Jackson a general update...

[Jon]

Hello,

just a quick update and an invite for opinions...

Jackson is doing pretty well all around, he's growing fast, his training is going quite well but recently he's hit THAT age... (8 months)

He's started to guard a bit, so a week ago we had the behaviourist in to see what or rather who was corrupting Jackson into thinking he was the boss.. turns out my Dad (he looks after him during the day) he has been letting him get away with blue murder, he's been feeding him scraps against my instruction and gerenally letting him be a yob etc etc...

So... Jackson the last week has hardly been off the lead in the house.. he's been following me (not through his own choice) everywhere... he also now has a small square of carpet that he spends half his time on.. if he moves from the mat he receives the "BAD DOG" (in a deep voice) and a "GOOD BOY" (in the high pitched silly voice) when he stays... now its slowly making a difference, his recall has improved and he seems to do what he's told first time...

has anyone got any other ideas that will help to improve upon this further.. he's still doing the barking part but that is the joy of owning a GSD...

[Stuart]

Sorry not quiet with it, can I ask why the training to the carpet? is it just a stay exercise? and a re-enforcement to who is in charge?

[kita]

Originally Posted by Jon

He's started to guard a bit, so a week ago we had the behaviourist in to see what or rather who was corrupting Jackson into thinking he was the boss.. turns out my Dad (he looks after him during the day) he has been letting him get away with blue murder, he's been feeding him scraps against my instruction and gerenally letting him be a yob etc etc...

It should not make any difference to his behaviour around you - only his behaviour around your Dad, does your Dad have any problems with him?

Dogs know how they are to behave around different people and in different houses.

My dogs are allowed on my furniture, yet when I took Sultan round to my friends house he put one paw on her sofa and looked at her, she said 'no' and he took his paw off the sofa and went and laid down on the carpet. At her house he behaved completely differently.

If your dog came into my house he would live by my rules, when he returned to you he would automatically return to your rules.

Just because a dog will 'behave' for one person does not automatically mean they will 'behave' for someone else. Dogs will only play up if they know that person will allow it.

Originally Posted by Jon

So... Jackson the last week has hardly been off the lead in the house.. he's been following me (not through his own choice) everywhere... he also now has a small square of carpet that he spends half his time on.. if he moves from the mat he receives the "BAD DOG" (in a deep voice) and a "GOOD BOY" (in the high pitched silly voice) when he stays... now its slowly making a difference, his recall has improved and he seems to do what he's told first time...

How long do you have to do this for?

Do you really want a dog that you 'control' to that extent?

Usually with GSD's you have to encourage them not to follow you around the house as they tend to get too attached and then become difficult when you have to leave them alone.

Originally Posted by Jon

has anyone got any other ideas that will help to improve upon this further.. he's still doing the barking part but that is the joy of owning a GSD...

Just be consistent and go back to basics.

Often we tend to slacken off with our 'guidance' as the dog gets older and sometimes the dog just needs us to go back and reinforce what we have already taught them.

Sue

[Jon]

Originally Posted by Stuart

Sorry not quiet with it, can I ask why the training to the carpet? is it just a stay exercise? and a re-enforcement to who is in charge?

The stay command isn't used at all. If someone comes to the door, where before he would try and mob them, now he sits on the mat and waits to be greeted. It seems to be working...

[Jon]

Originally Posted by kita

It should not make any difference to his behaviour around you - only his behaviour around your Dad, does your Dad have any problems with him?

Dogs know how they are to behave around different people and in different houses.

My dogs are allowed on my furniture, yet when I took Sultan round to my friends house he put one paw on her sofa and looked at her, she said 'no' and he took his paw off the sofa and went and laid down on the carpet. At her house he behaved completely differently.

If your dog came into my house he would live by my rules, when he returned to you he would automatically return to your rules.

Just because a dog will 'behave' for one person does not automatically mean they will 'behave' for someone else. Dogs will only play up if they know that person will allow it.



How long do you have to do this for?

Do you really want a dog that you 'control' to that extent?

Usually with GSD's you have to encourage them not to follow you around the house as they tend to get too attached and then become difficult when you have to leave them alone.



Just be consistent and go back to basics.

Often we tend to slacken off with our 'guidance' as the dog gets older and sometimes the dog just needs us to go back and reinforce what we have already taught them.

Sue

Because he was "getting away with things" with my Dad he was slowly trying it on with other people. I'd rather he knew that a behaviour was not acceptable at all. If my dog had learned that a behaviour was acceptable with me but then wasn't acceptable to you, i.e. jumping on furniture. I don't think that he would wait for your permission were he to be at your house, he would just jump up... although that's not the way he's been taught, he's only allowed on the sofa once he's invited, and that's only my leather one, not the new sofa... I would be lynched!!

The lead in the house thing we have been doing for a week now, he does seem more responsive to commmands, he is hitting that age now (8 months) and want to keep the consistantancy with his training, he's rebelling a bit but not too much.

I know people have different opinions when it comes to pack mentallity thing but I think this is reinforcing it and forcing him to follow me takes away his choice of to follow or not. He will do as he is told...

I'm far from a know it all and apologise if this is the way it's coming across... my behavourist has been doing this for over 30 something years... he really is good...

[Caryll]

Well, I can't say that I see the point of the carpet bit. How long does he have to stay on there? After all, even in obedience competitions the sit stay is only 5 minutes!

I'm not a great fan of the whole 'pack leader' thing, as I've said in the past. Not sating your behaviourist is wrong, just not my type of training.

[Jon]

Originally Posted by Caryll

Well, I can't say that I see the point of the carpet bit. How long does he have to stay on there? After all, even in obedience competitions the sit stay is only 5 minutes!

I'm not a great fan of the whole 'pack leader' thing, as I've said in the past. Not sating your behaviourist is wrong, just not my type of training.

He stays on the mat until he calms down, my sister will be staying at mine after an op on her shin/leg in a week or so, so will not appreciate a bouncy puppy.

It's also handy when say I'm cooking, Jackson was fascinated by the oven and the nice smells now he sits on the mat away from the oven where I won't trip over him...

It's not really even the "pack leader" thing it is more him doing what he is told when he is told...

[Caryll]

Originally Posted by Jon

It's not really even the "pack leader" thing it is more him doing what he is told when he is told...

Well, in your 1st post you kind of say that it is!

Originally Posted by Jon

I know people have different opinions when it comes to pack mentallity thing but I think this is reinforcing it and forcing him to follow me takes away his choice of to follow or not.

I just feel that making a puppy stay still in one place for any real length of time is wrong. Pups are bouncy & mischievous, that's their nature. Whilst I know that it can't be allowed to get out of hand, there are limits as to what you can expect a puppy to do at that age.

With the oven, I just teach my dogs to stay away, mainly by telling them to wait or stay whilst the oven door's open - then they are released as soon as the door's shut.

[Jon]

Originally Posted by Caryll

Well, in your 1st post you kind of say that it is!

I was backtracking a bit (but not completely...)

I know what i mean (I think???), its getting him to do as he is told... he is guarding, whether it be a blade of grass that is looking at him funny or someone on the other side of the road walking towards us, it is not his job to bark and growl, to cut this out I asked for help from a behaviourist... and it is working...

[LOVEGSD]

I have to say I am a bit confuzzled with the carpet thing and I have to agree with Sue, both my boys are allowed on sofas and beds at mine but not at my parents, they both know this so won't try it.

We have had various dogs stay with us and they have to follow our rules regardless of what they are allowed to do at home.

I would be inclined to ask your Dad to join you for training sessions and give your Dad a list of things you do and don't allow and make he he understands the importance of following the rules. It sounds like your Dad is causing the problems - sorry no offence meant