Just back from Puppy Training class no. 3 and getting despondent - need to throw a strop but be told will be ok

[notimefortv]

feel like I did the first time I went Snow Boarding when on day 3 I sat in the middle of the slope, crossed my arms, shouted at my huband that I hate it, can't do it and never will be able to. Once I got through that bit things seemed to get easier.

Am there now with puppy training.

Puppy is a bichon poo (tiny fluffy thing) and she is 13 weeks old. Have had her since 8 weeks. She is doing really well toilet training and I think she is progressing with training - at home she will sit (initially only when I was right down with her and a treat under her nose but this week from me standing up more) and she lies down and has started waiting well. I took her off the lead in the field a few times and she came when I called her etc.

But tonight at training she seemed to take no interest in me. She is sick each time in the car (not in the shorter journey to the field a few times a week)still nips loads at home, and the amount of things there are to train her on just seem mammoth - how to get out the door, in the car, with other dogs, not to jump up, on the lead, to sit, wait, stay etc etc etc ahhhhh.

Just said to my husband I feel I work so hard with everything (the kids (3 under 5 ), the house, the dog, part-time work etc) and feel like I get no where EVER. Am having a proper strop.

Will we ever get there with the training?!!

No, you won't. Bichon Poos are notoriously untrainable.
It's also been well documented that people who can't snowboard cannot train dogs.
I suggest you take up needlework.

We all feel like this after the first class with a new puppy. Truly.
Get yourself a gin x

for which I apologise profusely, bella I have just emailed you. DS has fractured his skull, pup has had to go in boarding am beside myself.

OMG

OMG Needlework - that will make me feel even worse - I am soooo bad with a needle and thread!

Sob sob [feel sorry for my self emotion]

OMG lucky - poor you - no problem for the hijack.

I have had many proper strops, in fact I jacked in my first lot of classes after a few weeks as they were just not right for her - she bonkers great gundog and all others were clockwork toys. I was in tears on the way home every week after being patronised by dreadful barbra woodhouse style teachers.

I now go to 2 classes a week, bboth outside and aimed at gundogs/larger dogs. Progress is slow, despite all the homework but i can see an improvement, tiny but baby steps.

that is so kind of you Lucky considering - thanks loads though as that has made me feel much better

Really hope things ok now your end

LBC is so polite - even when she's got all this going on. She's a star

OP - if you can't sew, how are you going to manage to train your puppy, fgs?

Seriously, though - do you feed her before class?

no - don't feed bfore class - eve took chicken tonight after feeling crap for taking crap treats before but she just too busy it seemed to focus. We were out for a while with her this avo training and playing in the field so maybe she just had enough. All other dogs seem to sit and watch and take it all in and she just wants to bounce around. To try to get her to watch me is really hard - feel like she is saying - er, no thanks, not looking at you!

Shall give you my top-secret tip for training treats:

Hot dog sausages. Chopped up small. Very smelly therefore very attractive (to dogs ). Sprinkle with parmesan for extra oomph.

And honestly you will get there, in time. Their attention spans are teeny at this age (bit like DH) so train little and often, and don't despair if The Big Wide World is more interesting than you - she's a baby

thank you!

Have now caught up on a few chores so gonna treat myself to some TV - hopefully coming out of strop a little..

It is hard work and do not compare your dogs with the others! Is your trainer supportive? It is a bit of a rollercoaster and you will find that some weeks are horrendous, the dog is deaf, forgotten everything he has ever learnt and then suddenly the next week he knows everything and is top of the class. The sad thing is how great you feel when that happens!!!

I expect you are being introduced to most of what they expect you to do on the whole course so you will just have fine tune it all.
I would concentrate on one thing each week. Maybe the sit if she gets the sit for next week you should be pleased then next week work on the sit and add another task. Typically the one you work on will be the one they don't do next week at training!

I have found different things help with different dogs, some of mine need to be exercised before the class and others have needed to have a quiet day to be awake for the class - maybe experiment to see what is best for yours.

Real shame she is still being sick in the car is this getting any better?

You will feel embarrasingly chuffed when you get that foundation puppy certificate to say she has passed though!!!!

thanks Minimu - I hope it starts to feel like we are getting somewhere - she is doing so well I think and is really good with some commands at home. I feel I could / should be training her 247 as I know there is a right way and wrong way for EVERYTHING, but as with childen, I sometimes slip when am too busy - i.e. just let her drag herself around the lounge with teeth atached to my sock (the puppy, not the kids!)when I am rushing rather than stopping and trying to correct the behaviour - but I have also realised to enjoy her I must not beat myself up too much about what I should be doing or how she should be as that detracts a bit from enjoying her I find.

She is still being sick in the car - she is ok on the little journey most days to the field for walk although she really salivates but has been sick on each 15 min journey to training / vets. Booo...