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

[Adina P]

No...it just makes them afraid of spray bottles :-D

I used to use it get them to quiet down if in the middle of the night (or sometimes other times of day) they saw something outside they had to bark like crazy for. It has NOT scarred them one bit and they'll come right up to the water bottle to sniff it if I'm not USING it. However, our border collie will leave the room if I'm using Windex to clean the windows (she's a funny dog. Both VERY willful and quite sensitive to corrections).

[ClarkP]

(he's a funny husband. Both VERY willful and quite sensitive to corrections).

See? Our dogs ARE like us!

[Tamara & Giada]

Hahaaaaa! I never heard of using a spray bottle to correct a dog. I'll have to give it a try--thanks!

[Tamara & Giada]

WOW! I tried it at the front door when she jumps on people, and it has worked like a charm!!! Thanks Adina!

[Adina P]

Cool. In the meantime work with her on giving an appropriate greeting so she has an alternative behavior to learn that she CAN be successful with =)

[Tamara & Giada]

We've already been doing that--but she still wants to jump. What I did was sprayed her while I said "down"--then told her to sit and only then do the guests get to gush all over her:)

[Joannie]

So she uses the spray bottle on you too?

[1gvtghuvzpkfx]

Just joined and love reading about others who love their doodles as we do. We also have "jumpers"! Cinder (about 45 #'s and our social butterfly) is the worst but she just loves people and wants to be with them - my husband is completely convinced she thinks she is a person! LOL! Opie (about 70#'s -our shy guy) isn't as jumpy around others as he is with us - but he gets off the ground very well for a big guy! If anyone does find the answer - would love to try it with ours. I think it might just be personality trait of such happy dogs!

[3o4km2ifh8t2t]

I guess we got Lucky. My dog before the doodles was a Border Collie. Very smart... But I have to say traing the doodles was and still is very easy. Our 10 year old twins taught are youngest doodle ( Baily) to roll over in about 45 minutes. as far as off leash, it has never been a problem. They stay right by us, sit or lay at our feet when we stop to talk in the park, and just watch the other dogs walk right by. Their weakness is the kids playing. They love to play with them. If I could give any advice it would be patience and love. As we all know they are a very loving dog, and just want to make us happy. Oh, and a piece of dog jerky helps too....Good luck everyone with training, I think you will find they catch on quick.

[Adina P]

Both of our doodles are pretty independent and they would NEVER stay by our side (off leash in public places), come when called or be 100% reliable to commands without training. They'd be prancing around everywhere, visiting other dogs, people, etc...LOL. It hasn't been the teaching of commands that has been difficult...both Rosco and Thule are fast learners. It's the training (which I define as the work of repetition and consistency of consequences toward getting to 100% reliability in all situations) that takes time and regular practice. Every now and then there are those dogs that just kinda WANT to do anything a human asks...it sounds like you got lucky with TWO of them which is awesome =)

[3o4km2ifh8t2t]

Thanks. I could not believe our oldest ( Abbigail). Training was easy. I think this made it easier for our youngest. she is always by Abby's side, in turn made it easier for us....I can say Abby is about 99.9 %, and Baily about 90 % with a needed command now and then...

[Mikelyn]

My main training goal with Sam (5 1/2) months is for him to stop the nipping and mouthing! Being an only "fur" child, he thinks we are his sibblings and it is so frustrating at times. He spends a lot of time in "time out" and I feel sometimes that I am missing out so much on his puppyhood!