Things are going very well with Dieks so far. He has great potential BUT he whines pretty consistantly when he isn't actively engaged. If he is on a tether, it is almost like a horse on a longe line. He circles me over and over again. When we are walking, he doesn't whine (but circles) and he doesn't whine or circle when being petted, but the second I disengage, he is back at it. If I ignore the whining, he will start to bark at me- great for teaching a good bark and hold later, which is my plan- but not so good when I am trying to teach him to relax in the house. This problem didn't occure until the girls and I got back from camp so I am hoping it has something to do with the additional household changes, but it's not pleasant right now for sure!
He has a clean bill of health as of Friday, aside from being about 15-20 lbs underweight. No parasites, bloodwork done just to be sure since he is a rescue etc.
What do I do since we are still in the groundwork/bond building stages. As of now, I am ignoring it, or changing chairs, walking to the kitchen etc. just to break the cycle. Should I put him back into his crate when it starts, or is he overcrated with the training and using whining as an outlet for his frustration? He is running on a long line with me 4x for 30 min in the yard a day and walking 2 miles morning and night at a brisk pace. I know we'll get through this, but an advice on how to make it simpler would be much appreciated!

What kind of mental exercise is he getting? What kind of training are you doing? If he wants to do something get going with that marker work!! Using that brain will help tire him out!

Also brisk walks and long line is probably not enough exercise for him. Does he play fetch? running full tilt after a ball might help, or get him going alongside a bike so he can get a good RUN in.

but if he was just neutered you might need to wait a couple more days before more exercise.

I'm guessing he needs a bit more exercise, some good training sessions to work his brain, then learn how to chill. Giving him a frozen kong or something to chew on will help him settle much faster!

Thanks Mara! We have just begun charging the mark. He is getting it, but I didn't want to start to soon. We do fetch on the long line, but he doesn't really charge after the toy, more of an unhurried trot. We are working on tug and slowly introducing a prong, but right now biking would be impossible- I don't think he has every really been walked before He would tip me over in seconds. Maybe if I get a cat shaped toy for him to run after...kidding!

Amy, get these two DVDs:

The Power of Training Dogs with Food
The Power of Playing Tug with Your Dog

They provide a good foundation of marker system and will give you inspiration for adapting your training to your goals.

You probably want to charge the marker before introducing the prong. In fact, markers could be used for introducing the prong It is explained in the Heeling DVD.

Ah, yes, the DVD's! My budget is sort of maxed out for the month with the animals I have aquired- but come Sept. 1st, I will order both. Good call about charging the mark before the prong- we'll put it away for a bit. He has just had it buckeled and un buckled a couple times during a rare calm moment, so it won't really be going backwards yet.
I just get so nervous all of the sudden because I don't want to screw him up.

Biking might be easier than you think. Sometimes they get out there and start running, get into a good rhythm and the whole thing just clicks. They're going faster then on foot so they have to focus more on what they're doing and where the bike is.

I live on a very quite road and with all of my dogs I just put harness and leash on, held the leash, started out slow and it just seemed to click with them. It's been great for Kenzi - she is the type that wants to check everything out and is a bit ADD, but she gets going on the bike and she settles into biking mode really nice. She wears a harness so if she's feeling really spunky she pulls me quite a bit

I may just have to try it Mara. Though I kind of wish my 8 yr old's helmet would fit me! I'll give it a whirl tomorrow and hope that I live to post another day!

 Quote: mara jessup

Biking might be easier than you think. Sometimes they get out there and start running, get into a good rhythm and the whole thing just clicks. They're going faster then on foot so they have to focus more on what they're doing and where the bike is.

I agree as I bike with all our current dogs and they seemed to take right to it. I have recently started to use a Walky Dog bike attachment to hold the said dog in place. however in the past, we tied the leash or clipped a traffic lead under the seat. I couldn't hold the leash and steer at the same time. My reactive dog is much calmer on bike than on foot unless carting or packing because of the focus required. I use a pull command "Hike" if I want help on hills (Hobbes starts whining whenever he sees a harness.) and a brake command "whoa" when I stop. I also tell them before I turn left or right as it was more important in the past so I wouldn't hit them with the front tire. I also use a couple other commands that Im not sure how to explain. Not saying you have to do it this way, but it's just to throw an option out there.

I think I am equally, if not more concerned with MY lack of coordination where biking is concerned Dieks has caused me more silly little injuries than my other 2 dogs combined to date! He is so much bigger and bouncier than Bella and Haz that my own adjustment is taking some time. My toes look like hamburger- IM(new)O Shepherds and flip-flops are a big no, crate doors are really sharp when you're wearing tank tops and yes, a dog can and will jump behind you on a bar stool to see what you are typing, regardless of whether he will actually fit or not! He is teaching me that I am not nearly as agile as I once though I was. Haha.

I know the feeling but you gotta love them. Hobbes is half shepherd and yes at 2 he sometimes still surprises me with his antics lol. Have fun with your boy.