Poor behaviour.....Is it my fault???

glad to hear your back on track. Remember that dogs learn in context so just because he does X in one place / situation does not mean he will do the same X in another. When training the retrieve for instance we have to first train it in the garden with a dummy then in another location with the dummy then another etc etc before ultimately training the retrieve on cold game then warm game in different environment and situations again. Good luck I am sure all will be well as others have said behaviour once trained must be continually practiced and maintained.

I have my great pal, a 6 yr old rescue Westie terrier that I'm still training after 5 years. He has selective obedience and his brain in his nose. Off the lead on the South Downs and in woodland he's fine but insolently ignores all instructions in the garden.

We used a GPS tracker on his collar for a while which by using an iPhone we could see exactly where he was on an interactive map for peace of mind.

I started training him with small pieces of frankfurter but have managed to wean him onto tiny cheesey treats now, more as a habit-forming gesture than a real food treat.

With the offer of a treat he's anybody's, the tart!

I have my great pal, a 6 yr old rescue Westie terrier that I'm still training after 5 years. He has selective obedience and his brain in his nose. Off the uulead on the South Downs and in woodland he's fine but insolently ignores all instructions in the garden.

We used a GPS tracker on his collar for a while which by using an iPhone we could see exactly where he was on an interactive map for peace of mind.

I started training him with small pieces of frankfurter but have managed to wean him onto tiny cheesey treats now, more as a habit-forming gesture than a real food treat.

With the offer of a treat he's anybody's, the tart!

 

Write your comments here...If anybody is using a GPS tracker to find out where their dog is. IMO their dog is not under control.

Until they  have built up respect and taught the dog what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior and at least the very basic recall command, IMO they should keep their dog on a lead for the dogs sake and the safety of other dogs and people.

Out of control dogs are a menace.

K

I have to agree with kennine. If you need a tracker its way to far out. 20 yds at a push is my dogs limit

I have to agree with kennine. If you need a tracker its way to far out. 20 yds at a push is my dogs limit

Count me in agreement with you both. At 20 yds Alfie is looking round for me to make sure I'm still with him. Well he did and will no doubt soon be back on track.....

Alfie update......

After 5 days training on a 30metre lead Alfie was responding well to my recall and getting properly rewarded every time with his favourite treat. Indeed, I have carried reward treats around in my pocket constantly and rewarded every correct action by Alfie. We have also used his tennis ball a lot more and he is really loving it. Previously he used to lose interest after a couple of "Fetches"

He has done so well that on Saturday I decided to let him loose again in his first training field. He did well, we played ball and hide and seek, every time he returned to me I gave him praise and a treat. We met a couple of other dogs, Alfie said hello, had a quiick play and then returned when asked, treated and praised every time. All going well I thought, as we neared the entrance gate Alfie ran off and out of the gate onto the cart track. U- oh I thought, I shouted "Alfie".....no response, then a voice called back to me "he's ok", out of site now I tried again..."Alfie"....Then he came running back and sat in front of me, boy was I pleased, I made a great fuss of him and gave him a few treats... Fantastic!!!....It turned out that the dog he went to see was his best friend Wendal who loves frolickiing about with him. We normally meet her two or three times a week. I chatted with Wendal's owner explaining Alfie's disobedience and what we have done to try and correct it, "well it seems to have worked " she said, "thats why we haven't seen you for a while, Wendal's been looking for Alfie". Saying our good byes we  made our way home.

Today my daughter and three grandchildren dropped in to say hello. They asked to take Alfie for a walk,"ok" I said "but you must keep him in control and treat him every time he does as you tell him"......An hour and half later they returned, "Alfie's been great" said my eldest grand daughter, "he's been off lead a lot and never ran off, we met a man with a big black dog, Alfie went to say hello, then came right back to us.....And yes we did treat him Grandad"......What more can I say???.....Pleased or what..... 

Nice one BT. We need to retrain ourselves on occasions as you proved. Consistency, consistency, consistency. Dogs love repetition, it grounds em & reassures them. You are building(not built yet) a supreme bond that will be there for His life, He will suffer just as much as you do when He can no longer see or smell you. You & He are forming a deep, giving friendship. It's a joy to read your posts

Our two dogs have both gone deaf in their old age, so a good tip is to make sure your dog sees hand signals when you do training. One of ours now responds to the hand signals although he can't hear us....but the other has to be on a long lead!

Welcome to the world of the stroppy teenage Dog BT! It isn't you, all the dogs we have had have gone through this phase. We now have a chocolate Labrador whose brain at times remains on the shelf at home, despite coming up seven years old. Perennial teenager, chocolate ones do have a reputation! Luckily he is a big soft lump, no aggression in him but that doesn't mean he gets away with things. We use the tone of our voice to indicate to him if he has done wrong, and make him do exactly as we want, making him sit and give us his attention before letting him run free. Lots of praise when he does get things right of course. Conversely, our yellow Lab was gundog trained, all heel, sit, fetch, down until we got her. (Never been beating though, so what was the point?)  Never had a toy, other than a ball, never did much in way of interesting walks or swimming, never played with another dog. All these she has learned in the last three years, and now has a full and happy life. They have been good for each other!

well done Brian