"Beasley--Sit!...Beasley--Sit!....BEASLEY....SIT!..."

[jen w.]

Beasley is almost 8 years old. As the first dog I've ever owned, I probably could have chosen an easier time with a smaller, less hyperactive, dog (but who knew)?! I am not much more than 5ft 2". When I sit next to Beas on the floor, he towers over me! On ice, he can pull me along quite easily. For this reason, being able to confidently handle such a large beast was essential and so over the years, numerous attempts have been made to improve Beasley's manners.

Formal obedience training may have been a pleasant diversion for Beasley but for me it was probably one of the most demoralizing experiences ever. Every week, the instructors at this "highly accredited" dog training center would praise and encourage -- most of us. Somehow, Beasley and I were never in the gifted category. Instead, we always made the remediation list and the instructors were not very understanding.

After 6 weeks of classes, Beasley and I could only manage a brief sit/stay. ("Stay" was always a problem and remains so to this day. He just can't contain himself for very long. Like a coiled spring, he edges around in a sit position until he can't stand it any longer and then pops up.)

"Lie down" was taught to us by offering the dog a treat between the front paws to make him drop to the ground. The idea, was to gradually pull out the reward part, first bluffing and then eventually offering no treat at all. Of course, Beasley would not "lie down" for more than a few seconds and  if he couldn't see the treat, bluffing was pointless. Often, in fact, Beasley was more apt to be nuzzling my pockets for the unseen treat instead of "lying down", conspicuously drawing even more negative attention...

"Of course, if we don't practice daily, we'll never master these lessons, will we?", one of the 18 year-old instructors  said to me, on one occasion....."But we do practice...We DO...We practice twice a day, on every walk..." I desperately tried to tell her but she was already walking away, her dismissive snort almost audible. 

We really did practice daily but I can't altogether blame the dog. I didn't  have a clue about pack mentality or animal leadership skills, not a clue. I thought that good intentions should do. Good intentions only brought more disobedience and challenges. When you're dealing with a child, you need to have compassion and understanding and most of all patience but you also need boundaries.  I was probably more than a little short on boundaries that should have been established immediately -- especially with such an active puppy.

Two years in, a second attempt was made to turn the big doodle into a model citizen. Beasley's trash habit was concerning me. Constantly picking up garbage, especially at night, I could not always see what he had and worse, I could rarely get him to let go. I worried about poison or toxic items. I was also concerned with the "enthusiasm" with which he greeted visitors, jumping and circling, in his usual poor form.

I located an "old school" trainer out in the country. In business for over 30 years, training and boarding, she offered to take Beasley on for 10 days at her establishment, then bring me in and work with us together for a few sessions more. She was to work on the unresolved issues but more importantly....stopping Beasley from picking up trash. She had a very high success rate at turning things around, so she claimed. Cranky, opinionated, and well into her 70s, she informed me that she was sick and tired of all those so-called "old fart, dog psychologists". Her expert diagnosis was that Beasley was treating me like a dog and I was treating Beasley like a human.

I was excited when the time came to pick up Beasley and start working together...Five minutes in, the lady was walking him around the ring, talking about heeling and control, when he grabbed a piece of kleenex on the ground. "Leave it!", she roared. Too late. Beasley had already eaten the tissue. She then, planted tissues all around the arena and began to demonstrate what to do. Almost every time, Beasley grabbed the tissue before she could stop him, despite her "Leave it's"...and accompanying muttered cusses.

So much for 10 days of intensive training!  He did master heeling and he would sit/stay a bit... longer... However the garbage habit continued and was never fixed. The only real change that I noticed was that from then on, he waited at his bowl for my "permission" to eat before gobbling down his food. How the lady achieved this cooperation, I will never know but I am assuming she used the only thing Beasley really values -- food -- as her training aid! After all, one cannot deny the big doodle his food forever!

 

[jen w.]

Ya know, Colleen...The Big Doodle is my best friend, my constant companion, as bad as his manners may be! I'm so used to him now that it's only when other people with better-behaved dogs come over that I'm reminded what a nutbar he is! I adore him just the same and he's spoiled rotten!

[Colleen, Jake & Baxter]

I LOVE the picture of Big Doodle and his kitty:)  Beasley is blessed to have you as his owner - if I had Jake at a younger age he might have been better trained but I don't think I would have laughed as much. 

[Traci -Bexter & Maggie]

I do love honesty!  As much as we love our dogs & doodles, they aren't perfect...nor are we!  Enjoy your dood!

[Bonnie and Kona]

Great blog! My favorite sentence:

 Like a coiled spring, he edges around in a sit position until he can't stand it any longer and then pops up.

[jen w.]

Interesting to see that you all shared similar experiences. The thing that always got me was that Beasley learned very quickly what all the commands meant. It wasn't that he didn't know what to do...It was more like he chose not to follow them as soon as he realized no treats were involved. Always comes down to the treat thing. Mark my words, next time around, I'm using a clicker only!

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

Back when we were in obedience class, I took full credit for Sedona's successes.  Of course it was either my husband's fault (for not practicing enough) or Sedona's fault (for being overly excited) when she didn't execute the desired behavior properly!  :) 

[Doris, Knox & Flash]

I could relate to so much of this! We do practice, really we do...I don't know how many times I told various trainers that! Thanks, Jen!

[jen w.]

LOL! Yup, it's a doodle world, that's for sure. There's a certain fashion writer, here in Toronto, who wrote an article yesterday about her new doodle....Good luck to her. She's gonna' need it through puppyhood, that's for sure!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Many of Beasley's behaviors sound very familiar. Maybe we ought to change the definition of obedient, that would be much easier.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

You are SO honest I love it!

Been there?? Still there!!