Lincoln Didn't pass his class...

[Diane Denney]

Well I'm bummed, but not surprized. Lincoln didn't pass the intermediate class for the second time. He was so distracted. There is only one other dog (a pittbull) in the class, and he passed the class before I got there. I didn't think that was very fair as he had no distractions like mine did. Anyhow I haven't worked hard enough with him at home so I wasn't surprized. I had a funeral to go to last week, and my Dad has end stage cancer so honestly I haven't been putting in my all...sigh

Also Lincoln is still being so bad at home. I can not stop him from jumping on my older dog Scott ALL OF THE TIME. He never just hangs!!! He is being so bad. I thought when he turned one that we would make inroads on some of these challenges. He ran three miles today, and was at training and socialized for three hours yesterday you'd think he would be tuckered out a bit. He still goes for our hands too, but it's mostly avoidance behavior because I keep having to put him back in the kitchen. When will he learn that the better he behaves the longer he'll be able to stay outside the kitchen. I hate leaving him in there. I'm starting to worry!!!!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

What does your trainer say? My trainer feels she has a personal responsibility for ensuring that all dogs pass her classes. Often that means she'll stay later and work with the dogs and owners who are having problems. She also schedules special one-on-one times in between classes for those who need the extra help, and I don't think she's charging extra for this. I certainly don't know the trainer or the specific circumstances, but I'd wonder about how effective the class is if Lincoln has not passed twice. I'm guessing you have probably had a conversation with her about what she thinks might be going wrong....I hope you're getting some answers. I'm so sorry about what you're going through with your Did. I've been there, so I can really understand how difficult this time is.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I realize that he got a lot of exercise yesterday, but it sounds to me that with everything else in your life that is demanding your attention at the moment, he is just not getting enough exercise (and training) on a daily basis. Not being in a position to spend a lot of time with him and work with him on his training, is going to result in the situation that you have. His getting older alone is not going to make a better dog. He is going to act out because he isn't getting exercise and attention. I fully realize that the other things in your life are priorities, and I most certainly do not want to suggest that you neglect your father at this point, but possibly if you could find an extra 15-30 mins a day to work with Lincoln (maybe get up 30 mins early) it will probably result in saving you more than 30 mins during the day as his behavior improves. There is certainly nothing more exhausting (and frustrating) than an misbehaving dog. Maybe DH needs to take over something else that you are doing and give you a little extra time to spend with Lincoln ..... everyone will be happier as a result!

[HANNAH 8/2/07 & HONEY 7/2/08]

For now your doing the best you can with training Lincoln given your situations at home, if you are not happy with the trainer you need to find someone else or discuss what you feel she could be helping you with. Whenever you train with your dog/puppy you really need to be commited to that training, 15 to 20 minutes a day to practice the exercises. Training is a lifetime with your dog, it never stops outside a training facility. Everyday when you walk and exercise your dog take 15 to 20 minutes off their walk and include doing sit, downs, stays, recalls (this is actually mental and physical exercise). All dogs train on different levels. Do you have any trainers around you who could do the training for you and than teach you with Lincoln what they have done. I know this is more expensive but if you really want him trained and with your situation can't commit fully to the training...it might be your only option for now.

[Diane Denney]

Actually the trainer has been fine, and has been allowing us to come in extra time to pass both dogs so that's not an issue at all. Lincoln didn't do terribly, but he didn't do it long enough. He is 13 months old now. He has to sit, down or stand stay with a cookie in front of him and leave it for a certain amount of time, and I have to be able to leave the room. He has to wait at a door and let me go through first which he does very well, and he has to go to his bed from a distance and stay on it for a prescribed amount of time. He also has to heel. He does these things pretty here, but there there are a lot of distractions. He wasn't paying attention at all on Saturday. There were puppies up for adoption right in front of the training room, and that's all he could see, and just wanted to play with them. We brought him in the back of the store to see if he would do better and he did, but I couldn't get him to down stay with a cookie for more than 1 minute. He did everything he was suppose to do, but not on first command and not long enough. He's giving me another chance to pass him this Saturday, and graduate with his classmate, but he will extend until he does what he's suppose to do. I will try in ernest to train him more this week, and get him whipped into shape!!! I'm more stressed about the fact that he never lets my other dog be. It's very very stressful for both of us. My husband starts to get angry as he is soooo bold. I guess I need to have him go to daycare more often. He absolutely is best buds with his classmate Maximus who is a Pittbull and they would play for hours given the opportunity.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Yes, it does sound like you have a great trainer, and it's great that he's giving you another chance on Saturday. So, that's not the issue. If you can give him extra training time this week to practice that may do the trick for the actual "test", but as others have said training never stops. Good luck.

[HANNAH 8/2/07 & HONEY 7/2/08]

Yes it sounds as though Lincoln needs a way to get his energy out. Lincoln is still an energetic puppy and will be for some time possible (2 to 3 years before he is really an adult), more doggy daycare sounds like a great plan for releasing some of it (3xs a week is max of what most daycare's recommend). Also if this play is bothering your other dog, your other dog needs to put Lincoln in his place, not you or hubby. Lincoln will learn that your other dog will only tolerate so much. If it's you and hubby who can't handle this play you's need to take Lincoln aside and be his playmate (toss a ball, set up some tunnels and agility things for him to release his energy if you have a back yard). But all in all it was the training you needed help with, just doing this week with more training is not the answer because you will go right back to the same issues if you do not make the training practice a continuous basis. Can your hubby do a chore for you to give you time with Lincoln or can he train with Lincoln and it may create a better bond and understanding between them. BruceGirl gives a lot of great things you can do while you are home with Lincoln. Best of Luck to you all

[BG and Gavin]

I have incorporated training into my usual household tasks, which really doesn't mean setting aside extra time. I fill my pocket with treats in the morning and go from there. I have him do push-ups (sit, down, sit, down) excercises while I talk on the phone. The tennis ball comes out and he plays fetch with me while I am on the computer (I make him sit and wait for an increasing amount of time before throwing the ball - this improves his focus). When I make the bed in the morning I have him do a sit/stay outside the door. Putting in a load of laundry, put him in a down/stay outside the laundry room. Outside I will tether him to me to take out the garbage, check the mail, shovel the sidewalks. Over time he will begin following you (and your treats) around the house, waiting for the next thing you want him to do. This is a mental exercise in itself. At 7.5 months, my Gavin is still distracted with other dogs and people when we are training in the busy Petsmart on Saturday mornings, but he is coming along and he is really good in the house most of the time. Hope this helps.

[Diane Denney]

My biggest problem is that when I do let him out of the kitchen to have freedom and try things he jumps all over my older dog ALL OF THE TIME. I tell both dogs to down stay in the house. Both dogs weigh over 70 pounds and can absolutely not have free reign. I am trying very hard to make this work, and have been going to training classes for months now. I work a full time job on top of eveything else. I believe there is issues with both dogs as Scott who is 6.5 years old is territorial of us and the house, and Lincoln is trying to be the Alpha. I still can not go out in the back yard with him as he still bites and jumps and mouths very hard. I still have to work on that too. It just doesn't end. My dog Scott was a piece of cake compared to this dog.

[Natasha]

Hi Diane,

Maybe we can help you. Obviously, the most important thing is that you get some peace in your home (not that he passes class).

You have listed a number of issues but it sounds like leaving your other dog alone is the most important behavior that you want to fix.

Tell us what he's doing and let's see if we can offer some training tips that can be broken down into one or two things that you can do consistently to address that.

So, when does the behavior happen and when doesn't it happen? Is there anything that triggers it?

What is he doing specifically?

What does your other dog do?

What do you (and your husband) do when it happens?

I promise you that there will be some great training ideas and I'll bet we can make your home life easier.

Also, in your post, I know you say that you want him to learn that the better he behaves the longer he will be ableto stay outside the kitchen. The problem is that dogs don't reason. They do respond to if...then statements, though. So, if you tell him to do X and he does, the reward is Y - you get to be with the family. Just make X really easy to accomplish at first and then work your way up.

[Diane Denney]

Great Natasha. I could use all the help I can get!!! He charges at Scottie full on, and runs room to room like a crazy dog (which doesn't bother me that much except that he is a bull in a china shop as he is huge now- 72.2 pounds and taller than Scott which I didn't think was possible...LOL)

He mounts Scottie every chance he gets, and we stop it as soon as we can by pulling him off of Scott.

He is very possessive about bones and toys, and insists on having everything. Scott is very submissive and ends up with nothing, but does in a much more gentle way try and get them back. He is a gentle giant. There is no aggression just alot of bullying going on.

I'll fill you in more later as I am at work.

[Adina P]

Natasha here are the two past discussions where she explained things in detail:
http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/doodle-puppy-and-older-dog

http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/losing-my-resolve

I could have sworn she posted a video of them scrapping but can't find it. To me, the two dogs didn't look that bad. Annoying, but not anything worrisome. But I know it is hard on Diane to see it constantly.

[BG and Gavin]

Yes Natasha - good idea. Let's tackle it one at a time, starting with the biggest issue.