Dog Health Questions: Dog training, dog knows better, quits cooperating?

I adopted a 1 1/2 yo dog and have had for about ten days. Dog is quickly opening to me. It has a seperation anxiety I am working on and the stay command may need to be longer. Today, I brought a ball inside the house (sorry mom), and it was the first time she showed interest and indeed fetched the ball three times in a row. She never looked at the ball in any previous daily attempts this week.

I praised her after each retrieval and hand over, but i tried to reinforce the stay command using the ball and may have confused her, as she never fetched again. Wouldn't even open her mouth to the ball. This is the most recent example where she has shown an ability, but lacks consistent desire for follow through. Please help.

Also, any pointer on when to give up on a command, and how to move forward without rewarding a failed listen? Do i go with the failsafe sit, so she stays positive, or what else? Help she is a very good dog and I don't want to lose her by doing things wrong.

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Recommended Answer:
Not all dogs play the same way. My dog is not into fetch at all. I've tried to teach him many times, but he just isn't into it. He likes to play by just running around in crazy circles, and he plays with his toys by destroying them. That's his personality. Have you taken her to the dog park? See if she likes that. Or try other toys--tug toys or frisbees. Try stuff out and see what she likes.

Also, what kind of ball was it? My dog likes baseballs the best. Try Kong toys with cheese or peanut butter in them...try to make the toys something she really wants. Wait until you can tell she's in a playful mood, and try to play with her then. If you're trying to play with her when she's tired, she's not going to be into it.

The Main Benefits Of Dog Training

• Consistency is the key to your dog being obedient. You and everyone in your family have to be consistent. Follow through is very important. Never give your dog a command that you can't, or aren't willing to enforce.
  
  Be careful not to overload the dog with information. Training takes time and patience.


• Too much, take time with training. The dog is only with you 10 days, it needs time to adjust and to adapt to new people and a new environment. You may be pushing too hard. Have some fun with the dog, bond, play, go for walks, play more.