First obedience class..........help..

[BrittanyG]

Well, just finished up with Hera's first obedience class . First, I want to say that I love my pup. Secondly, she is smart, but very adhd. She was so fixated on the other dogs and trying to get to them that it was almost impossible to get her to do anything the trainer wanted us to do. She knows how to sit, and she walks on a leash better than before. But all that went out the window when other dogs were in the picture. She wasn't aggressive at all...quite the opposite, she wanted to play with all of them!!!! The entire time we were there..There were moments that she would sit still and be quiet (which she got praised for) and then the other times she would try to get to the other dogs and she would get sprayed (by the trainer)...However, the trainer didn't give any suggestions on how to correct this behavior. So here I am...How do I fix this?!!?! I'm glad she is playful towards other dogs, but there is a limit to when this behavior is needed.

 

[ariegel]

Why is the trainer spraying her? Addie had add at her first obedience classes. One of the thing I did that seemed to help her was I tried to play with her to help drain some of her energy. I'll admit that Addie was not he star of the class but she got better as the class went on. Just remember that she is young and not to expect to much, there was a lot going on around her. Don't worry she will get there.

 

[Marinegeekswife]

The trainer sprayed her?! WTF?! Corrections should be from you or from herself. That is ridiculous. Did you bring treats? That is a highly distracting situation and you have to find something high enough value to get her to look at you and not around. Take the time at home in a quiet environment to work on "watch me". Put her in heel position to start with then put a treat up by your eye (after letting her see that you have it). When you have her full attention, even for just a second, mark it with a "yes!" and immediately treat. Over time you will extend how long she looks before she gets the treat but always mark the behavior with a yes. After some sessions in quiet move to a slightly busier space like your backyard if you have neighbors or your front yard. Practice there. Once she is solid find a slightly busier place like a quieter park. You have to work up to super distracting places. And the next time the trainer is ballsy enough to correct your dog, take the sprayer and correct them.

 

[BrittanyG]

she was whining and trying to get to the other dogs..I guess her usual 1 at the field might not be enough before her obedience class..

 

[BrittanyG]

I didn't feed her before the class so she would be hungry, and she got cheese which is her favorite treat but only gets it when were doing obedience lessons..might have to do hotdogs only for class. I almost did spray her with her own water bottle, I was correcting her at the time. There really wasn't a need in her correcting her.

 

[MicheleM]

No trainer should be spraying your dog! I think you need to find another trainer but if you go back to the classes I would tell him to never do that again to your dog. I think getting your puppies attention like what was mentioned in a above thread will help. Just practice for a few minutes a couple a times a day, and reward with praise and treats after the short fun lesson. You want to make your puppies time in that class a fun one! Having him in a room full of other puppies and people is the most important thing you can do! Make it fun and who cares if you don't pass or your puppy doesn't learn everything in this set of classes. That's not the most important thing, having fun and being around new people and dogs is far more important! Congrats on your puppy and bringing him to classes

 

[BrittanyG]

unfortunately, she is my only option besides Petco..and I really don't feel like Petco would be a suitable training facility since the trainer there told me that getting a prong collar for Hera was inhumane. What she doesn't know is that Hera pulled and choked herself constantly when we were walking. One walk with the prong collar and it was like I had a whole new dog. But I will work on her attention, thanks!! Any ideas on how I can get her to not be so "dog-crazy"??

 

[MicheleM]

How old is she? I really think you need to make it fun and I wouldn't worry about if she learns everything the spray bottle nazi is trying to teach. Make it fun, work on getting here attention at home, take her to public places that allows dogs, pet stores, gas stations, anywhere you can bring her. I think when she gets a little bit older and you have put in the foundation she will do well and excel as she gets older. Are there any local dog clubs in your area? I'm fairly limited in resources here as well but I take ever opportunity with the dogs out in the public. She's a puppy and giving her exposure to other dogs and people with Rules and guidelines is a great start in her life. You still have to give her rules and let her know you are the boss but socialization plays a big part in a well mannered grounded dog

 

[BrittanyG]

the closest dog club is 2 hours away..with school and trying to work that really wouldn't help. I might just bring a spray bottle and spray her everytime she sprays my dog . But Hera goes every where I go that allows dogs. She never really acted like this before, usually when she realizes she can't play she will just sit and chill. Unless theyre Chihuahuas, which is a different story for another time. She's realizing that I am the boss, even after having her for a short time..

 

[obbanner]

I don't like what I'm hearing about the trainer. How old is Hera?

The first thing I do when I start training a dog is attention work. I have a pouch of treats (sliced string cheese). I put pieces of cheese in my mouth and call the dogs name. When she looks at me, I spit the cheese in their mouth. They get the idea that looking at my face is a good idea and they learn to respond to their name. I start every training session like this when they are young or new, and often do it when starting a training session for experienced dogs.

Make paying attention to you rewarding. When you're working the dog and she starts getting interested in something elsewhere, move in the opposite direction so she's facing away from the distraction, call "Here, here" while guiding her back to you and, optionally, spit a treat into her mouth. Make it a rewarding experience for her when she responds.

Once you have the ability to consistently get her attention, you can then move on to obedience work.

Good luck!

 

[BrittanyG]

She's 7 mos old. but I got her from a shelter 2 weeks ago. She already knows sit, down, come, and go to bed. I found the trainer on the AKC website..I'm looking into a few others that are somewhat close, I'd rather drive a little bit rather than have my dog punished by someone else..

 

[MicheleM]

That's great she is going to the classes. You just have to tell the trainer that you make the corrections not him! He is not to spray your dog. You are there for your puppy and her experience as a young dog. She doesn't need a strange man spraying her!

 

[BrittanyG]

it's actually a lady, but I get your point. Thanks a bunch, this is really frustrating. At least she's sleeping hardcore after her excitement!

 

[Marinegeekswife]

She's 7 mos old. but I got her from a shelter 2 weeks ago. She already knows sit, down, come, and go to bed. I found the trainer on the AKC website..I'm looking into a few others that are somewhat close, I'd rather drive a little bit rather than have my dog punished by someone else..

Classes are a great thing and I really admire you for making a real effort to get her into it as soon as possible. But I think this decision to find a new trainer is the best thing you can do. That doesn't mean you have to stop. Take the chance to get in some training at home. Work on her focus and your bond with her then when you find a better trainer it will be a success.

 

[Poppy]

Yeah 7 months is a tough age for focus. Age will definetely help. My Lacy used to be so scatter brained but really started focusing at about 18 months-2 years old. I find that most people don't keep their training sessions fun enough and don't praise at the right times. It is important to get her focus and immediately praise. Make sure she always knows what is expected of her. Also make sure every correction is followed by praise once she does the right thing. I also find that moving at a quicker speed and talking to them while making eye contact helps a great deal. You have to make yourself more fun and interesting than the things around her. When training on your own make the sessions short and sweet. Get her to focus on you and what you are doing. Praise her and have a party then leave her alone for a while and try again. She will also learn that there is a time to focus and listen and a time to just be a dog. You should be able to get her focus back when it is time to work again. Just a few of my ideas. Some of this takes practice, especially with timing of praise and corrections.

 

[BrittanyG]

I trained my other dog, but she was also not nearly as hyper and I got her when she was a pup. The min. I rescued her her whole world revolved around me. Since I got Hera so late, it's a whole new world for me. She does great during our sessions at home. I think I'm going to go talk to the trainer, I really don't want to just quit the class because I already paid for it and it wasn't cheap. Maybe she and I will see eye to eye on this.

 

[BrittanyG]

Why is the trainer spraying her? Addie had add at her first obedience classes. One of the thing I did that seemed to help her was I tried to play with her to help drain some of her energy. I'll admit that Addie was not he star of the class but she got better as the class went on. Just remember that she is young and not to expect to much, there was a lot going on around her. Don't worry she will get there.

It's good to know that my pup isn't the only one with add..

 

[MicheleM]

You paid for the classes so go! Just tell the trainer that this is going to be a positive experience and fun for you and your girl.

 

[4Dobies]

She is acting like a 7 month old puppy should act, my 16 month old male still acts like that and all my others were all hellions the first time in class but with training they all learned the settle and watch commands through praise and treating. Disciplining a non aggressive dog even with a spray bottle in my opinion is not the way to go. All she knows is that she wants to be playful with the other dogs, instead she gets sprayed for it, so eventually her frustration will turn to anger and in many cases can turn into leash aggression.

The best puppy classes I have attended allowed the dogs to all play off leash together for the first ten minutes of class before the actual instruction began. If you can't do that you need to make yourself the most interesting thing in the class for your girl, remember this is your first class, within a few weeks everything won't be so new and exciting for her, but until then work with her on attention and I'm sure everything will be fine.

 

[Luvmydoberman]

My first training classes with Sophie went pretty much the same way with all the energy and wanting to play. She was a brand new 6 month old rescue. The trainer was great, didn't mind interaction, but I had a 50 lb puppy and the other 3 dogs were all 10lbs or less. It pretty much drove poor Sophie crazy not being allow to play with the other pups, but I was concerned about her not knowing her own strength and hurting one of the others. After a couple of classes she realized she was there to work not just play and she settled down. It didn't help that I had already trained all the commands we were there to learn so she was bored. My rescue required us to attend the class and I figure at least she got some socialization out of it. With my new little girl they've actually waived the requirement for us now that they know I've trained Sophie, but we still may go to socialize. I will just ask for a class with larger dogs this time!