Any dog trainers out there?

[everylastbreath]

Hi- We just got a new puppy he is approximately 6 months old, Lab & Rhodesian Ridgeback mix - Finn has a GREAT personality! is very trainable, listens better than any pup I've ever had, very bright, ONLY problem is he listens so well that once you get him into a position, he will NOT come out of it - he is somewhat resistant to going into his bed during dinner time, so once we get him to lay down in his bed, he will stay put, so it's very hard to repeat a command. Is this an unusual problem?? even if there is a cookie involved, he still doesn't move... Will not "come" after any command...

can anyone offer any kind of training suggestions?

 

[2goofykiddos]

Have you been using clicker training with him or more traditional methods? I would just wonder if he is a little anxious and that is why he does not move. If that is the case I'd go to positive reinforcement only. If it continues to be a problem look for an APDT certified trainer to consult with.

 

[everylastbreath]

Never tried clicker method (will have to investigate that) - we just use the standard "cookie" method, but he is not even crazy for cookies! LOL - he basically is such a good boy, we use LOTS of positive reinforcement and he learns very quickly, once you tell him something he does it but he does have a stubborn streak almost to say "well you wanted me to sit, now I'm gonna SIT and you can't make me move" LMAO...

 

[stsomewhere]

I taught my dogs a release command. My dogs like the fresh food rolls as rewards. I cut them up into small bites when training.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Google Recall

But honestly he just sounds mellow, and I'd be pretty happy with that.

Capitalize on what you can.

 

[everylastbreath]

Google Recall

But honestly he just sounds mellow, and I'd be pretty happy with that.

Capitalize on what you can.

He is VERY mellow, honestly never had a pup that was so mellow & calm- loves to cuddle- just not use to having a pup that is so cooperative- except for the "staying put" factor....

 

[Sleepy425]

If he has had a thorough vet check and is healthy, then you may just be lucking out with a mellow, lazy pup. How long have you had him? If he was part of a transport or in a shelter, he may just be exhausted still if he's new.

 

[CAFarmerGirl]

A 6 mo old lab mix that won't come out of bed? Um, not to be a downer, but I would get a vet check...just to be sure.

 

[danygirl]

I would talk to a group dedicated to ridge backs. My neighbor has them and they are low key

 

[everylastbreath]

Yes he has been vet checked, extremely healthy- just a mushy puppy! and we did luck out! I've never had a pup so snuggly before- checked out the ridge back breed and he has a lot of the traits, he is very low key- extremely bright- we are now trying to teach him the "come" command from a sitting position rather than in his bed, he seems to be doing much better with that, once we get that down we will again try from the bed- once he lays down he seems to just stay there... LOL

Looking into the Recall & Clicker methods- opinions?

 

[hsmamato2]

get a book on clicker training, operant conditioning..... it works great b/c what you're describing (which sounds great to me, wish my dogs were mellow) sounds like a communication problem. He probably understands the 'stay' but you haven't learned how to communicate the 'come' properly,and I have found that 'clicker training' is like magic (not really, but dogs get it) for this. I swear my DH thinks my dog understands english, she doesn't -I just taught her the meaning of a few gestures,and she hasn't forgotten. It's the basic training for large animals at animal shows, etc. In short, you teach the animal what you want them to do,and you show them why they would benefit from doing so- Your dog may not like your treats, or may not be a 'treat' dog...some dogs like a ball,or a toy, or a pat, my dogs are HIGH maintenance,and they LOVE their treats! (when they were young, I trained them using a hotdog cut into micro pieces,they would do anything for a piece lol) now that they are older, I usually praise/pat them as a thank you for obeying. Communication is key. It took less than 10 minutes for my dog to learn to ring a bell to go outside as a puppy,following the steps in the book.

 

[pigletto]

LOL... That mellow is the Ridgeback then, because trust me.. it's not the lab.

We have a chocolate lab. He would do ANYTHING for food. There is a few things to try but I'd train a release command. Our trainer had us use "OK!". It basically signals "We're done here". She also had us use high value treats for training. She used the "Nothing in Life is Free" method. It works, and eventually we switched to kibble for reward, and now just praise unless we are working on a new command.

But "mellow" and "lab puppy" just don't fit in the same sentence usually.

ETA .. another thought, at 6 months training is exhausting for them. We really only did it in short bursts several times a day. They don't have much of an attention span. Maybe he's just signalling you when he's done. Rather than start a habit of giving him commands that he's choosing to ignore, I would give him a rest and pick it up again a little while later?

ETA) for recall she had us pick a word and tone and yell it like he was running away ,but right in front of him. So we'd yell "COME!!" and throw food in his mouth. We'd do this five or six times in a row, at least 5 times a day for a week. She said never to use the word as a recall word until you are CERTAIN he will come. If he doesn't.. you start over with a new word. This one isn't optional and he's never to think it's optional. In our case the kids didn't use it properly, and it became elective. We started all over with "HERE!!". So far, it's still working.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

LOL... That mellow is the Ridgeback then, because trust me.. it's not the lab.

We have a chocolate lab. He would do ANYTHING for food. There is a few things to try but I'd train a release command. Our trainer had us use "OK!". It basically signals "We're done here". She also had us use high value treats for training. She used the "Nothing in Life is Free" method. It works, and eventually we switched to kibble for reward, and now just praise unless we are working on a new command.

But "mellow" and "lab puppy" just don't fit in the same sentence usually.

ETA .. another thought, at 6 months training is exhausting for them. We really only did it in short bursts several times a day. They don't have much of an attention span. Maybe he's just signalling you when he's done. Rather than start a habit of giving him commands that he's choosing to ignore, I would give him a rest and pick it up again a little while later?

ETA) for recall she had us pick a word and tone and yell it like he was running away ,but right in front of him. So we'd yell "COME!!" and throw food in his mouth. We'd do this five or six times in a row, at least 5 times a day for a week. She said never to use the word as a recall word until you are CERTAIN he will come. If he doesn't.. you start over with a new word. This one isn't optional and he's never to think it's optional. In our case the kids didn't use it properly, and it became elective. We started all over with "HERE!!". So far, it's still working.

Good post.

The bolded was sort of what I was referring to when I said capitalize on it. That is, work with him on his recall, at first, when he's up.

Recall is notoriously hard to accomplish once a dog learns he can walk away if he chooses to, and you can't enforce the command. So for one thing, never give a "Come" command unless you can make it happen.

Training with food and clickers is great as long as your dog does what you want when you don't have food or a clicker in your hand.

 

[danygirl]

I would like to emphasize how important training can be. My lab learned the basics as a pup. At 10 she went blind rather suddenly. I thank God she learned Stay it has been a life saver. She picked up Watchout! Pretty quickly and knows that means to move carefully and let me guide her. Step up is another one that has proven useful when navigating new areas so she knows what to expect . You can teach an old dog new tricks !

 

[a742246]

4 years ago we got a rescue pup about 7 months old. Before us she was in shelters and foster homes, she was very very mellow. After about 2-3 months she adopted us and now she is social, active and lovable dog.

I don't know how long you had this puppy or where she was before, but she made be just adjusting to her new environment.

 

[yoopermom]

Enjoy the quiet time now, because once the puppy becomes a "teenager", all bets will be off! There's a reason why they call it "puppy class", they learn like little sponges then, usually to regress, and then eventually learn again...

The biggest thing with recall, I think, is to NEVER EVER EVER have anything "bad" happen to them when they come to you. If you call them, they come, and then you scold them for chewing up something, why would they want to come, for example? Recalls must ALWAYS be met with love and praise and enthusiasm, even if the dog just scared you to death by running out in the road, etc. My DH laughs, but I tend to keep dog treats in my pockets, car, etc because we have dogs who, because of their breeds, NEVER come to you, so if they do, believe me, they're going to get rewarded!

I also teach more than one word that means "really, really great food is coming to you if you come to mom RIGHT NOW". It's dumb, but we have one dog who has to take pills, so if I say "pill time", they all come running, because they know they'll all get a tiny bite of hot dog (even though only one will have a pill in it!). This has come in handy when I get a dog who has learned a negative reaction to the "come" command.

Terri

 

[CAFarmerGirl]

Yes he has been vet checked, extremely healthy- just a mushy puppy! and we did luck out! I've never had a pup so snuggly before- checked out the ridge back breed and he has a lot of the traits, he is very low key- extremely bright- we are now trying to teach him the "come" command from a sitting position rather than in his bed, he seems to be doing much better with that, once we get that down we will again try from the bed- once he lays down he seems to just stay there... LOL

Looking into the Recall & Clicker methods- opinions?

That is awesome...don't know anything about ridgebacks...sounds like you got a wonderful mix!

 

[Sleepy425]

As far as a release command goes, I would not use the word "OK." Too many trainers I've worked for/with have had issues with it. You put your dog in a stay, someone asks you a question, you say "OK." Dog breaks the stay and runs out of the door/car/etc. using a word that isn't so common is better. I use "free."

 

[jsmith]

I train dogs for competition obedience. Definitely look into a clicker but if you dog is not food motivated you might try toys-one of my dog loves getting to play tug as a reward. Also, you can use restrained recalls to build enthusiasim for coming when called-this is a two person game and can't be taught from something like a 'place ( down in his bed). To teach restrained recall get someone to hold him by the collar while you go 25 or 30 feet away. Call the dog-then the holder releases him when he starts toward you. Run backwards-making it a chase game but not enough of one to trigger prey drive-and praise praise praise ( Good boy Finn!) as he comes toward you-stop after going back about 10 feet and when he stops in fron of you-reward reward reward. Usually works pretty well fairly quickly.
Free and all done are good release commands