Hello good people! Lately, I have been having problems with my 11-month old Belgian Malinois.

6 months before I got him, I started to learn about dog training and management and what not. Bought/rented several Michael Ellis DVDs as well and tried to learn as much as I can with those. I finally got the puppy and I realized nothing could have prepared me for it! It is my first time to own a pet dog. I had (still do) high expectations and quickly become frustrated when things don't happen the way I want them to. I now realize that this is because I have spent heaps of hours watching ME videos that I expected my first dog to be perfect.

When the puppy turned 6 months old (I remember ME saying that this is the post-teething stage) I started playing tug with him. I didn't do food-engagement outside because I didn't know how to make raw treats and raw food is messy and wet. The only tool for engagement that we do outside is tugging. I again remember ME saying that we should engage puppies at a young age and do it outside as well so we have the benefit of a puppy's attention plus socialization to places, things, and what not. And I didn't do that.

So now, when I take the dog outside he only wants to smell things, go up to other dogs or (try to) chase cats and lizards and frogs. He just doesn't want to look at me. We are at a point now that food-engagement outside the house wouldn't work. When we do engagement with food in the house, he would even get distracted by a sound or an insect that's flying and will immediately begin to act as if I'm not there.

Tugging is a little hit-and-miss for us. He tugs with energy, bring the tug back when I throw it, and outs but when there's a dog in the DISTANCE, he would spit the toy out and look at the dog and wouldn't move even if I poked him. It's like he spaces out.

I went back to re-watching the "Engagement" sections of the Food and Tug DVDs to learn more. And ME suggested that I praise the dog while tugging so he keeps being engaged, makes sounds or pull the tug in short bursts. I try to do those and he responds with energy when there are no distraction/s.

Okay, so on to the question. LOL. What should I do more to keep my dog engaged?

Shame that just a couple of hours ago, the Forrest Micke DVD and the ME (Leash Skills) were on a 50% discount. Checked just now and the discounts were gone. I remember it was said that it was going to last til the 31st of this month. Bugger.

Is the Forrest Micke - Engagement Skills DVD good for someone like me? Or should I get the Advanced Concepts in Motivation DVD instead?

Thank you! - JC

Edit: I should mention that our dog lives inside the house with us and has full access to everything. He sleeps in the room my wife and I sleep in. The only thing we don't allow him to do is get on the bed. Maybe that's the reason why he doesn't want to engage with me when we're outside because he is with me throughout the day?

This is a journal of what I went through to motivate the adult GSD that I adopted. I had exactly the same problems that you describe. It would be a disservice to think that there is an easy answer to your question. It is a process.

http://leerburg.com/webboard/thread.php?topic_id=31017&page=1

 Quote: Duane Hull

This is a journal of what I went through to motivate the adult GSD that I adopted. I had exactly the same problems that you describe. It would be a disservice to think that there is an easy answer to your question. It is a process.

http://leerburg.com/webboard/thread.php?topic_id=31017&page=1

Thank you very much Duane! I appreciate it! Btw, did you or anyone you know need either a 'Leash Skills w/ Michael Ellis' or 'Engagement Skills w/ Forrest Micke' DVD? I am about to buy both of these DVDs but I don't need the physical copies, I only need the streaming versions as I live outside the US.

If you or anyone you know need either of those, please feel free to inbox me your or their address and I will have the DVDs shipped there instead of looking up random addresses on Google Maps and sending it to unsuspecting people. LOL

Cheers - JC

Wow Duane...can't believe it has been 5 years! You & Sadie have come SO FAR....from that first post. Very nice work.

I've seen your posts on there, too, Anne! You are right, I was looking at the date and realized it's been 5 years. Maybe this forum isn't as active as it was?

Anyway, do you know someone who wants either a 'Leash Skills w/ Michael Ellis' or 'Engagement Skills w/ Forrest Micke' DVD? I am willing to send the physical DVDs their way if they're interested. I have no need for those because I only need the streaming versions.

Please let me know. Thanks!

Seems like it was just months ago.

I don't. But will let you know if I do. Nice of you to share them with someone.

I would consider the idea that you may be putting too much pressure on your pup in some way and the disengagement is their way of coping/displacing the pressure.

I like ME a lot, have several DVDs and have used many of his methods with good success. But sometimes the "must focus, focus, focus" is a bit much for some dogs and puts too much pressure on them.

Back up on the pressure. Let your dog acclimate a bit. Don't let him self reward, but try just hanging out a bit and chilling with him (on leash).

Great advice from Mara.

We often want to much to fast and feel the need for constant training.

Taking a day or two off and just having fun with our dogs can do much more then "just having fun".

I agree with Mara. I have found that, throughout my five years with Sadie, I have had to find ways to eliminate stress from our training. It took time to learn to recognize the signs of stress.

In the beginning, one way to simplify things is to work in an environment free of distractions.