At 7 months old my GSD is changing a bit and I am new to the breed so I was wondering if you had these issues. I usually train with my dog for at least 3 hours a day as I am working with him to be a SAR dog. I work for a fire department so I am able to take him to work with me and work with him. Well yesterday basic obedience during training was a mess. It's like he forgot all his commands and sit was the most progressive thing I could get him to do. Well later that night I had to present him to some people in the fire department and tell him what he does, his training etc. He was the biggest star you had ever seen. He was doing everything snappier than I had ever seen and was basically reading my mind.

I treat him the same no matter where I go. I always praise him and give him treat rewards. Is this just him being defiant and going through a stage? I have noticed he is trying to push his luck in pack structure lately too. He tried to walk down our stairs a head of me the other day and he tried to shoot through the door a head of me. I quickly grabbed his collar put him behind me and then we waited at the door until he did a sit and and waited until I said free at the door. He just wined and it took about 1 minute for him to go back to what works. New breed for me and an outstanding dog so I am learning all the time.

Thanks,
Dale

Sometimes you just have bad training days.

I wouldn't worry too much about it.



I'm sure you've had a day where you nothing seemed to go right.
You forgot how to parallel park, you lost your cell phone, misplaced your wallet, got pulled over for speeding, etc...

Everyone, dogs included, has a bad day here or there.

At 7 months, if the dog is screwing up basic commands, sometimes it's easiest to just use a "screw up cookie" and put the dog away. Try again later.

My GSD Tazer is almost 7 months. I agree entirely with what Alyssa jsut said.

Some days Tazer has "puppy days" and is very wilfull(I don't mind that) other days I have senior moments and am very wilfull( everyone around me minds that)...either way I just put one of us away until it passes and then resume normal training!

6/7months is such a young age to get it all right all the time IMHO. I am just trying to enjoy every day as it comes with him, I know this stage passes so quickly when you look back...

Ok thanks for the advice. I never get mad at him for it just confused sometimes. And then to have him a few hours later go perform like a gold metal winner was confusing. I am having a good time and learning a ton.

Dale

Interesting you mentioned that. My dogs have always performed better in front of an audience.

Acutally I have one dog that will only perform if another dog is watching!

I wonder why that is???

Anyway, as he gets older, more mature and better trained hopefully he will perform like a star all of the time!