Blade's defiant teenage phase!!!

[Matrix/Logan]

Well the Bladester has turned a corner in his training and it isn't a good one!!! He has decided to 'forget' what recall is and just looks at me as if to say ''it's okay mum, you go and i will catch you up when i am ready!!'' ..... i put a 20ft long line on him today and left it trailing (as i have with other dogs if required), well he went to run up to a lady with a staffi on the lead, i called him back, ran in opposite direction, everything, still decided he was going so i jumped on the longline to stop him ..... it slid from under my feet before i could grab onto it and he still managed to 'reward' himself with a 'hello' to the poor woman and her dog!!! His manners have been terrible at the mo too!! He tries to eat his food before i tell him he can have it (never done before), also tried to snatch his kong out of my hand yesterday when i was still stuffing it cos Logan walked by and i think he thought he might get it!!! .... Just rude!!! He also jumped out of the boot of the car yesterday without waiting to be told and managed to bolt accross the road to 'speak' to my neighbour before we could grab his lead!!! So we are doing lots of extra training and one to one work with him at the mo so hopefully this stage won't last too long!!

Sorry everyone just wanted to rant about my most gorgeous, handsome fluffy soulmate who is testing my love and patience to the extreme at the mo!! Love him to bits still and just makes me realise i have got it wrong somewhere and i need to retrain myself to get it right everytime and be one step ahead of him!

Aww Hunny
I know exactly how you feel.
Its a testing time and im still going through it with Kaiser.
The chase is part of their instincts cant stop it but reinforcing the wait or emergency down or wait can help.
I too use a long line with Kaiser and wrapped it around my hand (BIG mistake!)
=Nasty burn, standing on it doesnt always work either.
Just try and get your commands in early before the chase begins.
As for the other reinforce the wait or leave command x

[Matrix/Logan]

Thanks hun, glad he isn't the only fur baby that ''knows better than mum''

I wonder if i have made him too sociable in a way and over friendly as he just thinks every person, child and dog wants to admire him and stroke him!! (well he knows he's gorgeous that's the trouble!! LOL ) As does Kaiser i am sure! X X

[ArchandEbs]

I went through this with Arch many years ago. He's now a wonderful old man - the UK GSD ambassador in Australia (or so I say) and people comment on how well trained and good tempered he is - and I shed many a tear when he was going through his teenage phase. I found a really good training club which Arch loved and we never looked back!

He's now helping me train Poppy who is going through her teenage phase!!!

[super D]

Ifits any help Dalton was...erm... a chalenge until recently, and could be rather defiant, even now if you ask him to do something he does it with a growl little monkey, he has to have the last word. Just keep re-inforcing your training/commands
Dalton will be 3 in August if thats any help hee hee, hang on in there xxx

[GV9297]

Diesel is still err....... a work in progress and he will be three next week!

Just be a bit patient(easier said than done I know) reinforce all commands and limit freedom if he doesn't respond ( you know what I mean - put back on long-line - put back lead, put back in car if you haven't given the release command etc) he will get there BUT HE IS GORGEOUS WITH IT x

[kita]

Originally Posted by Matrix/Logan

i put a 20ft long line on him today and left it trailing (as i have with other dogs if required), well he went to run up to a lady with a staffi on the lead, i called him back, ran in opposite direction, everything, still decided he was going so i jumped on the longline to stop him ..... it slid from under my feet before i could grab onto it and he still managed to 'reward' himself with a 'hello' to the poor woman and her dog!!!

If you are not already doing this, try putting a knot in the line every few yards - that way the knots will jam under your shoes and give you time to grab the line (just make sure it is not too muddy or you will end up on your bum! ).

Sue

[laney]

I sympathise ! Mowgli ( 18 months ) chased a horse in the field yesterday !!! I was so frightened I thought he was going to get killed , he just would not come back to me , I ended up running in between them ( bit silly ) but it broke his concentration just long enough for me to grab him ! I have never been so scared , angry and disappointed all at once , he has never even attempted it before and comes with me every morning to turn the horses out and sits and waits at the gate as I let them off , after it was all done I took him with me to turn out the others and my good boy was back , but little things like I tell him to do something and he hesitates for a second as if he is questioning me ! Little devil , Lx

[Matrix/Logan]

Originally Posted by kita

If you are not already doing this, try putting a knot in the line every few yards - that way the knots will jam under your shoes and give you time to grab the line (just make sure it is not too muddy or you will end up on your bum! ).

Sue

Great idea, thanks! I hadn't thought of that! (will try to stay on my feet! LOL)

[Matrix/Logan]

Originally Posted by laney

I sympathise ! Mowgli ( 18 months ) chased a horse in the field yesterday !!! I was so frightened I thought he was going to get killed , he just would not come back to me , I ended up running in between them ( bit silly ) but it broke his concentration just long enough for me to grab him ! I have never been so scared , angry and disappointed all at once , he has never even attempted it before and comes with me every morning to turn the horses out and sits and waits at the gate as I let them off , after it was all done I took him with me to turn out the others and my good boy was back , but little things like I tell him to do something and he hesitates for a second as if he is questioning me ! Little devil , Lx

Aww bless ya! They certainly seem to have their 'off' days don't they, it just all catches you off guard cos you don't expect it from them! X