I'm feeling lost. So the past few days Zak has been doing REALLY well. He's been trying really hard and I've been doing my best to be super clear and consistent with what I want from him. But this morning was a complete disaster. I went to his cage to take him outside, he was acting crazy, jumping on the doors, spinning in circles, you get the idea. So I just turned my back to the cage until he settled down and sat, then went to open the door and he lunged at it, so again I turned away and waited for him to settle down. This went on for a good ten minutes.
When he was finally settled down and I got him out and the leash clipped on, he lunged for the stairs (which are just a few feet away from his crate), proceeded to bolt down them, taking me with him. So yes, I ended up tripping/falling down the stairs...
At the door, he did the usual, turned in a few circles and then waited patiently for my release to go through the door. When I released he bolted through the door. I tried to hold onto his leash to keep him from running but since I don't have a very large or strong build, he quickly took over and dragged me quite a way down my driveway. (Which is currently covered in snow/ice, so no traction there) Once I finally got him to the yard, he did his business, and as I started walking back to the house with him, he started lunging again. This time I held him back and we made it safely back.
I'm a bit lost on what I should do if this happens again, because I don't want to get hurt and I don't want Zak to get hurt either.
Also, I have a few other questions.
When he is in the mental isolation stage, do I speak to him at all to tell him to sit or wait?
When I take him outside for a walk and he pulls, do I correct it, or let him figure it out himself since he wears a prong collar?
When will I know when he's ready to be out of the mental isolation stage? What should I look for in his behavior?
Do I used treats during mental isolation or is that a privilege?

Sorry this is so long and for having so many questions. But thanks in advance for the help!

Hi Anna!

There is a class called Control that Crazy Canine: Building impulse control in the competition dog throught the Denise Fenzi Online Acamdemy (Admin please delete if I am not allowed to post this here)

It started Dec 1st, so might be a little late to start at the silver or gold levels, but if you did the Bronze you can still get all the information. She specifically is working with the crate and doorways right now. She has some good exercises for teaching impulse control at the crate!

To me this situation sounds like a young dog, and ZERO impulse control. You can't really blame the dog (or the handler LOL), it can be part of the learning curve.

I may have missed a previous thread somewhere, but is this a 2 week shutdown? If so, you can still work with this class and burn some mental energy off with the exercises WHILE teaching manners. Set yourself up a schedule, to work with the dog in several small sessions a day, really each time you take him out of his crate you can work on these exercises.

I may be way off base with my post, but hope it helps in the end!

What kind of dog is this and how old?

If this is an adult or older puppy...
When he sits and waits to be allowed through and door or out of his cage, even tho he is sitting, its an excited not calm wait. So if you just release the dog, of course he's going to bolt. Personally and esp due to the HAZARD of letting this happen, I would correct him...BUT... I would not release the dog from the pen and correct the snot of of him after he bolts, that's not exactly fair...I'd correct him the second he first makes a move to pass you...the very minute he moves after you open the gate, THAT moment, remind him to respect you!

In other words, you are telling him instead of "ok you're free, respect ends here"...you're saying "ok come with me but don't be rude and pass me"....make him walk by your side, he should not be running by you to go to the door, YOU are the pack leader. Do this calmly and make the corrections timely, don't wait until he lunges and corrects himself, he shouldn't be leading you at all. You don't have to be harsh and this should be done in a very calm manner.

When you are going out the door to outside and he is sitting, same thing. Do NOT just release him to blow by you...make him walk with you to the potty area and tell him to go potty but don't release with a ok now you can run a muck.

That said, do not correct him for being frustrated because that will increase the frustration. I've done that before not knowing it. If he spins a circle and then sits or whines, just ignore that stuff...but don't let him pass you.

IN ADDITION I'd also work with him when you are not letting him out. Literally just stand there and mark/treat him every time he is calm. Do not react or give any instructions. Only do this when you have the time to stay calm yourself and have no expectations. After a while you can add a sit, then a wait and soon enough he'll offer a calm sit...then you just extend it.

I want to add that IDEALLY this would have been taught to any puppy with marker training early on.

The prong collar is not used to "let the dog correct himself".

If this dog is new to the handler, or has never been trained before, then there is no reason marker training can't be used now. I agree with you Tresa, if this were a dog being proofed, but I don't think any correction for a dog who has no clue what to do, is fair, just IMO. Also, it sounds like this dog is on lockdown, but not getting any training to drain mental energy yet, which will also increase frustration, and not the dogs fault, again IMO. Is this dog getting physical exercise?

I guess it depends on what Anna comes back with, like you, I think I missed a post somewhere LOL!

Hi guys,
Just to clear a few things up for you, Zak is an almost 2 y/o intact male German Shepherd. I have had him for a little less than 8 months. Before I learned about Leerburg, I was under the impression that "obedience training makes a polite pet". We worked on very low level obediencefor 4-H and that was about it.
As far as exercise goes, I take him for about a one hour walk/run each day.I have about 80 acres of vacant land around my house we can explore, so we walk through fields, wooded areas and creeks.
And also, we have just started establishing pack structure a little less than a week ago. I've been watching the pack structure dvd which is really helping.
Thank you for such quick responses. This is all very new to me as this is my first personal dog. My family had a GSD from the time I was 5 to last year, when she passed away. My dad was her pack leader and she was also previously schutzhund (sp?) Trained so I have never had experience dealing with dogs who know nothing because I was so little when she was a young dog.

I'm about ready to go take Zak for a walk so when I get back I will let you know how it went.

 Quote: Niomi Smith

I guess it depends on what Anna comes back with, like you, I think I missed a post somewhere LOL!

If it helps at all, here are Anna's two very recent threads about this dog, the issues she is having, and the steps she is now taking.

This one first:

http://leerburg.com/webboard/thread.php?topic_id=33920&page=1#387159

Then this one:

http://leerburg.com/webboard/thread.php?topic_id=33937&page=1#387383

Thanks Cheri!

OP - Ok so after reading the two previous threads, I maintain my stance on teaching this dog what you want. Then move to the proofing. You admitted as that you let things slip (as many of us have done from time to time), so you are already in the right direction with the pack structure, but I would start working this dog with marker training.

I completely agree with the previous suggestions of the pack structure routine and NILIF, as well.

Now that I know the back story, I really think this has a lot to do with impulse control. There was once a video on here of Ed teaching the very basics of impulse control using food with a Corgi, I will see if I can find it and link it.

If you can, check out that class I mentioned. Or youtube videos that show crate games, using marker training. It is quite a long process to type out, but I can get video of my own dogs I will. Anyone else have video teaching impulse control with the crate?

Then you would move the training to the door etc.

ETA: Found it! http://leerburg.com/flix/videodesc.php?id=59

Thank you for the video! I really like that. That could also be applied to teaching him to pay less attention to the cat once we have worked on the food, correct?

As for our walk this afternoon, it actually went a lot better than this morning. He was much more respectful. I'm guessing this morning's issues may have had to do with his lack of exercise the day before.

Again, thank you so much for your helpful info! It's nice to have so many helpful people who are always here to help out the less experienced guys like me