What do you think about this?

Puppy Lundy would race out into the backyard and immediately start digging and grabbing big mouthfulls of grass, then race around the yard. We were told by the trainer to fence off the yard so he couldn't get in there. That was how she taught us to deal with bad behaviors such as that - don't let him in the yard. So then we were stuck with this puppy who was too young to go for walks safely, and too naughty to play in the yard. How the heck do you get them exercise??

I thought we should put him on the leash several times a day and go out to the yard, and when he started doing the frantic digging, then we correct him. Right?

I would just stick pup on a leash and walk him in the yard until the yard became that boring place where we just walk and go potty. You can switch to a drag line and interrupt any bad behavior at that point. Another thing to try would be removing him when he started digging and ripping out grass and encouraging just the running with praise or joining in with him. Since it's likely just the initial burst of energy from being outside you could also try running outside with him engaged with a toy and play with him until the initial "woohoo outside!" reaction is gone.

We have some trainers like that one around here. I've gotten their poor confused owners and out of control dogs before. After explaining to them that the massive guilt trips from the trainer were unnecessary and completely disrespectful to an owner who actually lives in real life and just wants a well behaved pet we normally can get down to business and turn the dog around pretty quickly. Most of them are pissed that they were bamboozled by the "positive" trainer. There are good positive ways to change behaviors that are not a PITA to implement and DO get results. Unfortunately there are a lot of very ineffective trainers out there.

 Quote: Christina Stockinger

And the reminder would be a strong jerk with the leash?

Consistency, timing, random, yes. With the "hey!" I am for sure consistent when on a walk the leash straightens. Then they come back.

But when two are playing together and it gets exaggerated in a way I fear it could switch into a fight, then I shout a "hey!" too, but I must admit NOT consistent, because then we are mostly talking with guests and I'm not always focussed enough on the dogs.

Additionally in that situation they're loose. How can I give a Strong reminder? Only when the water hose is near.

"The leash straightens".


That's not a correction or a consequence.

A correction should be a firm snap on the leash.

Have you tried the leash work that Michael Ellis teaches?

If your busy when the dogs start playing to rough then your missing good training opportunities.

Can the dogs be kept separate from one another if you know your going to be in a "to busy" situation?

I know all these things take time but missing out because of company, etc just sets you back from what you may have accomplished.

I always preach consistency and randomness but the randomness can't be accomplished until the dog is consistent with the behavior you desire.

Sorry, Bob, misunderstanding. "When the leash straightens" - with this I meant that it is a signal for me that the dog will start pulling. Not I am straightening the leash but the dog. He - in this moment - is exceeding the allowed limit on an informal walk. It is no correction from me.

When he does this I call "Hey!" and he normally comes back near to me. If he doesn't, then he gets a leash correction.

Mostly on walks I let them sniff a bit and command "Near!" from time to time from different distances and they come back to me. Unless ... you know. Then I give the "Hey!" and if they don't come - a leash correction. As you say a firm snap.

But this I don't need to do very often. It happens, yes, when an attraction is to high. But I hate to do it, although I know in some situations I have to. I'm afraid to do it wrong and hurt the dog.

I've tried and am trying Michaels leashwork, I have also taken Forrest's engagement skills, and all this works. Again: unless... There are unpredictable situations, I can not avoid. So I have to react and do what enters my mind. Which may be wrong.

You're perfectly right about what you're saying about the moments when the dogs start playing to rough. I know I'm missing training opportuninities.

Yes, we can separate the dogs, eg. when we have guests. We can put them into the kennels. My hubby is against it. He insists it is enough if we chain them and keep them with us on the veranda. Chained, because if not, they will harass the guests, not attacking or so, but trying to play, to lick, to beg for cuddling.

But when chained then begin to bark and we have to shout at each other in order to understand a word. This ends with my hubby being very annoyed and he then finally agrees to put them into the kennels, what we could have done very quietly from the beginning. LOL! LOL! LOL!

He takes two of them and pulls them in a very angry manner into the kennels (not beating, this he'd never do), but the kennels then are like a punishment. Then or already before and also after that we have trouble. Puuuh!!! I can not accept this, because I know it is very wrong. It should happen at the right time, quietly, the kennel should be something positiv.

I know, it seems as if I were accusing him. Well, in this point actually I am. He's a good guy, also to the dogs. But he doesn't want to listen. I am the one who trains (or tries to train) the dogs alone. He doesn't even read something about dog training nor take them a single time for a walk. So I think, I have to decide how I train them, I am at least trying to learn it continuously.

I know, I will achieve this some day as I have pushed through the kennels (I needed about 3 yrs!). Now I will have to push through to use the kennels correctly, means I will loose a lot of time for the dogs.

Bob, I'm well aware, this is a husband problem, but the result is a dog problem. I also know you can't do anything about this, I will have to find a way myself. So perhaps I shoudn't have mentioned this, on the other hand I needed to. Forgive me for bothering, but there is no single soul who'd understand. They all find it stupid to train a dog. I should leave all how it is.

I understand!

In many countries dog training isn't something looked at as being useful.

They are there as alarm/garbage cleaners/vermin killers,etc.

In other words they aren't looked at as family members or pets.

Re: Just ignoring behaviors

The ideas presented here are what are used by most reward based trainers that I know

http://eileenanddogs.com/2016/06/25/ignoring-bad-dog-behavior/

Yes, Bob unfortuntely it is like that here. Of course I don't want to generalize. Not all people here use their dogs just to guard their property, but many have this demeanour and not seldom pratice it even in a very awful way for the dog.

There are others though, who love their dogs immensely as family members, but simply let them roam (and shit) around how and wherever they like. When they return, they will be warmly welcomed and spoiled with a heap of treats. No training, nothing, sad thing.

But at least those dogs behave better in their liberty than those who are abused as pure guard dogs. It often happens that one of them succeeds to bolt out and then can be a real danger for other dogs and people.

Mara, thanks for the link about "ignoring behaviors". Gave me to think a lot. It is like reading about myself what concerns my response to some misbehaviors of my dogs. Sentences like: "When we change behavior, we need to teach a new behavior to take the place of the old one. If we leave that up to the animal, we may end up with one that was more problematic than the original."

It is a very interesting article and it too landed on my "doggie wall". I haven't watched/read yet the added links within that article, but I certainly will!

Excellent article!

Example

One of my daughters had a Pit that loved the world and was obnoxious when greeting people at the door.

I told daughter to have people ignore the dog when they walked in but pet the dog as soon as it sat.

It didn't take long and the dog came running and was sliding into a sit BUT only for the people that stuck to the routine.

Those that didn't just couldn't understand "why the dog sat for others but not for me".