Training advice for adolescent dog!

[Pigeonpost]

Our sprocker is now 9 months old and has most definitely reached the teenage stage. She flatly will not come when I call her and runs off into the neighbours gardens after she's been let out for a wee (now having to take her out on a lead to prevent this). She has also taken to barking a lot if the neighbour's cat dares to come into the garden or if someone is working in a garden nearby. Mostly she isn't a barky dog but these seem to be her trigger points, she barked for 20 mins non-stop one morning last week because next door's gardener had a dog with him in his van and she could hear it.

She was spayed at the end of Oct and hasn't been to puppy training since early Oct as she moved up to the intermediate group which was at a really awkward time slot for us. She is a lovely dog most of the time but when she runs off I want to scream. I know she can hear me because she sits in the flower bed looking at me defiantly or pops up from a hedge she's been sniffing in but I am way down the list of Interesting Things To Respond To. I'm going to look for another training class for the new year to see if I can find one at a better time.

Although I am home all day as a SAHM she has decided that DH is her master. Her recall is much better for him. He works at home about 50% of the time but when he's not here she rebels. I have tried keeping 'special' treats which she really likes but which only come from me but that still isn't working. If I call her inside the house she will come without issue so I'm at a loss as to how to train her when she is 'trained' just defiant.

Can anyone please point me in the direction of some reliable online training advice to get me through the next couple of weeks without going insane?

Thanks

[Madblondedog]

No advice but watching with interest as my 2yr old labrador is currently doing this too.

[knobblyknee]

Google NILIF training - nothing in life is free - and Kikopup on Youtube.

[Shriek]

stick to reinforcing what she will do, keep her attention on you, insistence, persistence and consistence. She is learning all the time, which includes all the times you call her and she ignores you. Its almost like they need all their training all over again with some teens! She will get through this phase and start to calm down, but in the meantime, its time to up the training/treats and reinforce all the work you did before. If she really won't work with the old command any more, then you'll need to use a new one to recall her, but again,start with it in the house and make sure its so exciting to be recalled that she wouldn't even consider thinking of anything else! then progress it slowly to recall in the house with 'manageable' distractions around and keep her on lead in the garden so she's not still learning she can do that, or potentially pissing off the neighbours!

you do need someone good that you can go to for training tho if your efforts are not making a difference. If she listens to DH can he recall her from neighbours garden? as this might be the way forward, if he can reassert the training. I've had to do it with a ball-obsessed dog who tirelessly would steal leather footballs and any balls really, and bring them straight to me! normally burst too. she gave up eventually after being recalled at full pelt so often that she then started to turn back not long after streaking off! (knowing i would be recalling her anyway!)


GOOD LUCK!

[pigsDOfly]

You have to make yourself the most exciting thing in the garden/park or where ever you are; if this means leaping up and down and calling her loudly in order to attract and amuse her then that's what you will have to do.

Find a treat that she doesn't just like but that is irresistible and keep that just for recall training - in my dog's case it was dried liver treats.

Maybe she's not particularly food orientated, would she respond better to a really exciting toy and a game of tuggy kept just for this purpose?

As pp said you need to perfect this in the house and garden and only move it to the park when you're confident you have her attention, and then a long trailing lead is your friend.

Basically you have to repeat, repeat, repeat and then repeat again and you will get there.

At nine months she's going to be pushing the boundaries and will drive you mad for a while.

[knobblyknee]

Join a club and consider using a choke chain. Its old fashioned but they work. Ask how to long line.
She may be one of the less sensitive dogs that needs a negative consequence to make her stop and listen.

[pigsDOfly]

Are you serious Knoblyknee or just trying to be controversial?

I'm sure you wouldn't, but please don't ever consider a choke chain as an option Pigeon.

Why would anyone think it acceptable to resort to cruel practices in an effort to train a dog? It's not necessary or desirable and just teaches the dog that if it doesn't do what you tell it it'll have its throat restricted and its air supply cut off.

[babyblackbird]

Choke chains DO NOT work ! I had a dog when I was growing up, when choke chain were in vogue, who was quite happy to throttle himself to the point of passing out whilst on a choke chain. He learnt absolutely nothing from it.

[Pigeonpost]

Ooh no, no way are we trying a choke chain. She will come to DH better than she will come to me but still iffy. Liver treats are a good idea, the dog trainer had some of those. Thanks all.

[knobblyknee]

She can listen, she just wont do it for a biscuit.

Whats more 'cruel', a sharp no or letting her get run over?

Join a dog training club then. But dont carry on as you are because you are not successfully training her.

[knobblyknee]

You dont throttle a dog with a choke chain. Its a tool. Learn how to use it correctly or dont use one at all.

[villainousbroodmare]

Don't ever tell a dog to do something that you're not pretty sure they will do. If you suspect she won't come, and you want her, don't call her; go and get her. Every time she hears you and ignores you, your authority is diminished. As pps have said, great rewards are key. Often the best reward for a dog who loves to run is not a food reward, it's being immediately released to run again.
Also never ever repeat an instruction. One time, that's all.

Total Recall - Pippa Mattinson
Bonding With Your Dog - Victoria Schade
The Pet Gundog - Lez Graham
The Other End Of The Leash - Patricia McConnell
Clicker training for dogs - Karen Pryor and Pat Miller

[Shriek]

you can practice with averting her from less ingrained attractions! using a new word and huge praise, or whatever she responds to best.

I have just started this with youngster to stop the inevitable splash into muddy water, just sometimes i'd like her to stay out of it! especially when there are ducks floating on it!