Puppy Training

Hi All,

Just a quick note to see if anyone can shed some light on my situation.

Ive recently started taking my puppy to training classes. It was her third time on Wednesday just gone, and believe it or not she seems to be getting worse lol.

I mean the main reason i was taking her was because of the 'distractions' in every day life and i wanted to know that no matter what was gonig on around us she would still listen to me. Well since going every week she seems to be pulling on the leader more when im there, to the point of where her tounge starts hanging out of her mouth. But when walking her outside i dont have any of these problems. Even if other dogs are there.

She already knows a lot of commands and does really well with them. But in the class she just seems to act her self up, i mean she even starts crying now and i have never heard her do that.

Am i getting too stressed so early on in the classes or is there anything else i can do with her. I told the trainer about this and he said it may take her some time but she will eventually 'click'.

He also mentioned that walks should be restricetd when they are young as they can get probs later on in life. So i cut out her 4 hour walks at the weekend. But i told him that i took her for a 40min walk before the puppy class and he said that this was still too much? Does everyone else agree with this? If so would 20min walks be appropriate, 3 times a day?

Hi.
Gosh where to start!!!!

Fiest of all the recommended guideline for puppy exercise is 5 mins per month of age...so at 16 weeks a pup could have no more than 2 20 minute walks a day. Of course there has to be flexibility and it is only a guideline, if the pup is walking on pavements for 20 mins it is different to running on grass for example. Did your trainer not explain that?? He should have done really.

As for your classes. Your pup is feeling more at ease there so will look like he is regressing when really he isn't. I would be a little worried about the crying and wonder if he is feeling pretty stressed by it all....why is he crying? Are the classes very busy and full on?

It does sound like you are getting a little stressed and worried....try not to. Pups are pups and you are doing the right things teaching commands and socialising him. He will be a mad pup for a while yet, enjoy it while it lasts....

Hello

She's a Springer right? How old is she? We've been advised that 2x 40 minutes walking (off lead on grass), or 2x 20 minutes on lead on pavement is fine for a springer. 4 hours for a pup that young is definitely too much. We were told off for doing an hour and a half in one go.

Woody is completely different in puppy class. It's hot, the atmosphere is buzzing, the floor is slippy, their are lots of other dogs and being puppies all they want to do is play with each other.

Have you tried the frustration game with her? We found that invaluable with Woody. Let me know if you have never heard of it and I'll gladly go through it with you.

Stick with the puppy classes, they are a great idea. We've been nominated for "most improved puppy of the year" because everyone was so impressed with Woody's development. He started off a nasty, OTT, boisterous, ignorant puppy who had no regard for anyone and through our work and the invaluable things we learnt in puppy class is now a (relatively ;o) calm young pup who knows that when he is on the lead and not going anywhere he lies quietly and calmly until we say so.

Good luck, don't give up and let me know if I can help in any way.

Oh, and also, what Ramble said. Always listen to Ramble, she's like my Dog God ;o)

Hi Ramble,

So i may have been pushing it a bit taking her for a 4 hour walk on sat and sun lol. ive stopped these now, but even the 2 20min walks seem a small dont they. its prob only me but as im used to walking it seems a bit weird waiting for a pup to get bigger so that you can walk her further. i mainly walk her on grass 2 times a day and a pavement walk at the end of the day.

i do feel as if she just wants to play in the puppy classes and that she gets a bit stressed when waiting for other people to take their turns in walking the dogs and doing certain activities with their pups. the class is not a big one, we have 10 in all together, but there are a few dogs who bark quite a lot. maybe they are stressing her im just not sure.

Hi Pidge,

yeah i think the 40min walks sound a bit better as i usually walk her on grass. well she loves her ball and is a great retriever. i know what you mean about how the pup can be very diff in a puppy class. im sure mine has multiple personalities lol. although im very thankfull that she does not have any aggression issues, and can put up with a lot, while the other puppies jump all over her lol , and bite her big ears. bless she loves it really!

wow it sounds as if your pup has improved a lot during his classes. i hope mine will be the same by the end of the 8 weeks. im already signed up to his KC bronze classes after she has completed her puppy classes. im also interested in agility and gundog training for her when she gets older. i never knew springers were so cleaver

Hi Valandra may I quickly make a couple of suggestions, firstly getting your puppy's attention, I find teaching 'Look at me' is very good for achieving this..

To teach look at me (if you don't know already)
..ask your dog to sit, hold a treat in front of your eyes and your dogs gaze should follow the treat,now ask him to 'look at me' saying 'good boy' when he does (but not too excitedly), then give the treat and praise.
Repeat this a number of times each day until he is proficient at doing it.
Extend the 'look at me' time and see how long you can hold his gaze,try lowering your voice to a whisper saying 'good boy ' all the time you have his attention. Make a sound each time his eyes leave yours 'ahah' then go back to back to 'look at me, good boy' when he returns your gaze , now treat and praise.

Do this in a quiet place to begin with then somewhere with distraction and eventually you will get his attention for long periods .

It is a good idea to use a high value treat for this training , something like chicken or cheese .

Here is an article on trainng puppies written by one of our members, it may be of help to you.

http://www.dogsey.com/dog-articles.php?t=14526

I don't know whether to laugh or be very embarrassed or both.....thank you...I think!!!!

Hi Pidge,

you asked have i tried the frustration game with her? i have not tried this game. could you explaine in a little more detail of what to do and the outcomes of the game.

Thanks Minihaha,

I never thought of doing a watch command. I have already started teaching her it now lol. Thanks for the link as well, very helpful

If it's any consolation to you, my 4 month old Boxer pup is exactly the same. As soon as we get to puppy class i swear he forgets i'm even in the room. He's good as gold at home but all he wants to do at class is play with the other dogs.

He is getting better though and i'm also going to be trying some of the techniques mentioned by others as getting Monty's attention is pretty difficult at the moment so i really want him to learn to focus on me.

I think patience is the key and i lose mine rather rapidly!!

Good luck with the training and keep us updated, its nice to know that i'm not alone in the puppy class nightmare dog thing!!