Quote: Julie Anderson

OMgosh..it is all in the timing.

So I think I might be getting it.

I will explain in my words. Baby steps..sorry about that.
Have lots of yummy treats, smaller ones.
Ask him to sit
When he sits, use the clicker and click
Then give him a treat

Lucky for Maximus my husband eats meat!

Yep, you got it. Now, practice. Like anything else, the more you do it, the easier it gets. Now, you can teach that pup ANYTHING.

He's a very cute "hopeless!"

My 6 month old has been doing great with the marker training, until today...I am blaming the rain and shortened outdoor exercise.
If it is the bratty pre teen stage that Melissa has mentioned, it won't be pleasant!

Next time I post I will be bragging about how well he is doing right?

Marker training it is.

Good luck Tammy!

The help here has been amazing.

If you can't start bragging about his progress, you'll be off to the "Willy Wags!"

Hi Julie, I hope you have been having some success with the marker training! I'm so thankful I found this forum after we got a rambunctious GSD. Marker training is awesome. You can really build a sort of 'cooperative' relationship with the dog using these methods. I feel for you because I recently went through the same things with my puppy. Always sore and busted hands, etc. etc. We got him at about 3.5 months-old, and I think that made it worse (ie big enough to really hurt without any background in human-preferred behaviors).

The two things that without a doubt helped me the most (learned right here at leerburg from these awesome experienced people) were: marker training (including a negative marker--you'll read about that too) and controlling my own emotions. Well, at first I had to control them as they came naturally. Then my whole attitude changed about training and when my dog started acting up (ie acting LIKE A DOG), it just didn't bother me on that level. That's when I realized I could simply make behaviors I didn't like as boring as possible for the dog. And I could also make alternate behaviors that I liked as exciting as possible for the dog. Dog's aren't trying to be 'bad' imo---a young one especially is just looking for fun and excitement, and trust me, with a pup like that, mad mommy syndrome (MMS) can be pretty funny to them. So I did bored mommy and everything is just falling into place.

I wish you luck! With some smart tactics, you'll have a great happy non-mauling dog in no time.

MMS? LOL I know he is on to me!

No more leash biting to speak of, just other problems.

WHY will he walk as good as gold going somewhere, but coming home he acts totally different? He will pull the leash to the point my arm hurts.


Oh, I also found out he is awfully afraid of minature ponies! Mostly the little stallion.

Should I pull out the prong? I really don't want to. He is 5 months old now.

I have been marker training, works like a charm in most situations.

Julie

 Quote: Julie Anderson

MMS? LOL I know he is on to me!

No more leash biting to speak of, just other problems.

WHY will he walk as good as gold going somewhere, but coming home he acts totally different? He will pull the leash to the point my arm hurts.


Oh, I also found out he is awfully afraid of minature ponies! Mostly the little stallion.

Should I pull out the prong? I really don't want to. He is 5 months old now.

I have been marker training, works like a charm in most situations.

Julie

This reminds me of a large local Bullmastiff that lived in the village. Andrew's owner was a petite woman. She always carried one single biscuit treat. Half way out she would give Andrew the biscuit and he would turn around and head for home. He only walked so far without a biscuit. He was NOT a very athletic dog!

Sonya he had a mind of his own huh!

When I first started walking Maximus I got the feeling he hated going for walks. One time he laid down other times he would keep looking back. Now it just seems like he is in a big hurry to get home. I thought going in circles would confuse him and he wouldn't have any idea he was headed home LOL Oh boy....silly me. I got dizzy and he got to go home.

he's acting like a "barn-sour" horse. FWIW (and i'm sure others on here can give better advice), to cure this needs plenty of time and (IMO) some corrections.

first, if you don't vary your "walk", start to--don't do the same route every time (good for both of you).

second, if he gets "chargy", do an about-face and go in the opposite direction. quickly, no warning, no "uh-uh", nothing. this will work if he's young (<5 mo) on a flat collar, or older on a prong.

now i admit i'm a "koehler transitioning to marker" trainer, but still, sometimes, koehler isn't so bad. and you could mark his attention to you once you do the "about-face" and he IS watching you once again. but be quick, and YOU pay attention as well.

again, FWIW.

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first, if you don't vary your "walk", start to--don't do the same route every time (good for both of you).

This is very true!

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now i admit i'm a "koehler transitioning to marker" trainer, but still, sometimes, koehler isn't so bad.