Quote: Connie Sutherland

Rick, where are you with "down"?

LIke the recall, this is a command that's very easy to screw up with inconsistency and rushing duration and distraction.

I have put her through the motions on sit, stand, down, and touch but have not even added the command yet...we are in the very early stages...So, I need to get going on duration and distractions, etc...certainly!

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

PS

If you have any questions about introducing distraction (including venue) and duration, please ask.

I think David's post was quite clear in the steps to adding distraction and duration. If anyone has anything to add, please! I am all ears!

Yes, he was. That was a great post.

I asked that because we have a couple of times very recently had folks ask "What do you mean by distraction? Like what?" and one was adding both duration and distraction at once, and not realizing that changes in venue are also a kind of distraction.

So I was inviting you to post if you got to the point of adding tiny levels of distraction or duration and were not sure about it.

Another thing I would add is to curb the crate spinning. It can be a real PITA if she starts popping her tail. A flat collar and leash through the door of the crate can stop the spinning and keep it from becoming a habit.

Be vigilant about removing the leash if you leave her unattended in the crate.

Now that you explained more it sounds like maybe she is just being a feisty little game playing devil and she has realized that you can't do jack about it when you are driving!

If the crate is right behind the front seats (and not way in the back) and I wanted to stop it by means of correction I might consider a soda can with pennies (it makes a clanking sound and they seem to learn to hate it more and more).

Benefit is you could tie a string to it and use it in the car while driving plus it does not hurt her. Many dogs seem to get sensitive to the can and just rattling a little gets their attention fast after a while (plus also give her something fun to do in the crate to help break the cycle).

If you decide to try it make sure she understands ahead of time what the point is (i.e. that it means cut it out) by having your fiancee drive with you and using it in the car, or using it in the house if barking is sometimes a problem, and as soon as she stopped barking I would be offering lots of good girls.

JMO on possible quick and dirty car corrections, I live with a pack of 6 rescues so I tend to focus on correcting problems instead of creating perfectly obedient dogs. Obviously the can idea would only be appropriate if this behavior is NOT anxiety based but simple puppy obnoxiousness.

Please don't scare an already reactive dog. Calm is what you're looking for.

JMHO


I'm off to Korea. See you all in a few days.

18 hour flight.... Grumble

I am guessing this is a wire crate?

"She stops when the car stops"...Is the crate , tray on the bottom , rattling around while driving?

I like plastic crates, imo, quieter, safer , and would be easier for you to shut off her view while working on that down at home.

 Quote: David Winners

Please don't scare an already reactive dog. Calm is what you're looking for.

JMHO

This is MHO as well.

 Quote: Sonya Anderson

If the crate is right behind the front seats (and not way in the back) and I wanted to stop it by means of correction I might consider a soda can with pennies (it makes a clanking sound and they seem to learn to hate it more and more).

Go ahead & do that & you will make a reactive dog even more so & is going to get you no where but make them fearful in addition & fearful of the owner no less.

SERIOUSLY?!!!!!

Who would do this to a dog let alone a PUPPY!!!!

VERY VERY POOR ADVICE!

 Quote: Anne Jones

 Quote: Sonya Anderson

If the crate is right behind the front seats (and not way in the back) and I wanted to stop it by means of correction I might consider a soda can with pennies (it makes a clanking sound and they seem to learn to hate it more and more).

Go ahead & do that & you will make a reactive dog even more so & is going to get you no where but make them fearful in addition & fearful of the owner no less.

SERIOUSLY?!!!!!

Who would do this to a dog let alone a PUPPY!!!!

VERY VERY POOR ADVICE!

I have had many dogs, many rescues as well as my own dogs. NONE feared me! In fact I am extremely soft!

A can of pennies is not going to traumatize a healthy dog or puppy in a crate, it is going to annoy them and get their attention. If it doesn't then try something else.

I notice you haven't offered any advice on this thread, but you are eager to jump on other posters that DO offer advice. Interesting that.

For a protection dog startling would be a problem, but if the pup is NOT fear driven and pet/companion then a can with pennies is not going to cause damage to healthy puppy. It may or may not say "hey puppy, pay attention".

Really, just my 2 cents, my english shepherd, now 80 lbs, is a pretty territorial guarding type guy, he was really terrible in the car, barking and growling at cars, people at convenience stores,etc.
I took him on tons of rides, he never was allowed out of the car, he was not going anywhere, he had no job --- now he's a doll in the car, just sleeps.

Just try more exposure for a little while and see what happens. I didn't correct my guy at all, he just stopped it after enough car rides.