos. But you can practice your recall indoors when you know that he is going to come anyway and you can use it for every good thing in his life. Recall for dinner, for a walk, for a petting, for a car ride.....

PPD does mean personal protection dog.... a whole 'nother area of training.

The long lines that LB sells (yes, great for reeling in a dog with no comment if he doesn't comply with a recall) are washable; I throw mine into the washer in cold water with towels and then hang somewhere to dry. I love those long lines. Even an old one is wonderful to cut off and use for a drag leash.

I haven't figured out how to highlight a piece of convo yet so forgive me

*Your goal of a perfect recall is set back every time you call when you aren't certain of compliance and have no way to reel him in. This teaches the dog that it's optional.

You'll want to refuse to *ever* play keep-away, and for your dog to want to come when he hears you call.*

Set back means the dog comes back to you?
I just want to make sure that I am understanding correctly- if I have the long line and I issue the recall ( what word do you use with your dog?) there is no option for the dog to play keep away because I will reel him in- if I don't have the line then it will teach him that it is optional to come when called. Does that sound like I am understanding correctly?

The Pack Structure video is another of my favorites. Way back when I had a GSD I used what knowledge was available about pack structure but some of that was pretty far fetched such as parading with food in your mouth and howling (actually the howling was fun :grin.

Molly sort of showed up as a surprise. I went out to go to work one day and there she was. I ended up keeping her because she supposedly has some pitbull in the mix somewhere and the local shelter generally just puts any pitbulls or PB mixes down without trying to find them a home. They figure it's too much of a liability.

Thus I was a little behind the ball. I finally found Ed's website and have started catching up with the above videos. I just got lucky that I kept Molly out in a shed for the first week or so. I was still searching for her owner and didn't want to bond with her then have to give her back. Later I learned that it was recommended in the pack structure video to isolate the dog at first.

If the puppy isn't 100% on the come command then I'd suggest keeping a line on it or a drag leash. That way it won't learn that it can ignore the come command whenever it wants to. It will come whether it does it or you take the line and make it come to you. There's also the distraction stage. A dog that will come 100% in the back yard might not if it were on a sidewalk or park with people and other dogs. Usually I start with the leash without distractions then work to off leash but in a fenced yard. Once the dog is 100% there I start again with the leash in an environment with distractions and work that way until the dog is 100% then go off leash. You can get neighbors and friends with dogs and without dogs to come and proof your training. That way you keep the dog in a fenced area until you are completely sure it will come when called no matter what the distraction.

 Quote: elizabeth stewar

Set back means the dog comes back to you?
I just want to make sure that I am understanding correctly- if I have the long line and I issue the recall ( what word do you use with your dog?) there is no option for the dog to play keep away because I will reel him in- if I don't have the line then it will teach him that it is optional to come when called. Does that sound like I am understanding correctly?

What "set back" means is that you'll suffer a set back in your training if your dog thinks obeying your command is optional. Your goal is for your dog to come when you call every single time.

And if you had to pick one command to train to perfection, this is the one to choose...it can save your dog's life.

As Connie said, you will love the videos. And as she also said, practicing training inside the house is a whole lot easier than outdoors with so many distractions.

Thanks, Sarah.

Exactly:

Your recall is damaged if you call when you can't enforce it and are not sure that he will comply, because he learns that it's optional.

 Quote: Matt Wyrick

Way back when I had a GSD I used what knowledge was available about pack structure but some of that was pretty far fetched such as parading with food in your mouth and howling (actually the howling was fun :grin.

Dang. Ed's Pack Structure video doesn't have that.

We actually still do howl! It IS fun!! We always hope the neighbors can't hear us. It's so cool how all three of us (me and my s.o. and the dog) all get into it together. Given our current aggression problems, it feels like it really unifies us as a pack for that moment in time.