Cesar Millan, you don't happen to be a DISer do you?

[luvmy3]

If not are there any other dog whisperers out there

My 6 month old Cairn terrier is driving me crazy. She's a persistent little devil and extremely strong willed. I thought my own common sense would be enough to train her, but I'm realizing that just isn't cutting it. I am just wondering where anyone who had a stubborn little mule for a pup has started, did you buy countless books on how to train your dog, or did you go right to obedience classes? I'm not opposed to anything, I just want to hear some success stories so I know there is hope, I don't want to us to be the subject of any other kinds of DIS threads if you know what I mean

 

[I*heart*MickeyMouse]

Obedience Class.
PetSmart has a great program, and their potty training program is awesome as well...

 

[kristilew]

I have had Cairns for years. They are defintiely wiley!

You need to be very very firm and consistent. The problem isn't that they don't learn, it's that they learn so fast that if you do something differently one time, they've now learned a loophole.

A Cairn can learn a ton of voice commands. Decide what you want yours to do, and name that action. Then reward it with a "good __________" and a treat. I spend the first few months of my Cairns' lives walking around with little bits of treat in my pocket. Any action I want repeated, I praise and give a treat.

In fact, be careful what you reward in any way, treat, attention, tone of voice. They will learn it. I made fun of my puppy when he got excited about his toys, saying he didn't care which one he had, he was just excited about having a "thing." I said this in a happy voice as though I was quoting the puppy. Now his toys are "things." You can say, Mugsy, where's you thing? And he runs and finds his favorite. And then you can say, No, the other thing. And he'll get a different toy. DD thinks it's hysterical to do this until the entire toy shelf is strewn across the living room.

Tell me what you're having a hard time with, and I'll try to be more specific. I will say, they do NOT repsond to punishment. Don't yell, don't hit (please!). Ignore what you want stopped, and attend what you want repeated, and talk to him like he can understand you, because he can!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

She's a persistent little devil and extremely strong willed.

Yup, that sounds like a Cairn.

I thought my own common sense would be enough to train her, but I'm realizing that just isn't cutting it.

Yup again. It rarely is, regardless of the breed. All of them have their difficulties in different ways.

Good Owners, Great Dogs by Brian Kilcommons and Sara Wilson is a good book to start with.

I'd also enroll in an obedience class, sure. Together, this should set you on the path.

But dog training isn't something that happens once and then all's better. It really has to be an "understanding" and a way of life. Because if you're not in charge, a strong willed dog will try to be, constantly.

There is nothing better than a good relationship with a confident, well trained dog. That happens over time when the language between you is fine tuned, ie everyone's on the same page. This takes a lot of time in effort, as in every minute of every day you're together. And obviously, when the dog is young and/or already has some bad habits to relearn, it's more difficult, especially at the beginning. But once you're on the same wavelength it almost becomes instinctive, and fairly easy - just constant.

If you can be more specific about issues you're having it would be helpful.

One of the biggest things you can do with any dog is to keep his or her body and mind active. A bored dog, especially whose roots are from working lines, is one who is going to work in ways however he sees fit. Better to channel that energy in the types of ways that are good ones.

 

[kristilew]

One of the biggest things you can do with any dog is to keep his or her body and mind active. A bored dog, especially whose roots are from working lines, is one who is going to work in ways however he sees fit. Better to channel that energy in the types of ways that are good ones.

Forgot to put that in, but exactly, yes! You've got to wear your little Cairn out. Looooonnnng walks. Lots of fetch.

 

[keenercam]

I LOVE hearing these stories and the advice about Cairns. Our "little girl" turned 10 in July and she is a true joy. I have to agree that Cairns are very, very smart. And I can relate to the whole "thing" story. Cali's toys are her "baby". And if she brings you her baby and you ask her where her other babies are, they are soon all at your feet and she's looking up at you with that look of eagerness to please and her tail wagging a mile a minute. Truly a precious girl.