3 year old labradoodle - training ---Help!!

[herewego]

I have a 3 year old labradoodle. Basically a really good sweet doodle. My question is what 'forms' of training have you found to work best???
I am looking at the perfect dog.com/ and many others online....
i have attempted - i use that to the best of my ability/ dog whisperer/ the german shepard one on here sited/ others out of the library.

When he was a puppy - the first year I went to 2 basic training classess - we/I 'passed" - but didnt' really leave with the skills we were supposed to have.
as they say they are there to train the trainer / not the dog/ and i did not do so well - He was like the A.d.d. dog/ i spent the whole time in the corner
I am currently working with a trainer who used food as a motivator/ which has gone okay/ but - there have been times when the food just isn't enough.
and though he can be seperate from people when he is allowed to be amidst the 'group' of people it is like he can't contain himself.
He is not aggressive/ but assertive.

My 'issues' currently: I want him to be a dog people like/ he is crotch height/
energetically greets anyone who walks in the door
even if i get him to sit and not 'rush' them when they come in.... when someone wants/ trys to pet him / he nuzzles his hand with their mouth/*
*how to get your dog to sit and mellow / let someone pet them
*not rush up to someone / or up on them
*to come
*to not run off when the door is open
*to drop

He does all of these some of the time.
He does sit extremely well
How much time do you walk yours a day?
I am feeling extremely tired/ and like maybe i can't do this/ though i don't want to give up -
It hurts me deeply when people talk about him/ teasingly/ and don't want them near him...
any thoughts/ help - would be appreciated!!!
thanks

[tuffystar]

I can't answer all of those but I found that when the dogs sit and "leave it" every time I feed them it can carry over to other times. The other day I got Tia to "leave it" when he was latched on to Buddy our other dog. The sit carried over to them waiting at the door. I am not perfect with the training but they are getting it. Please don't give up! I feel that way a lot because my DH often isn't on board with the training. But I want my dogs to be dogs everyone loves to be around (like you). Hang in there, many people here know more about training and I will learn from their answers to you as well.

[MaxandMe]

call the place you did training to see if you can do a refresher course for free.....or find another place that accepts dogs of all ages etc

NOW have you ever done 30 min lie downs? where say from 8:30pm to 9pm your doodle lies down and doesn't move
meaning you sit in beginning on floor next to your dog, may take 10 min or more 1st time to get them to settle even if you have
to put your hold on the shoulder or hold lightly. It' s fine , normal.......then 30min later say OKAY as release

another thing, when your dog jumps do you walk away , totally ignore your dog look up or just not at your dog.

also for the time being you many want to go back to basics in training and do short daily sessions working your way back up


it's not easy okay.....yes it takes time patience love and sense of humor ........hang in there and give it another try.
these are very intelligent dogs and with a bit more training should respond. OH when company arrives do you have them
ignore your dog as well as say NO firmly?

I give my doodle at least 30min to 45min in morning to run/walk/play fetch as it wears them out and again in late afternoon or early evening.

a tired doodle is a good doodle
i also play fetch in house tossing stuffed or rather defuzzed duck or small ball at times.

[lmtoth2]

Dexter still has poor manners when company arrives. Last time my parents came, we put him on a gentle leader and a leash for about 5 minutes and when we let him off he was fine (no jumping up). He just gets so excited when people come over. It wouldn't totally solve your problem, but maybe doing something like this over time would help him be more calm from the start.

[Doodlesville]

Best advice
invest in the book, be the pack leader by Cesar Millian (the dog whisperer)
its one of the best books and in my opinion the best trainer ever!!

[herewego]

Oh, my gosh...THANK YOU TO EACH!!!
don't know what took me so long to think of this forum/
I spent hours and hours on here when he was a pup...
I feel inspired, and not alone.

can't believe how much response i got in such a short time.
will keep in touch
Thanks!!

[pringle's mom]

I am using clicker training following the method in Pat Miller's books. It works VERY well!

[Lora]

I also use a leash on Boyd when company comes over. It takes him about 5 minutes to settle and then he's calm. Boyd only displays the jumpiness at our house. When I took him to my parents cabin over Thanksgiving he was super calm the entire time. In fact, my family kept marveling at how much he had mellowed...

I would instruct your company to ignore the dog when they come in until he is calm. If need be put him on a leash or a crate until he is calm and then let him come meet everyone.

[TNVOL]

Something I stress with Vegas is that I never, ever, ever reward excited behavior. If someone walks in the door, he must sit. Sometimes he prances around them excitededly, however he rarely jumps and knows that he will only get pet/attention if his butt is on the floor. It takes lots of practice/patience, but he gets it. It is kind of weird, but you have to ask your guests to not give attention unless he is sitting, turn away if he jumps, or even walk back out the door if he rushes them. Maybe you can practice this with a neigbor. Just have them repeatedly come in the door until your doodle gets it.

When I come home and let him out of his crate, he stretches, flops around and stomps his feet and prances around me, but then he always sits calmly in front of me for his "hello".

[mtd885]

This works for me viewtopic.php?f=1&t=11137

[CharlieBear's Mom]

Lots of treats and patience. Wear him out really good before you start working with him -- really helps my baby stay focused. They are really quick to learn and my dog will do just about anything for food. Good luck!

[anny51]

Originally Posted by pringle's mom

I am using clicker training following the method in Pat Miller's books. It works VERY well!

I'll second that! I'm also a big fan of Ian Dunbar. The thing I try to remember the most is consistency...with one of our other dogs I'd start training one way, then find a different way that looked even better...trouble is we'd both end up confused ! So decide what you're going to do and stick with it...at least long enough to give it a chance to work.