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I may have been a little too hard on Kingston though. he had fun during training, but it felt like work for me because I was trying too hard.

I will take all of your advice into consideration for the good of the dog. you guys are awesome... wish i could give more info to help

Collin, they are not pups forever, enjoy it a bit

It is easy to want to do too much too fast. It is also easy to get frustrated with your dog, your self, your family

Try to end a training session (with dogs or with parents) with success! Sometimes this means ending the session after two minutes, or going back to something your dog could do already weeks ago.

Sometimes it does feel like work for sure (especially exercising them when you would rather be on the couch or in bed), but overall make sure you are having fun together. Your bond will always be strong that way....the dog and you always looking forward to learning something new together.

My mother thinks it is terrible that I crate trained my pup, and that I should let my pup sleep with my son. My sister thinks a dog belongs OUTSIDE except at nighttime.

The POINT is EVERYONE has an OPINION, even here. You have to decide what you want out of your pup, and what works best with life and schedule.

Good Luck!

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My mother thinks it is terrible that I crate trained my pup, and that I should let my pup sleep with my son. My sister thinks a dog belongs OUTSIDE except at nighttime.

This was my 'friend's' way of thinking too...yikes..

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Yeah, my family thinks I'm weird because I get so excited every time a new Leerburg training DVD arrives.

and this is where I hear "Geez, how many dog-training DVD's can one person possibly need?"

If they give me too much grief (the people in my household) I tell them to go lie down and I give them a cookie I like the idea of asking for 'assistance' from the other family members that may otherwise be unintentionally 'undoing' the training; though mine aren't willing. Thank God they leave the dog training to me

Collin,

The best way, IMO, to help your family members come around is to prove to them that it works.
My family members (non-household) thought I was "terrible" for "being mean" by crating my dogs and the way I train, as far as pack leader.
However, they have come around (slowly but surely) and now admit that the training works.

"Old school" people (especailly parents) are the hardest to convince.

My hubby, was an "old school" trainer of hunting dogs as well, until he actually saw the effects of positive dog training. He now uses positive dog training with the hunters and actually asks me for advice....... (hardest thing for a man to do is ask a woman for advice and direction) J/K guys......

It will help immensley if they sit and watch Ed'd DVD's as well as maybe printing them out some of his articles to read.
Then, you can start to teach them how to work with the dog.

Some things they may not want to do, and that is okay, start with what they will accept and then build from there.

Mr. Inong,

15 weeks. Don't get too heavy into training at 15 weeks. A little here and there. Create a schedule for eating, doing its duty, resting, 'training' and play. Be profuse with your praise.

Maybe part of the issue is the age of the dog. And, perhaps, giving your parents a few points, they are looking at the dog for what it is - a genuine puppy. And they are right to some extent, that it can be played with and enjoyed - in the context of boundaries.

That you are reluctant to let the puppy run free is good and... If you have a fenced in area and the puppy is under supervision, I'd let it stretch its legs a bit. A long line can begin the 'come' command training.

Ah, enjoy the puppy, and train in moderation. And work on building the bridge of understanding between playing and training with your family. Ask them to help with some of the training, like the 'come' command. Participants are seldom critics.

Good luck.

And good for you for reaching out for information.

Two more cents.

A very wise post from Mr Arnold

Sounds like my house, my husband refuses to handle Buddy any differently then what he had all his other dogs regardless of what I had to say about it. To keep the peace, I decided that I cannot control his relationship with our dog, but I could and will control what my relationship with my dog is. So I continued to learn and apply what I am learning from this site.

To date, Buddy is now 19 months old and he obeys all of my commands without any problems. On the other hand he does not mind my husband hardly at all. Can't tell you how many times I have heard my husband tell Buddy to sit over and over again and watched as the dog ignored him. Basicly all my husband did was train Buddy that he doesn't have to obey him. Not my problem. There has been several times I've heard my husband tell someone that the dog minds me better then him. "Duh!" Or there has been a time or two when my husband asked me to give Buddy the command - (snicker-snicker)

So although having family members on board to work with you is always the best, you don't have to give up if that doesn't happen. Concentrate on what you want your relationship to be with your dog and continue to learn and apply it. It doesn't have to been each and every thing you learn, for example my husband was dead set against crating the dog. Fine, I let him be the one to get up at night to take him out and to clean up any mess in the house. The dog is completely housebroke, but it could of been done a much easier way.

In my training of Buddy, I was alway mindfull of the confusion he was getting from my husband so I made sure I was alway consistent and took longer in training each command so he was very clear on what I was asking of him.

Don't give up and stop learning, you can still develop the type of relationship you want with your dog regardless of what the rest of the family does.

Good Luck,

well...its been about a week and its back to the same ol thing. I dont mean to vent but it IS frustrating that Im seeing wonderful results and Im getting no help. one of my parents watched the video and is trying but kind of slipped up yesterday. Kingston was whining just before dinner and moms went out to sit by the kennel but only because it was hot inside the house. <sigh>... its harder to enjoy being a dog owner when taking care of him is turning out to be more of a job than a joy...

sorry for the rant...hehe

We all make mistakes, Collin, don't fret. Just keep the bonding and training going and it will all turn out, even if a couple of things get undone, they can be redone, retaught. Some things may take longer than others, but it's not impossible. Patience with parents and pup

One example, as a young pup my dog had a solid stay, mainly because I took it slowly and didn't try for long extended times until I felt he was ready. I always released him before he broke the stay, and built the time up slowly. Along comes my son (adult) and starts putting the dog in a somewhat extended stay that I knew the dog wouldn't hold yet, sure enough for the first time in weeks he broke the stay. My son wasn't quite as sensitive to the length of time the dog would hold, so several stays were broken, much to my chagrin. However it only took a few short sessions to get back to where he left off and I was able to get my son to be almost as sensitive to length of time by watching the dog as I was. It took a little longer before I could introduce distractions but that's ok. For months I've been able to throw balls and toys and treats and he won't break until released.

Months later, his stay (in the way of a down or sit) is tested a lot and although I know he will occasionally break, now at least it provides a "training opportunity".

AND -- it's your dog! Getting one parent to watch the video is a pretty huge step!

Results will tell, and results will come with consistency from the primary handler. That would be you.