Hello,

I am just starting marker training. However, they both know sit etc. from previous formal obedience classes. When I ask one to sit they both do. Is it important to teach them to listen individually or is it OK if they do this? Give command to one dog and they both do it? I have the feeling it's not but I have no clue how to deal with this. Right now I am doing marker training outside with one while the other is inside in the crate. But for example when we are going somewhere and I have to give a command they both do it.

thanks,

Lenka

you know, I am really in a bind. We have had the older one for six years and the little one is 1.5 years old. My husband is very ill and the dogs are really for him as he is home all day long by himself. He does not always have the endurance and stamina to do the right thing. He cannot be without the dogs, they literally help him to make it through the day. Once he was holding the little one and he told her:" Saana, you make all my pain go away." So getting rid of them is really not an option. We did not give them a proper foundation because like most people we had good intentions just not enough information to do so and couple stupid trainers later the dogs are a mess. Last year the older one bit a neighbors kid and then he bit a visiting nurse. What a mess. Now I am on vacation till school starts and my big project is to get them under control enough for my husband to be able to manage them by himself. For the future if we are going to keep them they have to be able to tolerate medical personnel coming in, caring for my husband etc., other people taking them for walks and caring for them because I will not be able to do everything on my own as things get progressively worse. I would love for them to become service dogs but I am afraid they simply do not have the disposition for it and I don't have enough experience to teach them. So that's the issues we are dealing with. I have to say, I am exhausted. We have seen many good changes since we started groundwork but I feel like there is so much more to do! Right now they go berserk if anyone just gets near the house and if they see another dog forget it! That's a huge issues because I am afraid that they will pull on a leash and really hurt my husband when he is taking them out when I am at work. So that's where we are.

It really sounds like you're overwhelmed. I would be too, in your shoes. That you're even attempting to work out these training issues is a credit to your character and love for your animals.

I would really urge you to seek out a professional trainer who can come into the home to work with you on these issues. You've got such a complex situation, and advice given to fix one problem, might just exacerbate another because of the uniqueness of your circumstances.

The members of the board are always eager to help you look over potential trainers.

See the thing is I really don't know where to turn. First we took him to Petsmart, what a mistake. Then there was this really nice lady we were working with but she was not very experienced. When the dog bit the kid I called her begging for help and she told me "I really don't know what you want me to do" and she kept saying that the problem was leadership which, of course, was very evident to me. But I did not know how to establish leadership and got no guidance from her. Another trainer gave us a really stupid advice and never called back. Another one refused to take us on and said the dog just needed to be put down. Another one never called back and the last one is a yank and crank and I am never going to him. I tried to call the MA organization that deals with service dogs but they said they don't help people train their own dogs. So Leerburg is my last chance with these guys. I have nowhere to turn that I know of. May be there is someone else around here that I don't know of but they definitely are not in the phone book.

Where are you located?

Hey Lenka, when you have a problem that can be dangerous like your dogs biting people, don't automaticaly rule out what you may be thinking as far as yank & crank. You need a solution in a short time with some problems that require some absolute obedience. I'm not saying you need to get all rough and hard on them, but there are some old school trainers that you may find helpful.

For the time being, I would work them separate. Work on sit and down and make those two commands as solid as possible. I think it would be easier to work them together, later when they are clear on those two.

Lenka>> I have 4 dogs and I can call them by name and they listen. I say "Kaiser! sitz" "Helga! Platz" "Bommi! Relax" "Kari! Hier" and all of them do what they are told. So the theory is you call the name and issue the command.

But that is the theoretical answer to your initial question. But considering your special situation, you need unbiased help and a change in your outlook.

Training a dog in my limited experience is a mixture of Lovey Dovey time, patience, crank and yank, affection, aggression etc. .. So dont close your mind to any techinques. It is an animal at the end of the day no matter how we might choose to look at it, and we must deal with them as such. So, have an open mind about any technique that will work.

Just my humble opinion.

thanks for all the suggestions. I am on Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Lenka