very stuborn and willfull

Jamie · Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2006 3:10 pm Post subject: very stuborn and willfull

Bella is extremely wilful and very bright. She has some big problems that we need to get to grips on. She’s almost eleven months old and we admit being softies because she was ill for so long. BUT she needs to learn some manners fast before she either gets run over by the park keeper or worse

Can’t cure her of the following

She jumps up at people constantly both indoors and out

She will frequently try to ‘catch’ cars as they whiz past

Spots a ‘friend’ over the other side of the park and zooms off.

Pulls endlessly on a lead despite our best efforts at getting her to heal

Barks a lot but won’t do it on command.

But she does understand

Fetch your ball

paw

I whisper bye bye’s and she puts herself to bed in her crate. Very Happy

I yell bed and she knows she’s in trouble and goes to her crate, also knows the difference between the two. (bye bye’s she goes to sleep and bed she remains sitting up in crate)

Knows ‘medicine time’ is just before bed and queues at kitchen gate for spoonful of food and meds.

So how do we get Bella to learn her manners, we know she’s bright enough.
Doesn’t help that her best friend is also a loony so we may need to train both!

Keith · Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2006 5:02 pm Post subject: Re: very stuborn and willfull

I will share some of what we have done in our training, and the best commands for the situation. Have you ever been to obedience with Bella?

K9Summer · Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2006 5:09 pm Post subject:

Hi Jamie! Bella sounds like a smart dog! Since it seems like you have a few problems, I'll recommend a book that has changed the way our dogs behave. The book is called "The Dog Listener" by Jan Fennell. It teaches you how to be in charge of your dog, and not the other way around! I love it! Make sure you get a copy with the 30-day training guide in the back.
Good luck with Bella! Stay consistent, and really good treats never hurt!

Bridget, Summer, and Duke

Keith · Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2006 5:13 pm Post subject:

cheese... the magical power of cheese.

I cant say enough about it.

During training the is wat we use and it has been a great tool.

lisarundell · Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2006 5:33 pm Post subject:

Jamie, The Dog Listener is a very good book, it has a lot of very useful info. She gives the reader a view into the commumity the dogs came from the "pack" and how it applies to people their dogs. I believe it addresses some of the issues you are experiencing. I read parts of it before we picked up our doodle, Lani, 6 weeks ago. Bella sounds very smart indeed. Good luck.

http://labradoodle-dogs.net/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=113
_________________
Lisa, Lani and Toby
http://s83.photobucket.com/albums/j309/lisarundell/

Outside of a dog a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.
Groucho Marx

Chesterpal · Posted: Tue Apr 04, 2006 7:05 am Post subject:

The prong collar has been great for Chester. He's a big, strong boy and I don't think I could walk him without it.

seazr · Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 9:54 am Post subject:

Well, based on all of your many recommendations, after class last night, I intended to buy a prong collar for Dakota because it's almost impossible for me to control him on a walk anymore. One of the trainers told me that prong collars are absolutely NOT allowed in class. Instead she steered me to the gentle leader. Haven't tried it yet, but I'll keep you posted!
Diane

Jannie · Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 10:01 am Post subject:

Hi Diane

I struggled with what kind of control collar to buy my puppy and got a lot of great advice from this forum. Many people here have had good success with the prong collar, but I decided to try the gentle leader first. It does help, although it is not the miracle solution it claims to be on the box! But it does prevent pulling, because when the dog pulls, its head goes down and back toward the leash. It doesn't really stop jumping, but my dog has settled down in that regard so it's not a big issue for me anymore.

Best of luck!

susan · Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 10:06 am Post subject:

I love my prong collar. I purchased it from K-9 Toolbox, on-line. It's a Herm Sprenger Coran, I think! I could not control Biscuit without a prong on a walk. And, we prong at home and in training classes. I have put the prong around my arm and pulled, it only puts pressure and does not poke into you. I don't think there is any problems with using it. I see a lot of big dogs with prongs. They are like power steering for the dog.

I also make Biscuit sit before anyone can address him. I has helped tremendously in his jumping up on people. While training, I step on his leash so he cannot jump up. I tell people that he has to sit before they can pet him. So, far it has worked. Today, he sat when we greeted someone (without me even saying it:)).

Good luck. Training and consistency is my key. And, lots of exercise.

Susan

2doodsmom · Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 10:46 am Post subject:

hi Jamie! Prong collar! Prong collar! Prong collar. I don't get why anyone is troubled by these except they look so fierce. They are not. I use them whenever my doodles are around other people, and in training sessions. I have used them with my dogs for 15 years and have only had positive results with them. They don't hurt your dog. They give you an effective means to deliver a quick correction, which is the secret to success. It'll get better, it really will.
_________________
Lisa and George and Gracie
http://labradoodle-dogs.net/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=79
Outside of a dog, a book is your best friend, and inside of a dog, it's too dark to read.
--Groucho Marx

Keith · Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 12:38 pm Post subject:

Jannie · Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 12:48 pm Post subject:

the classes we are taking at petsmart do not allow pinch collars of any kind

seazr · Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 4:35 pm Post subject:

We take classes at PetsMart also and they forbid the prong collar because they don't like that method for controlling dogs. The GOOD NEWS is, we gave the Gentle Leader a test run at lunch and--SUCCESS! This is the first time Dakota walked quietly (everyting is relative!) by my side!! If this is the reaction I get after 10 minutes, I'm sold!! (PetsMart does allow the Gentle Leader in training classes.)
Diane

Jannie · Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 5:05 pm Post subject:

Diane - so glad to hear the gentle leader is working for you - I found it works too - although not as wonderfully as I had hoped - but it does stop the dog from pulling, making it much more comfortable for the kids to walk her - and this is a good thing!

Chesterpal · Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 6:14 pm Post subject:

The only thing with the gentle leader---and this probably sounds silly to those with normal sized doodle but with a jumbo doodle the gentle leader looks kind of muzzlish and people are a bit fearful. Not that anyone has run screaming or anything...