I started my first ob class last night and my pup was completely distracted the whold time.
She has strong german lines and is 3 1/2 months
old. All of the other dogs were laid back labs and retrievers at 9 mon to a year old and just
looked at my high energy pup pulling and tugging at the end of her leash, barking and excited. I wouldn't say aggressive as she did not growl but
definately wanted to make contact. As the others was sitting and attempting stay my emma was tugging, as instructed I would change direction as to not let her have her way with small tug backs ( using a martingale collar) I was simply walking in small circles playing tug of war. I don't agree with corrections at this young age but am confused as to what to do she had no focus on me what so ever, she was totaly distracted. I have had her out many times and she has 3 trips to the vet and met other dogs
there without a problem. I am taking this class as more of a social thing and watched the leerberg Basic Obed tape and have been working her at home and she does excellent with sit and down without treats at times.
I don't want her to get accustomed to this pulling on her collar as being OK. Trainer suggested a choke collar with pops on the leash to get her attention or to slow down and not pull and lunge....Question is my pup to young for this group of laid back dogs. I would think she could learn from them although they are not allowed to touch and to keep a distance of 6 ft.
You get the pic...any suggestions????

Katie,
First off, your puppy *is* too young for most Obd. classes - it should be in a "puppy kindergarden" type class, which are mainly for socialization of dogs under six months of age. For your puppy to be a class with one year old dogs just doesn't work well.

I'm going to attempt to quote something Mr. Frawley says in one of his training tapes, it was either "Your Puppy 8 Weeks to 8 Months" or "Basic Dog Obedience" . He said basically that most dogs ( especially young ones ) *don't* learn well at Obd. classes due to the distractions there. And that sounds like the basis of your problem
I've found that to be very true thru out the years. Most dogs learn much better in a neutral environment such as it's own home or backyard , and they are much more likely to learn if they're not distracted by other dogs.

Obd. classes are great for proofing a dog once it's learned a command/ exercise, but for intial learning, they can be the pits. Your puppy isn't ready for the level of distraction that it's recieving in class.
Keep socializing your puppy, but as far as an Obd. class at this age - I'd wait for it to mature a bit.

Oh yeah, been there, done that lol! I would try teaching the heel by holding a treat in the heel position. DO not use the choke chain on her. Another thing you can try is to use "watch me" commands where you have tons of treats in your pockets. you give the command and quickyly bring a treat to your face. your dog has to look into your face, then you give her the treat. She will figure this out pretty fast, most likely and then you can start using "leave it". Tell her to "leave it" when you want her to ignore something and then run backwards pulling her back to you and tell her to "watch me". you could also do a circle or anything to get her attention off whatever and the "watch me" should bring her concentration completly back to you. Another thing, bring the treats to class and slip her treats during the excersises! Try holding one in your left hand so she can smell it while you are doing your excersises and make sure the treat is something she absolutly goes baserc over. If your dog is not food orientated, a favorite toy used only for a reward when working works great too. I think people thought I was weird when I was the only person who walked into Stubby's obedience class armed with 2 pockets full of treats and a hunting dummy with a rope tied around it that we use as a toy reward!

Thanks for the suggestions....I really want to stay in this class as it is so close to my house and I think that just being in a large room with other dogs is a plus versus not at all, there just isn't any puppy K classes without driving 30 miles and the weather is unpredictable at this time in Michigan. I have already concluded after the first night I am going only to get her to focus on me with all the distractions. As I have said I have the basic OB Tape and Most of the dogs on the tape are laid back and older, though I am using some of the techniques I am careful not to use corrections so much and more praise. I definately will find a bazerk treat she loves before next Tuesday as I kid you not She was a workout forsure and I couldn't concentrate on what the trainer was saying all the time. I am thinking I should tire her a bit before I go next time a few rounds of fetch and away we go. Wish Me Luck THANKS AGAIN FOR SUGGESTIONS. Katie