Positive reinforcement training ("Perfect Puppy" by Dr. Sophia Yin)

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

Does anyone here have experience trying the "Perfect Puppy in 7 days" method of positive reinforcement training?  DH and I have been reading this book by Dr. Sophia Yin and the method seems pretty sound but very rigorous and time-consuming.

It basically involves rewarding the dog with treats for asking politely for everything by sitting (including affection, greetings, going out etc.), tethering or crating at all times and using very few cue words but mostly physical cues (like being on a hands-free leash).

We are expecting a litter of puppies to be born any day now so starting to look into things!

This is the book I'm talking about:

https://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Puppy-Days-Start-Right/dp/0964151871...

Before I compile a list/"game plan" of how we are going to go about training I wanted to see if anyone had tips.  DH is planning on taking a week or so off with puppy when we bring it home to give us a good start on training since we'll be moving a couple weeks later (yikes!).

Thanks!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I have not read this particular book, but I'll tell you, I am having a very tough time using "positive only", no corrections, treat-treat-treat-treat reward-based training with Jasper. With Jack, it was easy, but JD was a dog who lived to please. Jasper, not so much, lol. Of course, I do have to keep reminding myself that Jasper is 6 months old and JD was 14 months old when I got him. 

I'll be following this discussion with interest.

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

Yeah I think it really depends on the dog how effective it is.  She sure makes it sound like this works for every dog and I think its success probably depends largely on how much time you can invest in it. :p

Luna was VERY food motivated so positive only worked well with her.  We got lax with her training after our daughter came along and she developed some annoying habits, though I'm sure if we kept up with it she would have been perfectly behaved instead of occasionally bratty :p

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Jasper is also very food motivated, but I really think that kind of works against me with this reward based training, because he is totally focused on treats, not on me. He seems to think that "heel" means "walk next to Mom long enough to grab the treat and then run out to the end of the leash again". I can't walk down the street bending over feeding treats into a puppy's mouth constantly, and without a treat in front of his nose, I absolutely cannot get his attention outside of the house.

I'm searching for a good trainer, lol. 

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

Yeah the positive training didn't work for Luna for walks either.  We had to do the "if you pull we turn around" method... it made for LONG walks that didn't go anywhere but it did work quite well :p

The whole bending over thing is going to be "fun" too since (if all continues going well) I'll be about 6 months pregnant when we get the puppy and big as a house.

[Stacy]

I'm right there with you. I am at the point where if Maggie pulls and I stop walking she turns around and comes right back. I just don't know how to get to if you didn't pull to start with. I don't need a formal heel on a walk, but I don't like to be drug around. Just a nice loose lead is what I'm looking for. The farther we walk the better she gets, but sometimes I don't want a five mile walk. And if she pulls too much we just go home. 

The funny thing is, she's perfect in class or at the store or anywhere we're inside. The big wide world just has so many distractions.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Same collar and leash in class as on your personal walks?  They can tell the difference! Smart little doggies.

[Stacy]

Same collar and leash. But she was really good tonight. I think she knows when I talk about her here. There were several times when I looked down and she was walking exactly where I wanted her. And even when she was ahead of me she wasn't really pulling. We need to go on more walks. It's just been so hot. It was snowing in April and then I think it's been almost 100 degrees since. I think I've finally acclimated. I go outside and think it's not so bad and then look at the weather app and it's 90. But I don't want to cook the little doggie feet. She's really smart and she wants to do the right thing. We're going to get there.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm going to end up in the hospital, because Jasper crosses in front of me, behind me, and if I stop, I sometimes end up with the leash wrapped around my legs. 

[Stacy]

Oh Jasper, be nice to your mommy! I wish I had some words of wisdom, the way you always fix our food issues. But I'm a terrible trainer! I think Maggie is training herself. I wish I could loan you my training facility! 

In the very back corner of my mind I have this tiny niggling memory. Do they teach short dogs to heel with a target stick? Luring with treats when your dog is 12" tall is no bueno. There has to be something.

[BG and Gavin]

Hey Karen, a bit cumbersome but very effective was a method our trainer used with the small dogs in the class. She threaded a thin leash through a length of broom handle to form a rigid leash. This really helped keep the small dogs in proper position and unable to tie you up. It was a walking stick! Plus no stooping.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I need a picture. I can't visualize what you're describing. 

Stacy, I have no idea what a target stick is. 

I can tell you that the positive only trainer (and I use the term loosely) at Petco had us walking around holding a long handled wooden spoon coated with peanut butter. 

Um....no. 

[BG and Gavin]

I don’t have a pic. Picture about 4 ft of broom handle. Drill a large hole about an inch in from each end. Thread a thin leash through. Attach the snap the the dog. You have the leash handle at your end   You hold the broom to walk the dog. It sounds weird but it works. He cant get in closer than you want or cut in front.