Hello Everyone-
I got my first working line pup, he's 12 weeks old today. He was 1st pick of the litter, and he's a very confident, out-going, friendly pup. He's not afraid of anything- he attacks everything- the broom, vacuum, rake, pooper scooper, shovel,and his favorite- the cat. I've been socializing the heck out of him taking him everywhere with me. I've been working hard at the marker training, doing several very short sessions a day and he's very food motivated. I don't move on to a new command until he knows the one we are working on. Come, Sit, down, thru, crawl, and a short wait. I was at the vet the other day for what she called socialization exercises. He would squirm and panic when she rolled him on his back and then she held him at arms length under his armpits and he would panic. She said she would have never picked this pup for herself because he wouldn't submit to her. I can roll him on his back and he doesn't seem to care, just mouthy and playful. Is he supposed to submit to strangers? Is he supposed to submit to me if I hold him at arms length like that? To me it would be natural to panic in that position. Also when we went outside and he had a potty break, he started to wander checking out all the new exciting things and I had called out 'no' to him and then called him to come several times before he did and when he did come I praised the heck out of him and gave him a treat. She told me with a pup like that he'll start to associate when he's doing something bad like going towards the road, that I'll call him and give him a treat. Or if he's chewing on something he shouldn't be and I give him his toy he'll start to associate chewing on something he shouldn't to getting what he wants- his toy. I thought you were supposed to redirect? Can a dog think that way? She was talking about a 3 second rule, if they are doing something bad you shouldn't do something good for them for 3 seconds. I haven't done any corrections only redirecting. I'm confused.

Working line puppies don't like to be held on their back for good reason. Puppies that go along with that stupid pet program are as useless as a hot meal in hell. Don't let your vet do that again.

Thanks Jeff, I needed a little boost of confidence. Just want to do my best to do things right.

As far as training goes I would just as soon listen to the bums muttering on the street corner as I would Vets. Let them stick to the things they can barely do, like take care of our animals health. (58 dollars for shots and a "health exam" that they were scared to do on a 9 mo friendly as heck pit. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> Jerks.)

Your vet is a freaking moron. Most vets are horrific trainers. That three second rule makes absolutely no sense. There is no need for anyone else to handle your dog like she did. The fact that your puppy put up a fight when it was pretty much alpha rolled is a good thing, shows confidence. When your dog was roaming and it came to you when you called is exactly what it should have done and you should have praised the heck out of it. My advice would be to either change vets or tell her to do her job and keep her mouth shut about everything else. I am amazed how someones whole life is about animals but knows absolutely nothing about what makes them tick and how they work. Man are people stupid.

I agree with all the posts about most vets being morons when it comes to training. But, on another note, please keep your pup on a leash.

You are absolutely right, he should have been on leash. We were out in the sticks without having to worry about a busy highway close by, but he still should have been leashed. She had unleashed him in the office, and he had to go, so I scooped and ran. She runs an animal rescue and trains the dogs she takes in to place into new homes. I thought all her thoughts on training were a bit off, but I wanted to make sure it wasn't me that was a bit off.

3 or 4 years ago I was watching the Today show and one of there animal specialists was on telling how you can determine which puppies would make good family dogs. He said to roll the puppy on his back and if he remains calm while you hold him there it would make a great family/kid dog. He went on to caution buying any dog that failed this test.

When we bought our dog 3 years ago... I tried this move on the puppies. The one I picked was totally calm and relaxed when rolled to his back. Other dogs fought being rolled and even tried to nip. I picked the one who was calm.

Since then he has proven to be aggressive to people and animals... so that trick definitely doesn't work.

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When we bought our dog 3 years ago... I tried this move on the puppies. The one I picked was totally calm and relaxed when rolled to his back. Other dogs fought being rolled and even tried to nip. I picked the one who was calm.

Since then he has proven to be aggressive to people and animals... so that trick definitely doesn't work.

I'd say it works fine. Genetically, the litter seems to have tested aggressive. The pup you picked could have been fearful or not very self-confident and maybe reacted to being on its back by being very still. In that case, since every pup but yours reacted aggressively to the test, I think your pup's response to the rollover test should have been taken with a grain of salt. One always has to take the big picture in mind!

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I'd say it works fine. Genetically, the litter seems to have tested aggressive

That would probably be true if I had tested his litter mates. The other puppies I tried it on were not of the same litter. I bought him at a pet store so I tried on several different breeds’ rather then one particular litter.

I just chalked it up to bad advice.