I agree with Jan's comments about maturity - I think maturity matters more than age.

How are you training/proofing your distractions? We're having success here training this gradually - through small pieces - with show line GSDs, working line GSDs, Malinois, Hovawart, and working Boxers.

I think each dog is different to some degree....It seems when they are ready, they can do it.

Best wishes - and PLEASE keep the faith in your show line male!!

Beth

 Quote: Candi Campbell

Judy, he's a DOG so being doggie isn't HIS fault, Girlfriend <:-)

Shut up You! You're supposed to be helping me here!

 Quote: Beth Fuqua

I agree with Jan's comments about maturity - I think maturity matters more than age.

How are you training/proofing your distractions? We're having success here training this gradually - through small pieces - with show line GSDs, working line GSDs, Malinois, Hovawart, and working Boxers.

I think each dog is different to some degree....It seems when they are ready, they can do it.

Best wishes - and PLEASE keep the faith in your show line male!!

Beth

I should give his maturity more consideration. He still acts like a puppy more times than not.

As compared to what I've seen on this board and how you guys tend to do proofing, I don't think I train him under enough distraction scenarios so I'll pick up the pace on the amount of times I do this.

Whenever my faith in him is in question, I just trot on down to the local, hmmmm anywhere really, and compare him to the vast majority of other dogs and POOF, I'm hugging my little pumpkin and telling him he's absolutely perfect !

Too funny, Jersey-Girl <:-O Expect a PM from moi, when I get a second...

 Quote: Judy Troiano

Whenever my faith in him is in question, I just trot on down to the local, hmmmm anywhere really, and compare him to the vast majority of other dogs and POOF, I'm hugging my little pumpkin and telling him he's absolutely perfect !

Cool!!

 Quote: candi campbell

Too funny, Jersey-Girl <:-O Expect a PM from moi, when I get a second...

Oh goody! I love PMs !

So, boys and girls, I've just had an "incident"...we were walking in the neighborhood (again), off leash (not me, the dog), e-collar, treats on my hip when a 5 lb. teacup hairy rat, er, I mean dog comes running out of its yard and charges, ok, prances over to Gunnar. We know this little pain in the ass. It's now the 4th time it's come running out of its yard and greeted us.

Thanks to you guys, I knew, "better use this as an impromptu training opp" and gave Gunnar a command. My baby tried to listen! Yahoo! The stupid little dog tripped him up but he did try. So I figured, let's get away from the little monster and called him to me as I ran backwards. He came!! Then told him to heel and he did!! I am so excited!! Maybe he is about to turn a corner and I posted too early?

Thanks guys. As usual, you're all a huge help.

 Quote: judy troiano

.... I knew, "better use this as an impromptu training opp" and gave Gunnar a command. My baby tried to listen! Yahoo! The stupid little dog tripped him up but he did try. So I figured, let's get away from the little monster and called him to me as I ran backwards. He came!! ....

This is good.

To me, there is nothing much better than seeing a reliable recall in action, under distraction, proving that the dog has the most important command down pat......

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

To me, there is nothing much better than seeing a reliable recall in action, under distraction, proving that the dog has the most important command down pat......

So right Connie. It was very gratifying. BTW, thank you for the BH information. I went to the site and printed it out. Very interesting.

Thanks Connie I was looking for that !
They changed the age to 18 months to allow dogs to do their BH, My one year old is not as good as I would like him to be but it's mostly my fault, not much training time over the past months, but Judy we would have to see a video tape of your obedience exercise to say you are the problem, most likely you,haha, but some dogs take longer than others, just keep up your training , end with success, keep em short , be consistent of what you are asking of him.The problem I see when people bring their dogs for evaluation at our club is that they are NOT consistent.Ask your self how many times you said "stay" (or whatever) and he didnt and by the third time you move on to something else.I see that often, we're all guilty of it but that is where many times the problem lays.If my dog after giving him the command platz and he platz but then decides to get up and sniff the ground (or whatever) I go back to him put him in a platz (where he was from the start) I don't say platz again he knows what he was supposed to be doing, and as he is in his platz I remind him "good platz Bandit"As long as he stays there , then I brake and play with him but we'll do that until he decides that sniffing the ground is a no-no, it never takes long but I do that exercise often with all my dog .A solid platz is always usefull anywhere.No matter what the distraction is.I put my dogs on a platz at our training club and ask members to call my dogs , throw the tug for them to get, while they are in a platz, and they better ignore all those members and stay where I put them.that's how you proof your dog, always testing them.But you have to keep up your exercise on what you want to accomplish with your dog.Always re-inforce your commands no matter how good he does, always test him

Angelique, you do exactly what my dog/behaviorist/trainer taught me...always raise the bar and put him in a position where he WILL fail so he can be corrected and eventually move to the next level. She always said people make their mistake by not expecting enough from the dog. BTW, she has been on the Martha Stewart show twice now. If you want to know the next time she's on so you can get a handle on my trainer, I'll PM you.

She also always taught me what you said about a command and making sure it's done. For instance, if I'm in the yard with him and I tell him to platz (that's his command for dropping to a down while running) and he continues to run to me instead of following my command, I jackass w/him all the way back to the point where I told him to platz, leave him there and do it again. This is just one example. If I say sit and I'm talking to a stranger and he gets up, I ALWAYS say, "Excuse me" and turn my attention to my dog and reinforce whatever it was he was told in the first place.

So, I don't think I'm the problem because I know what to do and what not to do and follow thru ALL THE TIME because I want a great dog, not just a good dog. And I work with him every single day. I never miss a day.

I think I figured it out, it's my dog that's the problem. Maybe he's some sort of idiot ! I'm clearly kidding but one thing I have learned today is that maybe it's both of us. I'm not as good as I think I am in continuity and he's not as mature as some others his age?? Sounds probable to me.