Help needed - we've got the worse trained pup in the neighbourhood!

[Slipsliding]

7 mo bichon x male. Gorgeous nature but wees everywhere (to the point that he will go out in the garden for 10 mins and come in to piddle); impossible to take off the lead as he just won't come back on; humps every visitor we have as well as teddies, toddlers, granny; barks incessantly; jumps up, steals food etc etc.

What can we do? We dont really want to take him to dog training - seems a little extreme for us. Will neutering help? We love him dearly but with 4 kids (one of whom a toddler) it is trying!

Why is dog training extreme? You won't make any head way unless you know the correct techniques. I took my 9 mth lab to puppy classes and am on my second block of obedience classes. They have been life changing for me. You are doing your dog a disservice by not training it properly.

Btw when you say your pup is the 'worse trained pup' it sounds to me more like it is a completely untrained pup. What methods have you tried? Have you got yourself any decent puppy training books?

Your attitude to go training is why you have these problems, it's not extreme it's on the list of the basic requirements like, buying a lead and dog bed.

Oh please take him to training classes. Not only will it really help, it will give him something to focus on and help him socialise, which might teach him some manners. He'll soon learn that not everything can be humped!
I think you need to go back to basics with his toilet training. Do you go out with him? My puppy can be out for ages but doesn't always do anything when there's noone out there with him.

How on earth can teaching him what you expect from him be extreme. They aren't born knowing how to be perfect family pets.

If you don't fancy classes at least arm yourself with a clicker, some treats and sinething like kikopup in youtube for the techniques.

Classes are brilliant though for teaching your dog some manners with other people and other dogs. Our one hour a week in class is often my favourite hour of the whole week. There has been laughter and there has been tears and through it all a lot of lessons learned.

What do you mean dog training is extreme?! Every dog has to be trained! Otherwise they don't know how to behave and will just do whatever they want ... as you've found out!

Find somewhere near you that does puppy training classes using positive reinforcement, and book him in. You'll enjoy taking him along and in even a short time he'll get a lot better (especially if you do the homework).

Also have you got any puppy training books? You could start with the online textbook at www.dogstardaily.com, The Perfect Puppy by Gwen Bailey, or Perfect Puppy in 7 Days by Sophia Yin & Lili Chin.

It sounds like you haven't even done any toilet training, so you will have to start that. (If he was prevoiusly trained and regressed, then start out with a trip to the vet, and then begin again from scratch).

Hmmm sounds like we will have to do training. We did 6 weeks of puppy socialising classes but stopped at training as thought we could do it alone. I guess we haven't got a clue. The thing is though that both dh and i were brought up with dogs and they behaved well and weren't taken to special classes. Could we not do it ourselves? We just need some tips, good websites (thanks fan), book recommendations.

Do think of training. Even if formal training isn't for you then google or look on YouTube for clicker training. A session can last two minutes honest, just a wee bit little and often every day. Just as you boil the kettle.

Incorporate into day to day life as I know you are busy. Get him to sit at the door, before eating, crossing roads etc, that way you are not actually having to take extra time. Get the kids to practice recall by having him run between them for treats etc.

Training makes them tired honest, the mental exercise is good . Consider kongs and treat balls, even plastic bottles with a few treats in so he has to figure stuff out. A cardboard box with a bit of food in, snowballs with treats in kept our puppy going for hours!

Good luck.

Kikopup on YouTube is excellent.

Thanks redwing that's helpful.
Actually we did a lot of toilet training and he always poos outside; just see,s to 'mark' indoors all the time.

I'm glad you did the puppy socialization class. Studies show that dogs that did socialization classes as puppies are much less likely to have behaviour problems later on in life.

You could read The Power of Positive Dog Training by Pat Miller, and watch lots of Kikopup videos on youtube. You will make faster progress if you go to a class because it takes time to learn how to be a great trainer, and feedback from others helps (as does the distraction from other dogs in the class - makes your dog work harder).

Thanks too needas - also for appreciating we are busy. We do try to be responsible, honest. He's rarely left alone, walked properly every day,adored, played with and loved - just not trained!

I second Kikopop!!

I have problems using the clicker method with my new pup as he is a fussy eater and doesn't like treats and praising him isn't working out too well. I have tried every treat I can think of but he will only eat his kibble, not even wet dog food. It worked a treat with my JRT though, she loves it when I get the clicker out and she learnt to sit and lay within five days.

Just a side note to the training is he neutered as sounds like hormones with the humping and marking?

Just re read op, yes neutering along with training will help these unwanted behaviours.

If he's rarely left alone, you will find it easy to incorporate short training sessions into each day. Even if each one is only ten minutes, three times a day, it will make a difference. Good luck. And do come back and ask for help with specific behaviours if you need it - the doghouse is a friendly place for people who love dogs!

We enjoyed the Cesar Millan DVD about puppy training, also as suggested already Kiko on You Tube is good plus there is loads of advice online. We are getting a puppy today. We have our clickers at the ready.

Cesar Millian?

People still is listen to his advice?

Yikes. His advice is based on completely out-dated theories about dominance. Your dog is not in a battle to dominate you.

You will have a much better relationship with your dog if you use positive reinforcement instead of force. Stick to the clicker and Kikopup!

I said we enjoyed it not that we are following it. We loved 'Mr President' the best.