Dog Health Questions: I try very hard to train my chow chow but he still fails to learn. What is the problem?

I am not able to train Cinnamon regardless of how much effort i put. I followed everything as the dog training book (which i bought from amazon.com) suggested but Cinnamon still fails to learn anything.

I don't think he has any intelligence or memory. He forgets the commands too fast. I spend 45 minutes daily from 1 pm to 1:45 pm trying to train him but my energy and efforts get wasted.

Reward Dog Training

Recommended Answer:
Chows are intelligent. Training takes time with them because they are intelligent (some say they are cat like) and will tend to do what they want to do. Keep at it, it will take some time, but eventually it will all fall into place. Remember consistency and patience.

Aggressive Dog Training - Expert Advice

• maybe the mutt is ashamed of it's name.
  It likes Ginger better.


• try clicker training.


• The chow chow is a very difficult breed to train, as they are "stubborn" (for lack of a better word) and independent-minded by nature (think "cat"). I learned this when chow chows were featured on our local news due to difficulties that a family were having with their chow chow.
  
  When you open a door, do you let your dog go in ahead of you?
  After a play "battle" with you, do you let him "win" by letting him have the toy in the end?
  Then congratulations, you have allowed Cinnamon to think he's the leader and you're the pack, so he doesn't understand why he should listen to you.


• Some dogs are just independent and don't like to be told what to do. It doesn't mean they are stupid.


• I found a website that may be of some help to you. I put the link below. When you get there, scroll down to where in RED it says, "My major concerns would be...", then scroll down to number three. There is a box after the first paragraph that says, "To teach your Chow to listen to you, "Respect Training" is mandatory." It goes on to provide a link to their Chow Training page. Here's the link------>>>http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/reviews…
  
  It just may be that you need a little more help training your Chow Chow. You could also check with your veterinarian clinic and see if they recommend trainers in your area that have classes to work with dogs and their owners.
  
  Good Luck to you and Cinnamon.


• My mothers friend had a similar problem. It was solved by sending the dog to doggy boot camp XD for $1000 bucks. She said her dog came back diffrent and listens to commands and dosent pee in the house and all the good stuff. You could also get training lessons at PetSmart or PetCo that should work. My dog is a keeshound/chow chow, never trained her due to the fact that I was 6 when we got her but she listens but not to commands you will most likely be able to get cinnamon tranied to be a great dog your just gonna have to do it his way (the hard way) I hope this helps you out good luck with your chow chow.


• HEYY!! I have 2 chows myself 3 all my life and they are the most obideint dogs ive ever had and i have 5 dogs right now! it will happen give it time. You shouldnt just spend your 45 mins or whatever with him Chows are stubborn and very very dominant! he just doesnt want to listen he probably knows exactly what your saying hes just being a brat! just work with him all day or at least as long as your around him.
  Make it known to him that your the owner and hes the pet.. make sure to use basic commands i mean unless you want him to be an agility dog i think you will be fine. work with him over and over repetition is the best way to learn something. I dont think books are what you need maybe use them for tips but just do what works. If he sits for a treat then carry treats with you for a while and reward him when he does good and use it for other commands too. then after a while he will do it without the treat, im sure he will exspect it but he'll do the trick even without getting one. But the #1 thing for you to remember is you have chosen a very bratty breed so you MUST make him listen to you..they are stubburn and will not want to listen for anything in the beggining but when he matures he will realize whos boss and if he acts out put him in place let him know you wont stand for the way hes acting..
  
  A few things to consider, maybe adding his age to your question.
  Or if he is nuetered?
  and if there are anyother dogs in the home, that can cause a distraction for him.
  Another thing that might be helpful and im not just being an A** his name is long try choosing a nickname for him short names are better for getting a dogs attention and names that have a distinct sound like, Mack or buck or something like that , something short and sweet. Just an idea tho..
  
  Good luck if you have any other chows Questions I'll be happy to help to the best of my Knowledge! Good Luck.


• Maybe he just isn't the training kind.
  
  Some dogs are like that. but Chow Chows are so cute :D :D


• A 5 month old puppy chow trained for almost an hour straight? No, that is not going to happen.
  You need to try short bursts of training throughout the day.

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Dog Health Questions: Has anyone read Tamar Gellar's book about dog training?

IVE HEARD A LOT OF GOOD STUFF IN THE PRESS ABOUT "THE LOVED DOG" BOOK BY TAMAR GELLAR....IM TEMPTED TO BUY IT AND SEE IF ANY OF HER SUGGESTIONS WORK WITH MY DOGS. HAS ANYONE READ THE BOOK OR USED HER SUGGESTIONS?

Discover Why Dog Training Ebooks And PDF's Are All The Rage These Days

Recommended Answer:
For all dogs, but especially for a pet (not a competition dog) Positive methods are the best. Get her book, but also get "Culture Clash" by Jean Donaldson, "The Other End of the Leash" by Patricia McConnell, "Bones Would Rain From the Sky" by Suzanne Clothier, "The Power of Positive Dog Training" by Pat Miller.

Advanced Dog Training Goals - It Pays to Think and Plan Ahead

• Hi!
  I have not, but I saw here on 20 20. Her tequniques seem to work. I'm gonna try them on my dog, who is afraid of dominance.
  Google her, lots of good info!


• Her book is good with a lot of ideas that have been around for years. It's always good to read as many training books that you can and take what sounds good for you. There are so many ways to train and each dog. Some will click with one way and maybe not the other. All the best;~)


• See the ripoff report. She is a dog abuser.

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Dog Health Questions: My dog can't be trusted off the leash, how can i get rid of this bad habit?

i have an 11 month old female springer spaniel, and if she gets off the leash, she BOLTS. when we first got her in august, she was absolutely perfect with staying with me. i took her outside all the time and it was never a problem. then little by little, she started going farther and farther where she wouldn't come inside unless you taunted her with a stick. then she started playing this you can't catch me game where she just ran from you no matter what tricks you tried to get her to come. we live off the road pretty far back in the woods, so she was just running around the property but it got really, really bad quickly. one time my dad pulled over on the side of the road when she was in the car and she jumped out and he spent 2 hours chasing her around the get her back in the car. then, she got out of the house and ran for dear life until she got to the road, which is one with heavy traffic. i chased her for 2 and a half hours before i could get her. it was HORRIBLE, and now i can't trust her without a leash at all. sometimes when i'm just taking her for a bathroom break she'll get off and make a run for it, so i'm scared to even take her outside at all. it's a shame that she can't grow up running around like a dog should, but we just can't trust her. we took her to dog training and the trainer said she's never heard of a dog doing that more than once and she didn't know how to fix it. it's definitely our faults since we weren't strict with her training, but i'm tired of being terrified of taking my dog for a walk. she got out recently and did come to my dad after half an hour and didn't sprint away so she is getting better, but this really needs to end. how can i train her out of this habit, and how can i be positively sure she's outgrown it? the last thing i want is for my dog to get hit on the road. thanks so much :)

Traditional Dog Training Versus Positive Reinforcement Dog Training - A Comparison

Recommended Answer:
What a terrible trainer, I know more than her.

Most dogs that get significant walks daily don't do that. Is she getting walked daily? Dogs love to see the outside world, so they'll seek it out themselves if you're not giving it to them. She should be getting at least 45 minutes of walking a day---ideally half hour in the morning, and half hour in the evening would be best. If she's running for two hours, then she obviously has a ton of energy, and needs lots and lots of walks. If you ran with her, that would be great, too. She would also be great at a sport like agility--but you would need to stick to an indoor training center until you can conquer the running away thing.

She also needs better recall training. Since she can run far, whistle recall might be good for you. Train her to know that a whistle blow means "come here for a treat." Start training it in the house, blow the whistle, give a treat, and do this over and over and over. Then do it when she might be elsewhere in the house, so she has to run to you. then do it outside on a long leash. Do this over and over again, until you see an automatic response from her. She shouldn't even think about whether or not she wants to come to you, she should just do it automatically. Always give tons of praise every time she comes to you, so it's more fun for her. You'll need to do this a ton, I recommend feeding meals this way, so she doesn't get fat with treats.

Another problem is that she knows coming to you means the fun is over. So, to teach her that this isn't always true, in training, you can also have her come to you, give a treat, and then throw a ball or a toy, so she knows that it's still playtime even though she came to you. You can also just run around with her on the leash. Show her that coming to you can be part of the play, not the end of it.

Rules of recall training:
--Start out by only calling her when you know she'll definitely come to you. (Like in the house, then you can move to outside, but not when she's distracted.)
--Don't repeat your command--this teaches them that they can disobey if they want. Since negative reinforcement isn't preferred, if they disobey you're supposed to do something that surprises them--like run out of the room and hide. The dog will be interested and will come to you to check it out.
--Make it fun--coming shouldn't be a punishment.

I got most of this from a DVD called "Really Reliable Recall", which you can purchase from cleanrun.com. Also, trainers never suggest this, because negative reinforcement is discouraged, but you can also try an E-collar. (AKA electronic collar). We have one that does either a noise or it vibrates. I just use the noise, because my dog finds it displeasing enough. You can use it in training--If you call "Come" (or whistle), and they don't come after you give the command, you give them a buzz. This teaches they aren't allowed to disobey. Most dogs usually get it pretty quickly. It doesn't hurt them, just annoys and surprises them. My dog gets scared and runs right back to me for protection. We rarely use it because it's mean, but you might need one for your dog. It might be good to put on her just in case she takes off, but do training with it first so you know she'll come when you use it.

Also, is she slipping out of her collar? She should probably be wearing a harness, so she can't get out on a walk.

Dog Training: Tips and Tricks the Professionals Use

• You may want to try a shock collar, I know they are painful for the dog, but after a few days of doing that, that'll teach her how to stay by you or how behave off of a leash.


• Hire a trainer or keep him on leash


• Most responsible adoption groups won't place dogs with people they know intend to let them run loose. There are just too many dangers, even in lightly developed areas: poisons, traps, wild animals, roads, hunters. There's no way she can "get off" the leash if you have one with a functioning snap, a properly fitting collar, and keep your hand all the way through the loop end of the leash. Sounds like your "trainer" was some unqualified Petco/Petsmart type. Anyone can claim to be a trainer. Your dog's behavior is VERY common. The first thing you are going wrong is to chase her. If you aren't yelling at her, she thinks it's a game. If your ARE yelling, why on earth would she want to come to you? The recall must always be delivered in a cheerful tone, and there must be hearty praise and reward for obeying. Walk away from her, in a safe direction, and call her name.
  Then get serious about obedience lessons with a competent trainer.


• There is no outgrowing this. she needs to be training properly in recall. your last trainer was an idiot. She knows that your guys aren't consistent and has no motivation to obey the command. Start back from scratch. On a leash in an fenced area. If needed find a better trainer than the one you spoke with.


• Find a better trainer! Your dog does need more training & you need to keep her on lead except in fenced areas, for her safety. Obviously the first thing you need to teach the dog is to come when called because, right now, she knows she does not have to. Reliable off lead training takes time, so find a good trainer and keep at it. You need to train on lead for a good while to get reliable off lead performance. Unfortunately just one incident like you had is all many dogs need to teach them they can do what they want when the leash is off and it can be hard to break old habits. A 50' lead (just put a snap hook on inexpensive rope from the hardware store) will allow her exercise & allow you to be in control as well as be safe. Good luck.
  
  I can't imagine a trainer who has never heard of what is a very typical problem LOL!


• Ok I know how you feel my dog use to give me a hard time to. There is a dog training school close to where we live but it cost too much cash. So I looked online too. I come across the dog training academy course it has worked out to be the best think I bout online in while. It could be what you're looking for.

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Dog Health Questions: Dogs: squirt bottle for training?

I am reading a dog training book and it says to use a squirt bottle to discourage barking... when my dog barks, I'm supposed to squirt her mouth and say NO (or "quiet).
I tried it a couple of times and she was so surprised she kind of got jumpy and wanted to escape.

Is this a good idea or not?

The book is Leader of the Pack
http://www.amazon.com/Leader-Pack-Nancy-…

Learn the Significance of Dog Training Courses

Recommended Answer:
Holy cow. Well I don't use negative methods to train my puppies. I want to train them, not terrorize them. When my puppy starts barking, I say "no barking" until she stops barking, then I say "good girl". I address this again when she barks again, and say "no barking" until she stops barking, then I say "good girl" She learns barking makes me unhappy, and being quiet gets her praises. I do this until I win the battle. The time you spend in training will pay off when your dog gets older, the more you put into your dog the more you get out of them. I vote that the method in your book is a very bad method, for the reason you yourself mentioned. This negative method did not stop your dog from barking, it just made her frightened of you. Dogs want to please you, so you have to teach them what behaviors make you happy, and which ones don't and remember to praise the behaviors you want from them.

Search and Resuce Dog Training, Learning to Save Lives

• It's a good idea if you don't do a lot of grooming. I wouldn't want my dogs to associate a spray bottle with a correction. . . they might develop an issue.


• It works for some dogs, not others. Some dogs love being squirted with water, so it's obviously not going to work. Dogs who hate it will learn to stop barking. Your other alternatives are to say "no bark", or you put either gravel or coins in the bottom of a plastic bottle and throw that in her direction. The idea is you throw it close to her to startle her and she's not to see that it's you throwing it - she just thinks it happens when she barks. If you do it right, you should only have to do it a couple of times. Or you could get a shock collar.


• it worked on my german shepard


• I don't agree with that method.
  
  Check out these websites from Cesar Millan (The Dog Whisperer).


• Wouldn't work with my guys, they'd be getting attention, they don't really care what kind of attention it is, its still attention.
  
  Ignoring them when they bark and giving loads of attention when they're quiet has done wonders.


• It works for my parrots but I wouldn't use it on the dogs. I find that props are not that good with training, you don't always have it handy when you need it and that just confuses the dog. Voice commands are better.


• It doesn't actually fix the problem it only temporarily fixes the issue and the dog will go back to barking when the threat of punishment [the squirt bottle] has been removed.
  
  If you insist on using the squirt bottle then you should use it in conjunction with positive reinforcement training for example if you squirt and say "quiet" when she is quiet you reward with a treat and say "good quiet" personally I'd just practice using quiet when she barks, when she does you can say loudly quiet, when she stops immediately reward. Over time she won't stop barking at things but she will shut up quicker. Reinforce the behavior you want [quiet] and ignore the behavior you don't want [the barking] or redirect her to a behavior you can reinforce [the quiet].
  
  I've used the word before my dogs get "out of control" at something I know is going to set them off. My weim will just grumble but she won't actually bark and if she looks at me when I say quiet I instantly praise. This takes time but will help.
  
  However, if you own a yappy dog like a Pomeranian then I'm afraid barking comes with the territory. I suggest reading "The complete Idiots guide to Positive Training" it'll tell you that punishment methods such as squirt bottles actually don't work unless you always have the bottle with you.
  
  Personally I found the squirt bottle didn't work, they just ran out of squirting range, but quiet works much better.


• It depends on why the dog is barking. For example, this method works great to stop my schnauzer from continuing to bark when I have guests. In my opinion, the dog can bark at first, then needs to stop when the guest is let in.
  
  Why is your dog barking?


• I tried this for my dog, but it had the opposite affect. She LIKED the water and thought it was a game and would bark more in hopes of being squirted.


• I have used a method like this where I squirt water in the dogs face when they bark and tell them quiet. You are leaving out an important part of the process though. You should always praise the lack of barking the dog gives you after the squirt. I wouldn't try to squirt the dog in the mouth because to do that you would have to put your hands on the dogs face to get the squirt into the mouth. That would take to much time from the time the dog barks to the correction of squirting it in the mouth and can also make your dog shy away from you hands. There is nothing more frustrating than trying to groom or put a leash on a dog that is afraid of your hands. So if you are going to continue to use the squirt bottle aim for the face and tell the dog quiet and praise the dog as soon as it stops barking.

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Dog Health Questions: Hunting dog training help?

im getting some chukkar to train my lab to flush. I want to release the bird have him flush it then repeat the process how do i get the bird to flush and still be able to pick him up and do it again??

i cant shoot it because im on state game lands out of season

Dog Training Ideas

Recommended Answer:
Flush and say goodbye. Unless the birds are trained to return with food and a cage you won't.

Dog Training and the Dog-Human Bond

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Dog Health Questions: Dog Training??Best answer 10 points!!?

Ok I know it's a little late but just please answer,ok so my dog is an 8 month old Chihuahua (Bella).I really want to train her,I've asked this question before but all I got was 'It's to late for you".I want to make her really obedient and smart because my mom thinks she is so stupid,and i want to prove that Bella has potential of being smart.So here are the main questions...How do I teach her,What do I teach her,and how much should I practice the command/trick. BEST ANSWER 10 POINTS

Dog Training Schools - Who is Being Trained, You Or the Dog

Recommended Answer:
Ok, it is really too much to say on here,
but ill try. may i add maybe take her to a class and no its not late.
that saying you cant teach a old dog new tricks, its all bullsht. my dog is over 1 and a half and im teacher it all this other stuff.
ok
to get off the couch, you stand over her and with a firm voice you say "off" if she doesnt do it get louder. try a couple of times and if that doesnt work. push her off just a bit because then she will do it her self. if she doesnt then just push her off.
the sit, get a treat and say sit. make her eyes follow the treat and follow over her head to see the treat she will have to sit down. if that doesnt work gently get her back legs and push them forward from behind, be careful and if she sits make it a big thing and giver her the treat and say good girl and she will wag her tail.

also try getting a training book.

and still remember its not too late.

good luck
xoxo

Dog Training Collar Aka Shock Collar Buyers' Guide

• It's never too late to train a dog, I don't know who told you that. Have you tried signing her up for obedience classes? That is generally the best way if you've never trained a dog before. And I don't mean classes at some big box store, I mean proper classes from certified trainers. You can ask your vet to recommend someone. There are literally thousands of books on the subject as well.
  
  Want her to stay off the couch? Don't let her on it anymore, even if you're sitting on it. Remove her EVERY TIME you catch her.


• I really don't think it's too late.....look at the dogs they find in the shelters that end up being tv or movie "stars." You should be very consistent .....like saying no when she gets on the sofa...and make her get down...teaching sit, lie down, etc.....using small treats helps, but always do the training with kindness....spanking or yelling will just frighten her...show her lots of love when she does things right.....just be patient and kind and she will learn.


• we trained our huskie- shepard mix when she was around that age. we used hot dogs as treats when she listened and took her to a training seminar, it worked really well for her. i highly suggest taking her to a training seminar/camp thing your local pet store probably has one. the best way for her to learn is to be consistent, never let her on the couch. a cool thing my dad taught our dog is he makes a gun gesture with his hand and says "POW" and she rolls over and pretends to be dead, sounds weird but its so cute! remember, practice makes perfect., Good Luck! :)


• Dogs are never too old to learn tricks. All you have to do is discipline them for doing something wrong, and reward them for doing something right. For example, if you want her to stay off the couch, use a little squirt gun and squirt her with it whenever she jumps on the couch. That is a harmless but effective way to get her to know to get off. Eventually she will know not to get on the couch. While she is still learning, if she does not jump on the couch, feed her a small treat periodically, but don't feed her enough to where she gets overweight. Hope that helps!


• So sign her up for a dog training class. See, wasn't that easy?
  
  And as far as disciplining the dog for doing something wrong, you need to TRAIN the dog first, or she will not know what the expectation is, and will learn nothing. Discipline is for AFTER the dog is trained.


• When she jumps up on the lounge tell her 'NO' and put her where you want her to go. When she goes there, reward her with a treat she likes.
  
  I would start with come, sit, stay, down. I'd practise a few times a day for around 10 minutes.


• Its to late for you. JK start with the easiest commands like sit, then lay, shake, etc. Give her a treat each time she does the command and when she masters it move to the next one. If that doesn't work buy a book.


• It is not too late to train your chihuahua, it will just probably take more time. This site has some good chihuahua training articles:
  
  http://www.chihuahuainfoonline.com/


• to stay off the couch you have to get her to understand it is only for people. try a squirt bottle and every time she even thinks of going up on the couch say no and squirt her. to keep her off when no one is home you can get one of the clear vinyl carpet runners that have nubs on the back and leave on the couch nub side up. it wont hurt her just make it not very comfortable. to learn sit hold a treat in front of her say sit and slowly move your hand over her head so she has to sit back to see it if she sit say good girl and give to her. practice a few times a day. Down is another Good command ( can get her of the couch too) hold cookie in front of her and slowly lower it to the floor while saying down . pull it toward you a little so she has to lay down to reach it. hope this helps you can even teach her hand signs for the commands if you use the sane sign eevery time for sit we hold the tread between our thumb and pointer finger with the other fingers held up. good luck


• Okay loaded question there...
  First of, it is NOT too late, any dog can learn at any time with the right methods and lots of patience. And an 8 month old is STILL a puppy. I have trained 7 year old dogs before.
  That being said "What do I teach her" you should answer this question yourself....it depends on what you want. The basic commands are Sit, Down, Stay, Come, and usually Shake.
  Here is an excellent website for amateur for-the-love-of-it trainers: http://www.loveyourdog.com/tricks.html
  
  Here is my way of training for these 2 tricks:
  
  Down: Take something your dog finds really yummy (such as a treat or tasty unseasoned cooked chicken) and put it directly down in front of them with your hand covering the treat. The dog will bend down to sniff at it and try to get at it, as you do this say "Down" firmly but in a cheerful tone. If your dog goes completely down then you praise them and give treat, if their bum remains on the air, push down GENTLY with your free hand until they are down, and praise. Repeat lots and lots.
  
  Stay: Once your dog knows Down or Sit, have them start in this position. After put your hand right in front of the dog's face and say "Stay" then walk away. Start small, first 2 steps, if she/he doesn't move, go back in front and reward and give treat. After a while increase the distance, 5 steps, 8 steps, 12 steps etc. If she comes after you, just return to the original spot, have her Sit/Down and do it all over again. Tip: It is better if you walk back to her instead of having her run to you as this will confuse her at first. After she learns the Stay trick, you can start on the Come, which is basically when she does get to run to you for her treat.
  
  You should practice 15-25minutes at a time, a good 3 times a day. If your dog loses interest during a training session stop, and return half an hour later. Do not scold your puppy for not paying attention, he/she will not learn the right way if they are not interested.
  What I do with my dogs is I take 20 minutes 3 times a day to run through their known commands. After I teach them a new trick I also run through the ones that they do know. For training them a new trick I usually do a 25minute session if they are up to it.
  
  Good luck.


• Training a dog doesn't really have a certain time frame that it has to be done in. It is pretty true that older dogs are less susceptible to learning the basics of obedience like sit and stay. Your 8 month old is still young enough (I trained my dog in everything up to agility when she was 1.5-2).
  
  There are a bajillion different aspects to training a dog but here are the basics:
  
  1. Treats or some sort of praises are pretty much a necessity.
  2. When you are trying to teach a basic command (sit, stay, lay,...), say it ONCE and make your dog do it. Saying the same thing over and over will make them think that they are allowed to sit whenever they want. Not the first time.
  3. Do not yell at your dog. They don't understand which action that they did was bad.
  4. Your body posture and position is crucial. Don't constantly swing your arms around or jump up and down, this is confusing to them.
  5. It is nice to have a certain hand movement for each obedience skill. (stay=palm vertical; lay=point down)
  
  Go to the library and find a simple book on dog obedience and/or google it. If something seems completely far fetched and you can't see the logic behind it, it probably doesn't work. All in all, training your dog takes a lot of your time and patience, but if you really want to prove your mom wrong, work hard!

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Dog Health Questions: Service Dog Training Issue... Your thoughts please???

I'm training a 10 mos old 100+ lb slightly wild Bernese boy (he's a good boy but he's a BIG puppy & can get excited)... Idiots keep running up to him and flinging their arms around his neck! ("OMG he's so CUTE and I know he's friendly, I used to have one of these") Its driving me faintly insane and I've come to the point of saying "Can't you read??? The patch says "Please Don't Pet Me" "Service Dog at Work"." At which point they apologize but the damage is already done. He's distracted.

I don't want to make him leary of strangers which will happen if I start grouching at the offenders. He's learning a quick wrap-around turn so I can block them with my body and forestall some of it.

Sadly the situation is even worse when I'm in public training the Samoyed boy... less petting, flinging themselves at the dog but WAY more stopping me to converse about him.

So You Want A Career In Dog Training

Recommended Answer:
The t-shirt for you is a good idea. People do not realize that 1 minute of convo results in major distraction and loss of focus for the dog. I am sure you already have handouts that you give explaining service dog etiquette, if not you may want to print some out.

What I do is have one in my hand or pocket ready to give at a second notice, if I see someone approaching fixated on the dog (you know the look) I step out in between them and offer the pamplet, as soon as they take it I say "thank you for wanting to learn about service dogs" followed immediantly by 'back to work boy/girl' and I walk away.

It gives them something to read and learn from, it acknowledges their interest and tells them politely that the dog needs to resume work. You walk away before they have a chance to protest.

Some people just dont get it and will follow you and may require a more direct 'hes working so can you please not distract him'. Some will get mad because you didnt stop to chit chat. They have no clue how many 2 minute convos that means between one side of the store and another. Sometimes we simply dont have time even as handlers to stop and chat. It is especially hard on a dog who needs to focus on ignoring people who wont let the dog ignore them.

I doubt there is any useful info in this post, I am sure you have tried anything I have listed. You might try less crowded places until his focus improves. People wont notice the patches even if they had little neon lights around them that flashed!

The handing out a pamplet and leaving them standing there is likely your best defense, at least its quick to the point and can be done with little loss of pace so from the dogs pov much less distracting. If you ever find something that works let us know!

I am currently training a red/rust cropped doberboy. I catch it from both sides, the interest in the breed because they are not common in the area and the disbelief that dobermans do make good service dogs and their brains to not continue to grow until they turn on you.

sighs

My last service dog was a german shepherd, german import lines, very large (27" 85 lb female) and very very dark marked. People were intimidated by her and approached less even tho they are considered a 'traditonal' breed. I was ask countless times 'is she a drug dog?' ' does she sniff out explosives?', while shepherds are a traditional breed they are more often than not seen by the public as police and SAR dogs. People assumed the 'service dog' meant police etc.

My choice being a dobe this time had a lot to do with the shorter hair, less shedding, less grooming, and less bulk for the height. They absolutly take up less room trying to fit under a table or in an airplane while still being large enough as an adult male for counterbalance, very smart and stable confident dogs.

Dog Training Clicker - Why Use a Clicker?

• I liked the idea of wearing a shirt warning people not to touch the service dog in training.
  
  I know these dogs need to be socialized but a lot of the training can be done in less crowded areas. And when his training has become more dependable you can venture into more crowded areas.
  
  Perhaps he could wear some kind of saddle with a sign attached that stands up & is easy to see, along with a shirt in bright yellow or orange.
  
  In training Police Dogs, they are trained in a compound or river bottom or along ditch banks until they are dependable & then they are worked through crowds. Constantly changing the footings & enviroments.
  
  Perhaps you could have some pamplets that you can hand to people starting to reach for the dog explaining what you are doing. This will take the attention away from petting the dog.
  
  Best of luck, you are providing a wonderful service.
  
  I really enjoyed training dogs, especially when they finially get it right. The look in their eyes & that one little proud moment of insight.


• "When we walk our puppies and people try and pet our dogs we politely but firmly ask them not to touch our dog. If questioned, we simply tell them the dog is being trained as a service dog. "
  there's one suggestion...you do not have to be rude but you should stop them before they come to close to the dog.
  
  just relax and don't let the dog feel your frustration. you should show to the dog that you do not care about these people and that neither should he.
  
  i hope that this helped at least a little....the best of luck to both you and the dog! :)


• i think you need to wear a bright shirt explaining that the dog is working also.


• I never distract service dogs or their handlers. I won't allow my children to either. We actually ran into a service dog a while ago in the store and boy did my 6 year old want to know why he was in the store and wanted to pet him and I explained the dog was working and we couldnt disturb it.......well, he told me our dogs need to get jobs too and is obsessed with that now lol! I think getting a shirt made is a good idea but its weird to me people would do those things anyways as its obvious the dog is a working dog!!
  
  On a side note, when I was a kid my parents friend had a seeing eye dog, a great big beautiful black lab. I went and was sitting next to the man and the dog jumped up and started whining to the man. The man said "okay go ahead" and all of a sudden I had a huge black lab licking me. The man told me I was the first person the dog had ever whined for. Guess the dog could tell how much I love dogs, and ever since then when ever he would see me the man would let him come play with me for a while :)


• HI!
  
  I have volunteered for a facility for seeing eye dogs and yes w e wore a T-shirt that said Please don't touch the working dog! If I saw someone approaching me with "THAT" look on their face I simply said ,working dog in training and kept doing what I was supposed to do. It's not about being rude, it's about getting the dog trained.
  
  LOL I think I trained more people than dogs sometimes.!
  
  Let see if my fairy George shows up! He never disappoints me! Hi George! LOL


• Wear a shirt that says Caution: He Bites!. Getting him to do a wrap around turn is great, and when people do stop you, tell them you don't have time to chit chat and continue on your way.


• ... do people really say "OMG" out loud? Just kidding.
  
  Personally, I think the T-shirt idea is probably your best bet. Make a few, each in different colors that you like. :) Sometimes patches just aren't enough.
  
  Perhaps you could also talk to your local Petco or Petsmart about doing a "seminar" for the public about how to deal with people and their service dogs while out and about.
  
  I kind of understand your frustration. I do my best to "let working dogs work" -- when I'm not with my own. I'm currently training my 120 lb Great Dane as my service dog. However, she's also training as a therapy dog learning to deal with the public, so for her having people come up and pet and ask questions is GOOD, something she and I both like.
  
  What it boils down to is there are dogs/handlers on both sides of the coin, so we as handlers must deal with the public as gracefully as possible. If wearing a bright t-shirt saying "IN TRAINING" is what it takes, then go for it.
  
  And please let me know how things work out for you. :)


• Oh, I feel your pain. I'm training a 9 month old lab puppy to be an Autism Assistance Dog. Perhaps you need a bigger cape with a bigger patch? Just kidding, in part, but the patch I'm sure looks tiny on your big 100 pound baby. People miss Jenna's sometimes and she's only 40 lbs.
  
  I actually like the attention Jenna gets cause I'm working right now on teaching her not to solicit more attention when it stops.
  
  I really don't have very many ideas for you, except the patch that's as big as a billboard that says Do Not Pet, Or Mommy will Bite you. I have a friend who may be able to help you with that.
  
  perhaps a Yahoo group I'm on Owner Trained Service Dogs for Beginners may have some pointers (it's not all beginners).
  
  Anyway, good luck.


• well...i personally KNOW better to stop a service dog in training (my hubby is a military cop and works w/K9 handlers) BUT most of the general public don't understand WHY you shouldn't bother a service dog that is *working* or training.
  
  perhaps you and some other fellow service dog trainers in your area could set up a public awareness meet and greet in some public spot, like a mall or city park. you could put on a demonstration for the public and explain what service dogs do...and tell them what the public should NOT do when they see these dogs in a public setting. you could do this once a month or so. it would be informing the public and getting your message out there to "please do not disturb" while in training.
  
  also call up local TV news and radio stations...and see about some airtime to talk about your service dog(s).
  
  i don't think these ppl are idiots, just uninformed and curious.
  BTW-thank you for dedicating your time to train these animals!
  
  **i have an aunt that is blind, and has a seeing eye dog**
  
  *edit* im in no mood today....Thumbs down fairy...kiss my white @ss.


• I always respected the 'Dog at Work' signs. When I was younger (>10) I might go up, and say something like, "Hi, I like your dog" to the trainer, but that's it. Never asked to pet the dog, and never took up more than a moment of the trainer's time. Now, normally, probably because I'm older, I just watch from afar; maybe smile at the handler.
  
  I don't get why people ignore the signs. Kids do it just because they get overexcited. A lot of people just aren't wired to read at first sight. (I read just about everything I see, so words are usually the first thing I notice...)They see a dog, and their brain says "OMG cuuutttteeeeeee!", so they react on that, never noticing the polite requests. But that's part of being in a mostly animal-loving culture, I suppose.
  
  What you're doing is a public service, and I respect that. But I just don't get how others don't.
  
  Best thing to do is to keep correcting people gently. Eventually people will get the idea, and the people you've corrected will probably never do it again.
  
  Good luck with the dogs!


• I think you need a shirt that says, "Don't touch the dog, the owner bites"
  
  People are such morons.
  
  The only other thing I can suggest is working him through the distraction. In other words, don't allow him to be distracted but insist he focus on the job at hand. After all, he will still encounter morons when his training is finished and he's working for real.
  
  EDIT: Because Bassets are so cute and harmless-looking, it's quite common for parents to let their little children run up and pet or hug my dogs. WTF are they thinking? My dogs are not used to children, and although MOST of them will be just fine with this there are two that would be frightened and might bite if a child ran up and grabbed them.


• you know what - a lot of even pet owners can understand and relate to what you are saying. i have an on-leash aggressive dog and quite frankly, I don't want anyone coming up to him at all on walks. I have two pitbull lab mixes, and little wee children come screeching up to them and want to pet them and who knows what else.
  
  I never ever let people's kids pet my dogs if their parents aren't around - and um - how often are kids parents there? - practically nil.
  
  So even though I don't have service dogs I can totally emphatize. I say it now when people ask to pet, I say, nope sorry we are in training.
  
  I think a t-shirt is perfect- and get a sweatshirt too for colder weather.


• I don't know how to keep people away, I am not out there training a Service dog but I have the same problem with people..
  
  When I see someone working a Service Dog, I watch from afar and do not bug or interfere.. I figure if they want socializing, they'll see me watching and approach me.. If not, I am not going to be the one messing with the training!


• Unfortunately, all people see is the dog. My hearing dog is a large (28" at the shoulder), white standard poodle. Security guards have told me that dogs aren't allowed in their mall, then claimed that they didn't see the bright orange service dog vest when I pointed out that he is a service dog. If they don't see the vest, they don't see the "do not pet" badge.
  
  To make matters worse, most people don't know what a service dog is. All they know about is guide dogs. Most people think, if it isn't a black lab in a guide dog harness, it isn't a service dog. Most people have no idea what distracting a service dog can do. I printed cards that briefly describe the major types of service dogs and mention possible consequences to distracting a service dog. (When I am crossing the road, I need to know about the emergency vehicle running the light with its siren blaring. A diabetic needs to know that he will go into a coma if he does not take his medication immediately.)
  
  The biggest problem are the people who feel that the rules do not apply to them. I try to explain things politely. If that does not work, my dog is trained to step away from people and put me between himself and whoever is trying to pet him when I use the "leave it" command. (I hate to do this because we volunteer at hospitals and seniors' homes with a therapy dog group.)
  
  Having a shirt printed that says the dog is in training, please do not pet will reduce the number of people who bother you, but it won't help with the ones who don't think the rules apply to them. I wish I could offer some advice, but other than educating people, there is little we can do.


• One thing we try where I volunteer is when we are out doing public training is to go in pairs (if you can). You have a blocker and you.... When we go to the mall - we have 3 people. Can you get a couple of your friends to help on occasion?
  
  What about making up cards to hand out? We've done this as well. They simply say - We aren't trying to be rude. We'd stop and chat but this dog is in training and he can't stop right now - it's distracting to him. To learn more about service dogs - a link to our website. Literally, you hand the card and keep walking. It explains it all. That combined with the shirt (we wear our logo shirts) but I like a BRIGHT RED shirt saying SERVICE DOG IN TRAINING. Combine those 2.
  
  It helps because so many people have no idea.
  
  Just a couple of ideas that work when our handlers are out and about.


• Tough issue. On the one hand, it's a lot of your time and distracting to the dog. On the other, it's an opportunity to do a little public education, and the dog will probably have to deal with this once it goes into service. Perhaps the T-shirt with large, bold lettering front and back might help. In terms of maneuvers, maybe a quick sit, stay, then just step in front of him
  
  Sometimes I just want to smack people who run up and grab a dog without so much as a please, may I. It's bad manners at best, and dangerous at worst.
  
  Thumbs up to you for training service dogs.


• I highly agree... Bright, neon shirt, big bold black letters.
  
  People don't seem to understand.
  Whenever I see a working dog, I will stand back and admire the work and then if the person wants to share with me I will talk to them, but I never go up to them and fling my arms around their dog or even do things to get their attention.
  
  I have had younger working dogs in training come through my gate at the Seaport, and I will comment on how lovely they look and ask if they are able to be pet, because I understand that sometimes they are in a stage where they are being socialized and its ok for them to be pet, but under their handlers terms.
  
  I know how difficult it can be training a non working dog, I really give you credit for doing this and wish you the best of luck.
  
  People really need to be more educated about how to react and heck... They need to learn how to read.
  
  Maybe the fact that the husky and bernese are not like the labs, goldens, or shepards that people normally see and associate with working dogs and training, that they think its ok to behave like idiots.People have such one track minds, that I wouldn't put it past them.
  
  But yes, BIG NEON SHIRT IN BOLD LETTERS, maybe even one for your pups as well.
  
  Thank you for devoting your time, energy, and patience to the training and raising of such wonderful animals.


• Oh man, these people are so STUPID. I am in junior high and I am not half so retarded.
  
  If this keeps going on, this is a plan made up by me, not a professional, but to be used only if very desperate:
  Hire some people to NOT distract him by petting, put them in a park or something where you can reserve the land for a certain period of time (so he gets used to being around people) and train him that way.
  
  You should only use it if very very desperate because (A) I don't know if there are any land spaces like that and (B) How will you find anybody willing to do that, milling around for an hour or so to train a dog? But if you can find a spot of land like that and you can find a large amount of people willing, I say go with it.


• Since your dog is so cute and attractive to people, YOU must make yourself as repulsive to people as possible. Think body odor, unibomber hoodie, a weapon of some kind?
  
  Seriously though, the t-shirt and handing out cards are very good ideas. But I think you must look like too nice of a person, which is really a compliment. Some people never get approached. I had a neighbor who always wore a dirty undershirt and a fur jacket around the neighborhood (combined with greasy long hair). Even in the summer. His dog was this cute springer spaniel, but for some reason they never got approached. I guess if you cultivate a serial-killer-look, your dog is left alone.

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Dog Health Questions: Dog Training Question?

My eldest dog is about 6 years old and was never really trained. Just the basics .. but then I never really 'trained' him after he learned them. So, I'm trying to re-inforce his training. He is VERY food oriented. So I use his dry food as his 'cookies' (as we call treats in my house).

I taught him how to "Stay" and "Come" .. which I could NEVER do before! It only took 3 days to learn. He can also "Speak" and "Dance" .. but he gets "Sit" and "Lay Down" mixed up. When I say sit .. he lays down .. and when I say lay down .. he sits! When I put the treat up a little above his head (like to teach puppies how to sit) .. then he will sit. But if I'm standing up and I say "Sit" .. he will lay down.

So, Questions: How do I get him to Lay down and Sit right? Should I use the word "Down" instead of lay down? and I can't get him so listen to me WITHOUT food in my hands! Or anywhere OTHER than my living room.

Any advice would be great. I taught my 10 month old pup everything without treats.

Boxer Dog Training Tips and Ideas That Are Critical to Effective Instruction

Recommended Answer:
So he has mixed up sit and down. You can straighten that out. Tell him to "sit." When he lays down, don't give him a treat. Wait a few seconds, then put the treat above his head (like you were saying works to get him to sit). As soon as he sits, treat that. You may have to repeat this many times. But if you consistently don't treat him for laying down, and do treat him for sitting, he will see that is what you want. You might have to keep going for a week or two. Don't worry. He will catch on. And do the same thing with "down."

One thing I did in my obedience class was "push ups." We would tell the dog to sit, then down, then sit, then down, etc. It has the effect of looking like the dog is doing pushups, and teaches your dog the difference between the two commands.

One person suggested hand signals. This may be a very good idea for you because the dog has the words mixed up. My sit hand signal is my cupped hand, palm facing up, sort of like I am holding food in it for my dog. This is similar to the way you teach a puppy to sit, so it was very natural to me and my dog for it to mean sit. My down hand signal is just me pointing down at the ground with my index finger.

To teach a hand signal, give your signal, wait a beat, then lure the dog into the position. (show him the food over his head for sit, move food toward the floor for down -- or whatever you used to teach down). Do NOT use the words sit or down here since your dog is mixed up about them. Use the signal as his only cue. It is important to wait a beat after giving the signal, and not move directly into luring the behavior. This will give your dog time to think. Your dog will begin to "guess" what you want him to do next, and try to do that. You need to give him time to think.

Anyway, sounds like you are making real progress with Gizmo. It's normal for him not to perform his commands very well outside of the room you taught him in. You have to take him to every different room in your house and reteach him the commands. Don't worry, it will not take as long! But you will have to refresh his memory. Dogs don't understand that "sit" when you are in the living room means the same thing as "sit" when you are in other places. You need to do it in many different places -- outside, across the street, in the park -- before your dog will start to understand that "sit" means the same thing everywhere.

And start fading out the treats. Only give him a treat for every other sit. Or only give him a treat if he comes to you really fast. You can't quit treats cold turkey or sometimes dogs refuse to do the behavior. But you can fade it gradually. Also, don't always have the food in your hand. That should be only for training a new behavior in the beginning. After that, have it where your dog can't see it. Then pull it out at the appropriate moment. That way your dog won't rely on seeing the treat to do the behavior.

And you can keep using kibble if that's what he likes. Usually kibble works well in the house when there aren't a lot of distractions. If you take him to the park to work on things, kibble may not do it for him. When you work around greater distractions, bring more special food. Like cut up chicken or meatballs or cheese. Anything your dog goes nuts for.

Dog Training Ideas

• USE HAND SIGNALS. u have to use hand signals. for and example to lie down, my dog responds to a face down flat hand by my chest and a little outwards. make sure u say the word with the hand signal. this is vital. and for the treat problem, you have to vary the times when u give him treats. for an example. have the food in ur hand and make him do a trick. and give him the treat, the next time, however, DONT give him the treat. make sure the order is completly random otherwise the dog will find out the pattern and use that to his advantage. yes dogs r smart too. if u have any more questions email me at rhakadna@yahoo.com. make the subject dog help


• Say down, and when he sits, gently press him down and say 'good down' over and over and only give the treat when he is doing what you want. Then when he lays down instead of sit, pick his front up so he is in a sit and say 'good SIT' and then give the treat. He will eventually learn the terminology.
  To get him to do what you want without treats, you need to slowly wean him off of the treats. Give him a treat for every other command, and then after a while, give a treat for every third command, and slowly get him used to doing what you want everytime, with or without a treat.


• Dont say "lay down" or "sit down" use Down and Sit respectively. Alot of people mistakenly say Sit down, and laydown this confuses the dog. Saying down as part of 2 commands is confusing. Also watch your hands when you are giving him commands, you might be giving the sam hand gesture for both commands which is also confusing. Make sure to have 2 seperate and distinct hand signals for each command.. for sit I use one finger held up, for down I use a flat palm. Even if you dont notice the hand signals you are making the dog does and he watches them to see what you want.. dogs are very much concerned with body language. So pay attention to what you are doing when you tell him things.. make sure you arent doing th same hand gesture for different commands.
  
  Also just because you have food in your hands doesnt mean you HAVE to give it to him every time. Try alternating, give him treats sometimes but not all the time. The treats are yours make him work for them! Another thing is, if you want him to listen elsewhere put treats in your pocket, he will think they are for him and will be more motivated to find out HOW to get you to give them to him.. make it so that you only give them to him if he performs out of the living room.


• Hi. First thing to do would be to keep his treat food completely separate from his dry food and make sure it's something he really likes. And use the treats for training only. I use only Possyum (possum meat) for training and my dog will do just about anything. Use just the 'down' word on it's own, as you suggested. Singular words are less confusing for him and more direct. When you are standing and say 'down', bring the treat to the floor and only give it, with praise, when he lays down. He should do this to get the treat. To sit, you are doing the right thing by bringing the treat up, but maybe try to bring it at little more over his head so that he has to tip his head back to get it. Again, only treat when he does it. Lots of praise when he does it right will also instill it in him.
  I also train one of my dogs in obedience. I started with treats from the start, but am also having trouble weaning him off them, as we can't use treats in competition. I try doing a couple of things with a treat and then some without. But it's hard work. Perserverance is the key. Good luck.

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Dog Health Questions: Things to cover in a dog training book?

I'm not sure as of what to do for an introduction?
Also, is there somewhere I could go to find a list of common behavioral problems in dogs? I've planned out lots but I'd like to cover as much as I can. Any websites or lists off the top of your head are appreciated, and if you have any suggestions to anything else I should put in it besides how to train/correct problems I'd love to hear them :) thanks!

Dog Training Ebook Review - SitStayFetch

Recommended Answer:
I always like reading intros from other knowledgeable people in the field. Find a well-respected trainer and have them do an intro.

I definitely would cover crate training, positive vs. negative reinforcement, only correcting behavior when it's caught in the act, etc.

*EDIT: I was actually thinking of like a Foreword, I guess, not an introduction. Yeah, I agree with the others about discussing your qualifications and experience.

Clicker Dog Training Tool

• Are you writing a dog training book?
  
  I recommend either going to the bookstore and buying a few books to go off of, visit your local library, or using google, and reading sources.
  
  http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rls=c…
  
  Best of Luck!


• With an introduction, start of by introducing your self and your background with dogs. *how you got into dogs *what you do with them/what you've done with them *what dogs you own etc..
  
  *The different breed groups (Sporting, terriers...)
  *Choosing a puppy/ the right breed for you
  *Bringing a puppy home
  *puppies/new dogs first few weeks
  *activities to do with your dog(s)
  *purebreds and mutts
  *breeders and rescue shelters
  *what to avoid when getting a puppy from a breeder (BYB's, puppy farms, pet shop pups, health checks etc)
  
  Purchase books from shops to go off.


• Is this going to be a book outlining your specific methods or is it a general book based off of typical behaviors and POSSIBLE training methods?
  
  An introduction should always include information about yourself: such as how long you've been working with dogs, if any dogs have been titled under your training, a brief account of success stories, a brief description of your methods OR what you will be covering in the book, and of course a shout out to any/all mentors you have had.
  
  If you will be using actual examples (such as names of dogs and people, and/or of dogs you have trained) then you must ask owner permission!
  
  Keep in mind that there are thousands of training books on the market. You must write something that is totally unique - copying anything out of another book, wether it be method or description, is illegal and punishable by law. Any quotes or word-by-word copies must be properly cited.
  
  Stuff to include:
  - Choosing a dog
  - Where to get a dog (and where not to get a dog)
  - Basic puppy and beginner training
  - Basic puppy behaviors and problems
  - Outline of YOUR methods (or of common methods being used)
  - Basic outline of different breed groups according to AKC standards, including requirements for each group
  - Balancing a dogs natural instinct with breed instinct so your dog has no issues
  - Other common behavioral problems
  - Difference between abuse, correction, and other "types" of training
  - Dog identification (or anything to do with BSL, behaviors, and "pit bulls")
  
  Please try to be NEUTRAL when discussing techniques. I don't know how many books i have been put off of simply because the author criticized a technique without giving accurate data/facts to support their critiques.
  
  You can read other books to get an idea of what YOU can use, but remember that copying ANYTHING is going to be seen as plagiarism.

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