What are (or have been) your main training goals with your doodles?

[Adina P]

Because my husband's border collie was trained to be off-leash reliable in virtually all situations, my goal (even if I never reach it) in training Rosco has been to reach off-leash reliability. I'm not satisfied with knowing he knows "sit" or "stay" ... I want to know he WILL sit and stay and come, etc, no matter what/no matter where, regardless of whether there is a leash on him or not.

I realize this is not necessarily within MY skill level, but it's the goal in the back of my mind every time we go out to work (train) at PetCo, at Kennel Club handling practice (where we do no handling since Rosco's a designer mutt), etc. Perhaps I am too much of a control freak, but I have to set high standards in training or else I can easily slack off!

But that's just me

[1v200f3rbrnxk]

HI... Max is a LD almost 2yrs old now and Peanut a 18mo old GD....my 1st goal was to have basic commands for good manners, reached that goal. Did formal OB class w/some CGC training.
then did off leash and Whistle training......so far it's all going good.

I am working on Max with CGC for therapy programs in our area and then will concentrate on peanut. MOST of all my goal is for my doodles to enjoy training and exercise their intelligent minds. IF we make it to my therapy goal great-- if not ......i can continue other training.

Max now goes to public places for few weeks...we try to get out at least 3 times a week or more.
Peanut is awesome around little kids and i've started her training too.

NOW at home, hahhahaaa let anyone come to the door and all training goes out the window for about the next 5 minutes

Ann...try pulling your arms up towards you ,keep walking away , do not look at her.
it worked here.

[Tamara & Giada]

Loose leash walking is our biggest now--so she dosen't drag our kids! followed by jumping:) She actually is doing well with both, considering her age.

[146lfrq35wykj]

My goal was to train Vegas (mini-GD) for therapy. We are involved locally with www.palspets.com and volunteer twice a month together at a care centre for the elderly.
Also, we wanted him to be off leash trained with 100% reliability no matter the situation. We are fortunate that we met someone who recommended Brad Pattison (TV Show Host: At the End of My Leash--National Geographic and Slice Networks) www.bradpattison.com . We started with him in Brad's classes at 13 wks of age. Vegas has appeared on two of Brad's shows. Brad has an awesome book, and workbook pkg for a VERY reasonable price for sale on his website...it's a download. You can even get the first two chapters for FREE to see if it's for you.
This book shows you how to teach off leash, loose leash walking and no jumping up among many other things!

[Jessica]

It seems like the nature of the individual dog is paramount. I appreciate increasingly that Finn is pretty exceptional, and it's not due to to us since we are inexperienced owners. He is just very willing, and happily does all that is asked of him (bar 100% recall, but only IF he has a ball in his mouth). When he arrived, we quietly put away the brochures we imagined we'd need advertising all manner of controlling devices, along with books on behavioural problems. Incredible as it sounds, we have never yet had to repremand Finn.

[Adina P]

What a sweetie you have! Now I MUST come meet him! umm...again I'm s'posed to be working. cya soon computer!

[Jessica]

...And you know what Adina, you can chat to him like a human and he seems to understand and responds. For example, "Budge-up" (on the sofa) will have him wriggling about to give me more space, as will "move up or move over" on the bed. "Go find it" or "Go find your ball" will have him back-tracking for a dropped ball. "Let's go and get Annie" (from work), will have him bouncing around at the door, whilst "Where's Annie?" will have him running to the French window to look for the car. "Want to sit on my lap/up here?" and he'll start preparing to leap or to be lifted" "Want more?" He'll return to his empty food bowl, "Want a snack?" and he'll be sitting. "Do you want to go for a walk?" Will animate Finn's head from side to side, whilst he double-checks he's heard that right! What's in your (treat) ball will have him searching in his toy-basket, and my favourite "Come here and give me a hug" will bring Finny to wherever I am, to be petted; if I'm squatting he'll rest his head on my shoulder or in my hands and if I'm on the sofa, it'll be my lap. Perfection in a woolley jacket! (And don't forget he's only just turned 1)

[3mbiq0qyh5fmw]

Goals in training .I have read all the replies and would like to respond to a couple of specific concerns some people have.I hope this may help.
I would like to address an item first about itellect in dogs. All dogs adapt to people and their enviorment or they would not survive. To say a Border Collie has the greatest intellect is just false. How would you possibly gauge that.We have yet to measure human intellect accurately. Border Collies have a high working drive. That should not be confused with intellect.This makes them suitable for adapting quickly to the laws of learning. They are also very energetic. Again a sign of high drive. To say a mule is dumber than a quarter horse is also false. Both these animals perform different tasks and to varying degrees of success. We see so many Border collies performing doggie Dancing or working agility classes yet this high drive makes them to uncontrolable in most cases for bomb detection work. That does not mean they are not intellegent. It just means an animal that has been bred for chasing sheep all day has been bred to work at high energy levels all day. This makes some border collies also not suited for the suburban apartment dweller. That does not mean that they can not survive in those conditions. It does however suggest this breed of dog would flourish or do better in a rural setting in many cases. If this is not possible then a job of sorts like competitions would harness this excess of energy. The high drive to work makes it easier to repeat stimulus over and over till a behavior is learned. Harnessing drive is the key in all training and with all animals.My Doodle has learned over 60 behaviors. Most of these behaviors were the result of her training or conditioning. I know how to harness her drives.She learned the majority of what she does in less than two months from 8 weeks old. I continue to teach her new behaviors . She is no brighter than any other doodles I have trained or any one else's dog. I got a doodle because I knew the breed and I also knew they were not like Border Collies. I wanted the right fit in my home. I knew i would not be able to give a working dog Like a border collie the excess stimulus and exercise they needed in the urban setting. I have friends who do frisbee shows around the country and border collie is ther choice for working in this entertainment field. I have other friends who are police officers and use German Shepards for their work. They picked the correct breed for the job they ask of the dog . This does not in any way say that their dogs are any more intellegent than mine. My Goldendoodle is trained to do more reliable behaviors than both of their dogs combinded. Is it intellect or conditioning?

Dogs that jump up on people. Is there a quick solution? Yes!
Training is a composite of many things. In a nutshell training is Stimulus - Response- Reinforcement.
Present the proper stimulus at the correct time consistently and you will get the desired responses . These resonses if reinforced correctly and consistently will become learned or trained behaviors.
Ask yourself what triggers or stimulus excites the dog or ellicits the dog to jump? What reinforces this jumping ? How long has the dog been learning this or how conditioned is the behavior of jumping? Here lies the key to eliminating this or any other inappropriate behavior. Break the cycle by changing or altering the stimulus , eliminate or alter the reinforcements and the responces will be different. Also it is helpful to replace any unwanted behavior with a desireable or appropriate behavior. This is reffered to as counter conditioning. I have my doodle cassidy sit,Heel,go and stay on the coach (a mark)or lay down when people come to my home .Some times I even have her go to another room in the house and remain there while i greet guests. This eleiminates the jumping. I have also taught her to jump up into my arms and to jump on to and off of objects .This reinforces the off command . If she does greet some one and I allow her to put her front feet on them I can say "OFF" and she will place her front feet back on the floor.
If there is interest I will address the off leash recall.

[Jessica]

Hi Richard, I just checked out your page and was delighted to see the pictures of Cassidy doin' her thing. She looks a cute little bundle. Too funny to see her scooting away on her skateboard! My Finn is a miniature too, 16" and 25lbs. He's very responsive, but it's ordinary stuff; nothing quite as impressive as Cassidy. (I'm working on him making me a cup of tea). The one area where Finn is not 100% is recall. He'll return (to my whistle, super fast), but not if he has a ball in his mouth. As well, he skirts by me. He doesn't tease and he stops, but I have to take 2/3 steps to retrieve him. I'd like him to come right up to my feet, so I'd love any input you could offer.
Also, I've considered therapy training and agility. What stops me is this dilema; is it cruel to push Finn into a life of 'work' or will he enjoy the extra stimulus. He seems to be pretty mellow and smart.
Ps. I spent time with elephants in Nepal; Tiger-Tops - do you know it?

[Adina P]

Most dogs enjoy work...plus if you find the right fit (facility, work wise) it's not too much "work." I think Rosco finds his therapy visits quite relaxing...free massages! But most dogs really do like to have a job and be useful!

[Richard Crowe]

I want Holly first to be a well behaved courteous dog who will not offend anyone (canine or human) with her conduct. Secondly, and we are working on it; I want total off-lead control over Holly for safety purposes. Thirdly, and least importantly - I would like Holly to learn a few tricks. She is already well on her way to roll over and shake.

Eventually, I want a CGC for Holly and to have her as a therapy dog.

[Richard Crowe]

I don't suppose that this would be realistic. But, it would be helpful...

[Adina P]

Now that's my kind of doggy disposal system!