Puppy blues

Sweetee6986

New Member
My beautiful baby girl Hendrixx is 11 weeks today & is giving me & my fiancée the blues LOL

Although she’s already mastered commands such as come here, sit, stay, & lay down, she mostly only follows those instructions when she sees that we have a treat in hand or after the command is repeated several times.

She’s not allowed on our bed (until she’s fully potty trained), so she stands on her hind legs on the sides of the bed trying to get in the bed. When told “No! Get down!” she sometimes growls or barks before following the command. Then repeats the same thing several times. She even does her paws as if she’s hitting me before finally following the command. I’m sure it sounds hilarious, but it’s rather frustrating because she’s SO stubborn & hard headed.

I’m sure that this is normal puppy behavior & I understand that she’s just doing it for attention (ignoring her does NOT work, as advised by all training videos I’ve seen), but what do you do when your pup only listens to commands when SHE wants to?
 
My beautiful baby girl Hendrixx is 11 weeks today & is giving me & my fiancée the blues LOL

Although she’s already mastered commands such as come here, sit, stay, & lay down, she mostly only follows those instructions when she sees that we have a treat in hand or after the command is repeated several times.

She’s not allowed on our bed (until she’s fully potty trained), so she stands on her hind legs on the sides of the bed trying to get in the bed. When told “No! Get down!” she sometimes growls or barks before following the command. Then repeats the same thing several times. She even does her paws as if she’s hitting me before finally following the command. I’m sure it sounds hilarious, but it’s rather frustrating because she’s SO stubborn & hard headed.

I’m sure that this is normal puppy behavior & I understand that she’s just doing it for attention (ignoring her does NOT work, as advised by all training videos I’ve seen), but what do you do when your pup only listens to commands when SHE wants to?
I don’t recognize your screen name, you must be a newer member.
I somewhat recognize what you describe.
It’s been a decade since I’ve dealt with a puppy but, it sorta sounds like you got a red one:D
I both empathize and envy you. If that makes any sense? :D
 
I don’t recognize your screen name, you must be a newer member.
I somewhat recognize what you describe.
It’s been a decade since I’ve dealt with a puppy but, it sorta sounds like you got a red one:D
I both empathize and envy you. If that makes any sense? :D


you’re right!! I’m both a new member AND I have a red dobie!!
 
Hey there!

You're right: It is funny that she seems to be trying to slap you for telling her what to do.

I know she's young, but it's problematic that you've established that she does not have to follow the first command, rather you have to repeat it. That sets you up for a poorly behaved dog.

I wold just employ solid dog training principles and not give in to the natural tendency to humanize dogs. They need structure and consistency.

It will be fine in time. I don't enjoy young puppyhood, truth told.
 
She’s 11 weeks? You haven’t seen anything yet - wait till she hits doberteens.


I keep hearing about these doberteens and I’ve yet to experience them at 14 months.


Anyways, what you’re describing is normal, don’t expect too much out of an 11 week old. Everything will be treat motivated for the first few months.
 
I keep hearing about these doberteens and I’ve yet to experience them at 14 months.


Anyways, what you’re describing is normal, don’t expect too much out of an 11 week old. Everything will be treat motivated for the first few months.
Yeah, seriously, the Doberteens have not really been a significant factor for me. But then I, well, run a rather tight ship. Dogs really don't mind you being fair but firm. In fact, they thrive on it – I think especially working breeds.
 
Training is a process and takes a long time. At her age you are just shaping behavior and building muscle memory. Dogs learn through pictures so your training must be consistent and clear for the puppy to understand. Attention span is extremely short so training and expectation of what you will accomplish must small. I shape behavior in training until around 6 months of age then put commands and consequences in to the training. You will be amazed at how much faster they learn and retain things doing this. Most important thing is to make it fun and build a bond making yourself the most fun. Thus will help when adding distractions later in training.
 
Don't let people sort of scare you, by the way. It's not all that bad.


Thank you for your response!
I keep hearing about these doberteens and I’ve yet to experience them at 14 months.


Anyways, what you’re describing is normal, don’t expect too much out of an 11 week old. Everything will be treat motivated for the first few months.


Thank you!! As long as I’m not the only one to experience it, that’s what I was worried about
 
Training is a process and takes a long time. At her age you are just shaping behavior and building muscle memory. Dogs learn through pictures so your training must be consistent and clear for the puppy to understand. Attention span is extremely short so training and expectation of what you will accomplish must small. I shape behavior in training until around 6 months of age then put commands and consequences in to the training. You will be amazed at how much faster they learn and retain things doing this. Most important thing is to make it fun and build a bond making yourself the most fun. Thus will help when adding distractions later in training.


Thanks for such an encouraging response!
 
Can you explain “shaping behavior” or link to a post that you are more descriptive of this??
Shaping behavior starts as just luring the puppy into different positions using food. This is done with no commands. The puppy will then start offering the different behaviors on its own, you then use your marker and reward. (Sitting, downing, standing, doing these things in front and at your side, walking next to you ect...) all things done correctly without jumping up in a settled state. Here is a video of Micheal Ellis doing some shaping with one of his puppies. Notice no commands just luring into positions.
 
Nothing new to add but do want to stress; IF you're giving a command and she knows it, do it when you have her attention and give it once. If our puppy doesn't do what he's asked to (and he's being attentive), we follow up with "what are you going to do?" and wait and reward as soon as he follows through. You want to give her the opportunity to MAKE the right choice and get rewarded for it. These are thinking and problem solving dogs so play to that trait.

If she's all over the place and not paying attention to you, you're wasting your breath repeating commands. It's white noise for her.

Something we did with our lab puppy that I wish we'd done more with our Dobe when she was a puppy is rewarding eye contact. Wouldn't hurt to have a short 5 minute training session during which you reward her just for making eye contact with you.

It will probably get worse before it get's better but your mantra HAS to be: be consistent, be fair, be firm. She's still very much a baby.
 

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