Hello all! I've been searching these forums and watching videos for a little while now. I've posted a few times regarding diet and health issues, and everyone has been a great help and really appreciate all of the responses! Now I'd like to ask some training questions.

We've had a few other dogs in the past, no real formal training...but this is the first puppy. This site has been an awesome resource for learning. He is 5 months old now. We are trying to do everything right, but sometimes feel as if we are causing ourselves to be overwhelmed or making it more difficult than it has to be, lol. Just want to make sure we are doing things correctly and end up with a well behaved, confident, obedient, fun dog and give him training and structure to accomplish that

Engagement. I keep reading posts about basic command/position training and the term "full engagement" before moving foreward keeps popping up. What is considered full engagement? Is it when you are doing a specific excersise, or training, or all the time, or? Do you not attempt anything until you have it?

Tethering. I like the tethering method. It has definitely helped with potty time, very few accidents in the beginning, and the few that we did have were my fault. In the house when out of the xpen or crate he is tethered 100% of the time. He hasn't chewed up anything so far other than grabbing a sock or clothing on the way by, lol. My question is, can you tether too much, or be on leash too much? What about outside? How much should he be allowed to explore off leash (enclosed fenced yard)or even explore on leash for that matter on walks etc.? This is where we are having a hard time. Wanting to manage his life, but should he be allowed to be a puppy and explore on his own, or 100% leashed all the time?

Visitors. He has been in a crate since we brought him home at 8 weeks. Has done great with it. Have never let him out while whining. Always when quiet. When someone comes to the house, inside, he goes nuts in the crate. Like a whining bark. He doesn't stop. He is ignored, zero attention for it and just keeps going. We've had a few people actually leave because its just annoying as can be, lol. Even with him in a different room, he just doesn't let up. Is it a matter of just getting someone to come sit here for hours until he lets up and then reward?

Strangers. On walks, at the park, out and about. For the most part at a distance he ignores them. In close proximity though he gets so excited and wants to jump up towards them. I usually try to keep moving with me in between and keep his focus on me with treats, toys, etc. what is the best way to not pay attention to them. I may be expecting to much or moving to fast? Try to get him as many places as we can, beach, parking lots, airport, parks . Etc. people are everywhere.

I'm sure ill come up with a lot more questions and am more than willing to take any advice, tips, etc. on raising a puppy, so any response, email, pm, are greatly appreciated. It's been a blast with the puppy so far. Im in no rush either. we have years to come, just want to make sure we are taking the right path. never to late! Dog is great, just need to fix the handler, lol.

Engagement, to me is his attention and him wanting to do what we're doing. You can help develop it by having a clear start and a clear finish to training.

I don't tether. I leave a light little drag line on and limit what they can get into. I "child proof" my yard and let them explore as much as they want, watched though. On walks, I use a long line and a release command for them to explore. If its not a good place they walk with me, when we come to a good place I tell them ok and let them check things out. Keep working on your recall. That helps show them when you want them with you on walks.

Sometimes ignoring the noise isn't enough. You have to interrupt it and you have to teach them a quiet command. Personally I wouldn't make meeting visitors any kind of reward. It would be more in terms of an obedience with calm manners. Working with rewards the way most of us do brings a lot of excitement, I want them to behave a little different then that with people.

Strangers, I'd use that indifference he has at a distance and work on getting that when your closer. I like to use a sit or a down instead of trying to keep moving. Once they can hold a postion like that and give you attention, I think its easier to add movement.

Tethering to me, for me is an indoor thing.

I have a fenced yard and drag lines. If I had no fence, I'd have a long line. And of course, I am always there.


What Steve said here:

"Strangers, I'd use that indifference he has at a distance and work on getting that when your closer. I like to use a sit or a down instead of trying to keep moving. Once they can hold a postion like that and give you attention, I think its easier to add movement."

I wanted to add, are you doing focus work at home?

I personally usually do keep on moving, but Steve's way works great too ...... but either way, you want to be the center of the dog's attention. It's a process. For example, if you are doing upbeat ob off to the side with great rewards, you gain interest and the stranger loses it.

And for me, this starts at home, with no distraction ..... not in the middle of excited reactions to strangers on the walk. The foundation of that sit or down under distraction has no distraction, then gradually added distraction, then changes of venue, etc.

Make sense?

We have been doing the "ready and done " for our sessions. ive been noticing more movement on my part keeps him more focused on me.

What is your release command to let your dog explore on walks and how did you go about teaching them that it was ok to go explore?

I'll have to work on the quiet command for when people come over. Quiet, then the instant he is quiet even for a second, reward? And if he doesn't stop right away, repeat? I've so far just been trying to get him used to people coming in the house, but he just gets all excited and does his whining bark when there is someone here. I don't know if its because he is in the crate, and wants to be out, or what. My thought was he should be able to be quiet and calm in the crate before he has a chance to be out when someone is over....is this correct thinking? Wonder if the xpen would be different.....I assume he would jump all over it....

Connie can you elaborate on focus work at home?

Yes for sit, down, etc. , we start out no distractions, then a little more, etc. sometimes he does really great, then others its like he is not interested. Maybe it's the food rewards aren't high value enough, maybe i need to rotate different rewards more, maybe it's my presentation. Sometimes he gets so wired up, it makes it easy. It's a huge learning process for both of us!

I'll start with a piece.

Your first one is about the release on the walk.

My dogs have a loose-leash everyday command (Let's go!) separate from a formal heel.

We march along briskly, or as briskly as is appropriate for the dog, with plenty of breaks (Okay!).

I want clarity about what's "Let's go" and what's "Okay!" For me, stopping completely (me stopping completely) as I say Okay is a clear signal. Then the dog has the length of the leash to pee, sniff, whatever. I don't keep walking along, because when I'm moving, we are in loose-leash (let's go!).

So the dog gets lots of dog-time, but it's my call, like pace and direction are my call.

Quick question. How often and long do you walk him on a leash? When he is more or less at your side. Not out in front pulling?

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