I kind of need help focusing my training. Bruno is a family pet but I want to teach him more things but not sure exactly where to start. He knows commands like sit, down, come, and stay along with a few other silly things I've taught him to do but I feel like I want to step it up because I know he is capable of so much more, relieve boredom, and to strengthen our bond. Now the above commands he knows but is not 100% firm in that he does them every single time. Should I kind of go back and reinforce those until he is at 100% compliance before I move on? Also, when training can you vary training different things each day or do you stick with one until it is 100%? And then sometimes I get confused on what exactly I want to teach him? I know these may be basic questions but any help would be appreciated. I also know this post and myself need focus. I feel like after coming to this website and forum there are so many possibilities and just not sure where to begin. I am wanting to get a female pup maybe later on this year but really want to get settled with Bruno and my training first. Help!

One thing I encourage my pet owners to do is teach the dog to track. See the section on tracking through drive.
It's a fairly simple thing to start with most dogs (if you aren't planning on competing). It gets them to use their brains and gets them really tired.

Get his 'obedience' normally up to 99% and build from there - get a down etc at a distance. Teach him to walk to heel off lead etc. You could try a dog sport - depends on what decent clubs are near you.

Ok! One interesting note I watched on the marker training dvd where Cindy gets Raine, I think, to pick up the pvc pipe. So I tried this with Bruno this afternoon. He was sort of interested and nosed it a few times so I decided maybe he needed different treats so I went and bought some hot dogs and cut them up. We did again and he was offering all sorts of behaviors sit down going in his crate but he finally got it where he was putting it in his mouth. I don't want to rush anything but it was kind of exciting seeing the marker training work like that. I've never had that kind of attention from him before which was also very exciting.

Hehe Lori, I've always said my Kota would leave me in a heartbeat for someone with hotdogs . His drive goes WAAY up when he knows hot dogs are the reward.


Kota is also a pet dog and I'm just starting out training more than sit/stay/down stuff. Marker training has opened me up to a WHOLE new world of training. I'm fairly new to this but I'm finding with marker training I can create more distance with a sit/down, and can move on with more distractions. I've been teaching pick things up/put in box, bring to me.

Something I've just started is a journal (as recommended here) to track our progress but also so I can analyze where I'm going wrong (why he's not getting it ). I got the 100 tricks for dogs book, and have been working on some of the 'fun' stuff and he's getting it pretty well.

Tanith, thanks for the recommendation, I LOVE playing hide the treats with him, and I'm going to spend some time on that board now (some time, who am I kidding, I'm going to go read all the threads )

Also, there are no-chemical lower-sodium frozen hot dogs pretty much everywhere!

I'm going to check out that book. Great idea! It also really helped in the dvd when they were using the marker training on each other. It really helped me to understand things from Bruno's point of view which was why I guess I was so amazed that he did get it. He started out having absolutely no idea what I wanted him to do. Its easier to have more patience when you look at it from that angle. When you journal what kinds of things do write down and how do you critique yourself?

Oh, the DVD was excellent, I learned so much. I couldn't get all the way through the first time because a light bulb went on and I needed to do a session with the dog .

So far in my log before I even get the treats out I write down date, time, location (including possible distractions), goals, and treats used.
Then afterward I write down duration, how it went ie how focused he was, did I train for too long, etc the commands/actions we worked on. Then I write a goal for next time, whether it is back up a step, or add in a step ie add distraction he's got it, or break this into two parts, etc.

I thought of these basic ideas, what I need to work on, and what will be helpful to log for next time. I am interested in hearing others' opinion on their log.

So tonight he caught on again pretty quickly and actually picked it up and gave it to me but after a couple of times he decided he wanted to chew on the piece of pipe?

As far as scheduling goes do you train every day? Should I come home take him on his walk and then train? By that time I imagine he would be really ready to eat his supper? If I train before I walk I lose daylight? Am I overthinking this?

Next time I would only do the exercise a few times. Less than 5 seeing how he gets bored, maybe only three times.

Hehe, don't over-think this too much. Make training fun, that's the biggest thing I've gotten off this forum/marker dvd. I train every day in 3-7 minute increments usually twice a day.

Some days I incorporate training onto our walk. I'll let Kota have a loose leash/no leash and he will get distracted sniffing or marking. While distracted I call him to practice the recall (don't do this if your dog won't come back), or sit by my side, or heel, then he goes back on the leash then 10 minutes later he gets free time and we train more. I try to mix it up for both myself and the dog. This is the big reason I keep a log so I can track our progress, and can add actions we've learned in the house to our walk/outside time. I also like to have a general plan before we head outside.

I need to brag a minute here:
I was SUPER pleased this weekend when he found a valentines cookie (sugar, frosting and all) in the park. He picked it up, and started to crunch knowing this was against the rules. Six months ago, I would have gotten a recall AFTER the cookie was eaten, but this time after a 'leave it, come' he thought for a second, dropped the cookie and ran over. I was THRILLED. About a month ago he followed the scent of a fox, it ran through our front yard, across the street and just stood there watching him. Kota followed him to the end of the driveway and just waited. These have been the two areas that have needed fixing. He is an excellent dog 99% of the time, but food on the ground, and chasing animals are his weaknesses. I always wrote it off as 'he's a good dog except....for food in the park and his prey drive' Training twice a day has taught him that there WILL be a reward if he does what I say.

 Quote: Jennifer Skeldon

... I was SUPER pleased this weekend when he found a valentines cookie (sugar, frosting and all) in the park. He picked it up, and started to crunch knowing this was against the rules. Six months ago, I would have gotten a recall AFTER the cookie was eaten, but this time after a 'leave it, come' he thought for a second, dropped the cookie and ran over. I was THRILLED.

This would merit a super duper reward! I try to remember to carry a super duper reward in a separate pocket for such situations. If I don't have one, I jackpot.