How To Train

[Geri]

Brenna is 2 in April. I got her in July of 2011.

 I haven't been a good trainer, I turned 72 in February, She is 44 lbs and kind of strong for me.

I have researched dog trainers around me, and I don't like what I see, it's like doggie boot camp.

She gets really excited when I take her to the vet and groomer, jumping and wild. But they all love her.

There is a Petco near me, but I am kind of reluctant to take her there because she goes crazy when she sees people.

I would love to take her for a walk, but afraid she will go crazy when she sees other dogs and people.

How can I get her to heel, be a good girl and enjoy a walk?         

[Adina P]

I'm pretty boot camp in my training. Is there something specific you dislike about the training you saw?

[BG and Gavin]

I would look into getting a personal trainer to come to your house just to get you off on the right foot and help you to put a system together to walk your doodle.  Once you feel more confident walking her I would move on to more crowded social areas.  She may have a great deal of pent up energy if you have not been walking her every day.  Is there a fenced in park or ball diamond you can take her to for a good run?   That also would be a safe place to practice your walking.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I completely agree with this...you need a trainer to come to your home.  I really don't think a class like those offered at Petco will give you the skills and confidence you need to walk Brenna. Perhaps your Vet could recommend a local trainer....that's how I found mine.  My personal feeling is that to be fair to your dog you really should try to make this a priority.  I really think dogs need to be walked and exercised, especially when there are no other "pack mates".   I'm 66 and my husband is almost 70, and we walk our dogs for at least an hour every day (weather permitting).  It's a health benefit for us, and it's something I really believe the dogs need.  There are lots of us here to give you advice and encouragement as you start your training.  Please keep us posted.

[Jay, Lola and Colonel Esau]

Agree that PetCo is not likely to be the place where you will solve this.  One thing to keep in mind is that establishing social status with respect to a dog isn't really about physical size or strength.  It's more about things like confidence, body language, tone of voice, etc. 

Please see this video I posted a few days ago for an illustration of what I mean:

http://www.doodlekisses.com/profiles/blogs/inspiration 

[Carolyn Shusterman]

I suggest you get a 'gentle leader' and take her for walks near your home and when she 'goes crazy' turn around and go back home.  Wait until she is calm and go out again for a walk repeating if she goes crazy.  Brenna will get the idea that she can go out and explore the world if she stays calm..She need lots of exposure so she will get to the point where people and dogs are not big deal.

[Jay, Lola and Colonel Esau]

As BG says, it sounds like the first thing may be finding a way to get some of that energy out.  I see you live in Florida.  Do you have access to a pool?  Swimming is great exercise that is low stress for both humans and dogs.  Another thing is to find a safe place where she can romp around with other dogs that you know are okay.  If you can find a dog park that you are comfortable with, that would be great - but of course you have to be careful.  Other option would be a day care where they have supervised playtime.  As long as she's just energetic and not aggressive, any of those should be fine.

[Kyoko]

Is there a Humain Society or animal shelter near you? They often offer basic obedience classes....

[charlotte bednarsh]

I agree that you need a trainer to come into your home.  I also agree that walking a dog is so very healthy for both you and the dog, and you are missing out on so many great experiences.  Dogs are not unlike human beings, we all need to understand boundaries and what is expected.....an untrained dog, no matter how great his/her temperament, can be a real nuisance.  I like the suggestion about asking your vet for a good trainer.  I would also look for a trainer that uses positive reinforcement as the foundation for his/her training. For the most part, doodles are so very sweet and eager to please, and respond well to positive reinforcement; they also can be rambunctious, so it's important to understand the best ways to channel their energy, and exercise ie., walking is a critical component. I agree with others, that a trainer who comes to your home should be your priority.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Besides hiring a trainer to come to you and work with you, I would see if you could hire a dog walker - perhaps a teenaged neighbor could attend classes with you and learn also.