The naughty step!

Petnanny · #1 15-09-2008, 03:30 PM

I was thinking of creating one of these for Luika! He is such a big boy and at only 6 months he does not seem to stop growing! As a consequence he is so strong, and getting extremely naughty!

Since our vet has warned us not to exercise him on the lead, we are trying to do some training in the garden. Believe me it is NOT easy. We have a squirrel that lays in wait, fish that seem mesmerizing, birds whom he just MUST say hello to, and any movement that he must chastise! In short it is sooo frustrating.

His barking is becoming a real problem too. I have worked with dogs for most of my adult life, and never encountered a problem with one of mine.

I have tried the rattle can and water when Luika starts to bark, neither of which have worked and the aerosol cans are short of useless. Does anyone else have any ideas?

Wooferhound · #2 15-09-2008, 03:36 PM

Hi Nina,

Can I ask why your vet has advised no lead exercising? Apologies if I've missed sommat!

This all sounds like Shepherd pup to me...a little bit of deafness! Are you in training with a trainer? If not, that would definitely be my first port of call.

I would definitely lose the can and water, these just aren't necessary and don't work. Best bet is to bring him around with your voice, get him interested in something else, you could inadvertantly create more noise using 'aversive' methods. Get his fave toys and treats and use them to reward for all good things, and at best ignore what you don't want, as providing attention, regardless of whether positive or negative will still be attention, he'll just create anyway!

Good luck

Jo
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Petnanny · #3 16-09-2008, 09:44 AM

Sorry Jo, should have said. Luika has pretty bad cow hocks, so our vet has said NO lead exercise. However, I have listened to people on the forum who have suggested free running, so that is what we are doing.

Luika does go to training class, but he has now found his voice. I have tried toys, voice commands, you name it, I have tried it. The most embarrassing thing is, that I studied wolves in captivity for a year, with a view to going on to become a dog behaviourist and have helped so many people with their problems. Now its me who has one

Wooferhound · #4 16-09-2008, 09:51 AM

Have you discussed your concerns with your trainer? they should be able to show you how to control Luika without the aid of aversion therapy

As for the dodgy hocks, without knowing the situation it's hard to comment, but anything bone related would worry me with off lead exercise. In my mind lead exercise is controlled and contained...don't shoot me, I'm just not understanding fully!

Jo
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AllyCat · #5 16-09-2008, 02:22 PM

Tess is six 1/2 months old and also very gobby. Recently I trained her to come with a whistle as my voice isnt always strong when they are lose on the field. When she is gobbing in the front garden I blow the whistle and she stops barking and comes into me. By the time shes had her praise she forgets what she was barking at.

Petnanny · #6 17-09-2008, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AllyCat

Tess is six 1/2 months old and also very gobby. Recently I trained her to come with a whistle as my voice isnt always strong when they are lose on the field. When she is gobbing in the front garden I blow the whistle and she stops barking and comes into me. By the time shes had her praise she forgets what she was barking at.

Would Tess like to have tea with Luika lol. It sounds like they would get on just fine.

Seriously though, he is going through his lager lout stage at the moment and last night in class he took a shine to a GSD, Lab X, and would not leave her alone. By the end of the lesson they had exchanged phone numbers

AllyCat · #7 17-09-2008, 09:12 PM

I think we would go deaf!!! Dont you just love adolesence!?! The worst is yet to come!!

Jazz · #8 19-10-2008, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Petnanny

I was thinking of creating one of these for Luika! He is such a big boy and at only 6 months he does not seem to stop growing! As a consequence he is so strong, and getting extremely naughty!

Since our vet has warned us not to exercise him on the lead, we are trying to do some training in the garden. Believe me it is NOT easy. We have a squirrel that lays in wait, fish that seem mesmerizing, birds whom he just MUST say hello to, and any movement that he must chastise! In short it is sooo frustrating.

His barking is becoming a real problem too. I have worked with dogs for most of my adult life, and never encountered a problem with one of mine.

I have tried the rattle can and water when Luika starts to bark, neither of which have worked and the aerosol cans are short of useless. Does anyone else have any ideas?

They only tend to find their voice and sustain it when they have inadvertantly been encouraged to do so. If the pup sees the water as part of the game for example they will continue. The best way to stop dogs barking without reason is not to give any attention when they do. People find this hard to do with pups in the same way they hate to leave them to go to bed in their bed or pen when they just bark all the time and so often they end up in owners bed or similar and this becomes one of the early confusions and initiations to a dog taking charge. Dont accept it at all, put them in their bed or preferably their cage or run and ignore them completely even if it takes all day. Dont feed if they are barking only when quiet otherwise you reward barking. Show your dog what is and is not acceptable.

If anyone with a dog is not prepared to put the work and time in and show the dog who is boss which in turn makes the dog happier and less confused and problematic then no amount of trivia advice and buying of silly bits and bonbs from the dog kit bible according to st spendalot will do you any good at all. The best you will get is removing one problem for another.

Petnanny · #9 21-10-2008, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jazz

They only tend to find their voice and sustain it when they have inadvertantly been encouraged to do so. If the pup sees the water as part of the game for example they will continue. The best way to stop dogs barking without reason is not to give any attention when they do. People find this hard to do with pups in the same way they hate to leave them to go to bed in their bed or pen when they just bark all the time and so often they end up in owners bed or similar and this becomes one of the early confusions and initiations to a dog taking charge. Dont accept it at all, put them in their bed or preferably their cage or run and ignore them completely even if it takes all day. Dont feed if they are barking only when quiet otherwise you reward barking. Show your dog what is and is not acceptable.
.

We have certainly tried this, and Luika just barks louder, since he see's are ignoring the situation as his cue to continue.

He is doing really well now with his one to one training at Barking Mad. It's really strange since I am the one who is usually giving advise to other people with regard to naughty GSD's

GSDOWNER · #10 21-10-2008, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Petnanny

We have certainly tried this, and Luika just barks louder, since he see's are ignoring the situation as his cue to continue.

He is doing really well now with his one to one training at Barking Mad. It's really strange since I am the one who is usually giving advise to other people with regard to naughty GSD's

next you will be saying mygermanshepherd said this

lol so glad luika is doing well

, sorry you will get there I promise, I can remember my ever first gsd...................he was a nightmare from hell, they should do a programme gsd training from hell