I'm not at the "distraction phase" yet. I'm not even to the correction phase yet. Here is my issues, and it may just be MY issues.

My 3.5 month old GSD puppy ( we have had him about 2.5 weeks) he smells EVERYTHING at the park or other locations? We are trying to strictly follow the Leerburg method. Should I just be letting him smell everything? He is pretty solid on "sits". Even with high value food rewards he will pay attention until he gets the treat, the very second he gets the treat (in public) I have lost his focus. I make it a mini event, I'm excited, he will follow my voice but his nose is on the ground no eye contact.

Is this fine during the learning phase? If not what should I try differently.

Candice, are you marker training at home?

Some of your post is a little confusing to me.

If you you have a puppy you have had only 2-3 weeks, out in public doing basic ob practice, you have him doing ob under distraction. Kinda high-level distraction, IMHO.

For me, ob commands start in a room inside, just me and the dog.

And there would be several gradual levels of distraction between that and "in public."


Also, when you have given the reward, then you have already marked. He is released. He is free to sniff.


Can you describe step by step the parts of giving the sit command, marking, and rewarding? And maybe your understanding of each?


You'll get help (there are lots of puppy experts on the board). There's a little bit that's confusing in the O.P., though.

So maybe we could start at step 1: Did you charge (load) your marker? What is your marker?

If you don't understand any part of this, just ask. Are you following a DVD? Which one?

Sorry let me try to clear it up.

I do have the following DVD and have been watching them pretty much non stop. Information overload.
I have the following DVD's
*8-8 months
*drive with food (vs1)
*basic training
*drive and motivation
*raising a working puppy
*both bite work dvds
*marker training
*power of tug

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""If you you have a puppy you have had only 2-3 weeks, out in public doing basic ob practice, you have him doing ob under distraction. Kinda high-level distraction, IMHO."

Okay, so should I just being walking NO OB?

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""For me, ob commands start in a room inside, just me and the dog. ""

I train 6 times a day inside the house for 2-5 mins depending on his food drive.

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""Also, when you have given the reward, then you have already marked. He is released. He is free to sniff.""

I'm not at the correction phase yet. So I never corrected him at the park. I just tried to get his attention with food, when that failed I put the food away and just walked around exposing him to different objects. But the sniffing was pretty intense.

Being a first time dog owner, I don't know if this is normal.

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""Can you describe step by step the parts of giving the sit command, marking, and rewarding? And maybe your understanding of each?""

1. I say "READY!"
2. "Sits" the moment his butt touches the ground I say "YES!!" and make the food run. He is great at the Sits now so I toss in and "good" then release on the "YES!!!"
3. Week two was "down" Which at first was the moment his belly touched "YESS!!" and food ran. Now he is better at the command so I say good and toss the treat between his legs and release on "YESS!" and the food runs backwards.

4. This week I have touch pads all over the house and we are going on touch. I just say "TOUCH!" and I look at the "pad" (which is a pot pan lid or box) I remain still say nothing else until he touches."

5. I mix all the commands up for 3-5 mins then we go out back and play.

6. Then he is back in his create.

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""You'll get help (there are lots of puppy experts on the board). There's a little bit that's confusing in the O.P., though. smiley for ""

That's what I am hoping, this is my first dog ever.

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""So maybe we could start at step 1: Did you charge (load) your marker? What is your marker?""

Yes. I did for 2 days before any command. The mark is ""YESS!!"

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Please let me know if this is a little more clear.

All the sniffing around is normal Candice. I wouldnt worry about that, it could be a good sign if you want to try tracking.

I think you're just expecting a little bit too much for a 3.5 month old puppy. Some may be able to tune out distractions at the park if their really obsessed with the food you're rewarding with, but I think a lot of them will do exactly what you're seeing. I'd be happy with just getting him to run to me on a longline when I call him out in public.

100% ditto with Steve and Connie.
It really sounds like you've got things together.
The distractions are easily going to be more then most young pups can handle so work in the house for now.
Don't toss to much at the pup. Aka Steve, a good recall at this age is plenty for a beginner. to many "new" behaviors can easily over load the pup and eventually cause burnout.
Your 3-5 mins a session sounds great. With a new pup the Tv commercials work great as timers and add a nice in between break.
DO NOT let this become work for you or the pup.
As to markers or ANY reward based training;
As quick as you can get away from using food to induce the behavior. It's a reward not a bribe! That can happen to easily.
One thing I think you great at that isn't always seen here. Your open to suggestions and not being a "yes but" trainer that asks questions and then has a gajillion excuses for why it doesn't work for you or your dog.
You just may make a good dog trainer!

Besides the good info you already got, Candice, can I got back to the marker? I wasn’t talking about corrections at all. No corrections. Nothing you have said would bring up corrections. What I meant about “marker is release, and he is free to sniff” was that after you mark and reward, that command is over.

Two other things. One is I read that you're using it as a bribe. “I try to get his attention with the food.”

The other is that as Steve and Bob said, you're doing a lot!

And a one-minute session is even better than 2-5 (even though 2-5 is great) if it means you end while he wants more. Neither of you should get bored or distracted or tired of a session.

Just FUN!



Testing: "quotes"

Edited by Connie Sutherland (02/26/2013 09:47 AM)
Edit reason: test for format

""Two other things. One is I read that youre using it as a bribe. I try to get his attention with the food.""

Your right! I was trying to get his attention with food. Like Bob said "Reward not a bride". I have to write that on the wall.

Thank you so much for your help. I really need the reassurance to know this was normal.

It sure sounds normal to me.