Training and attention span

[Discussing Labradoodles & Goldendoodles]

I'm having a hard time keeping Noah focused and entertained during class. He's very smart but after about 20 minutes of class, he starts shutting down and just wants to sleep. He's not high-energy and not ADD, he just acts like a blob on the floor. Yesterday, I started class using cheese as as reward. He lost interest quickly. On the way to class, I picked up a stick on the ground. I was able to keep his attention for about 10 minutes with the stick. Towards the end of the class we were practicing heel - that was a disaster. He would barely look at me and I could tell he was not enjoying class. I had to resort to bringing out the everlasting treat ball and he seemed happy to see it and perked up a bit. My other dog Sherlock focuses so well and I don't have to do anything to keep his attention.

Last week he did the same thing - I couldn't even interest him with cheese, grilled chicken or lamb lung. The trainers finally had to give me a squeaky toy.

Do you think he's having a hard time focusing because he's not yet 6 months old? Am I pushing him too quickly in this training? The other dogs in his class are at least 10 months old, most of them being 1 - 2 years old.

[Cami Jacobs]

Hi Jane. I don’t post often but thought I should share on this topic. My doodle is the same way. We call it her lockdown state. When she was younger she would only be able to focus on training for a short period of time before going into lockdown. Now that she is older (almost 1yr) she is able to go longer periods. We didn’t go to professional training so I would just break the training sessions at home into 5-10 minute sessions throughout the day. I don’t know if this is the correct thing to do but it worked for us. Good luck.

[Doodle Kisses]

I think age is definitely part of it. With positive training most of what I've read is that you QUIT your session before dog gets bored and sessions should only be 5-10 min in length and repeated a few times a day. Of course CLASS time has to be longer because it is for us humans...but I think Noah is typical for his age. Other dogs his age probably just start to act naughty so the fact he just chills is at least less ...um.. naughty :)

[Leslie and Halas]

I think we were just finishing puppy kindergarten (the very first class) at that age, we got a break in the middle to go outside and go potty. And during the class, they'd take a few minutes once in awhile to talk to us and tell us things about grooming, socializing, etc., so the puppies got a little break then, too. Class was one hour, but we probably didn't usually train for more than 15 minutes or so at a time, when you consider all of the little breaks. Do you have breaks in your class? Once we moved up to other classes, we didn't get as many breaks, so maybe that does make a difference. I don't know a lot about dog training, and I don't know how you tell the difference between being bored and being over-stimulated/too tired, so maybe some of the others will have some better ideas.

[Leslie and Halas]

He may just be getting tired - mentally and physically. Halas will go into floppy puppy when he's tired. He hasn't done it at obedience during class, but he does it at home. He goes floppy (lays down and rolls onto his back/side) whenever I'm getting ready to leave the house, or when he wants me to leave the house because he's tired and just wants some peace and quiet. Maybe Noah is getting into his bag because he's just tired and wants to go home and sleep. I think training can take a lot out of them, especially if it's more than they're used to. Maybe just take him out for more breaks. He'll get less time in class than the other dogs, but he'll probably be more focused when he's in there.

And don't forget to always end on a positive note. If he's having trouble focusing on something new, just go back to a couple of sits or downs to help him get his confidence and focus back. We do that in flyball all the time. We'll be practicing the next step, and Halas will do it a few times, but then he'll skip something or mess up a little bit. So we just go back to the previous step and do it a couple of times before we finish our session, just so he ends with something good.

[2m42srv7vi6sq]

Caeleach is 15 months old and has trouble focusing, on me, for more than a half second. She started going through this at about 6 months and it got worse. Try to get in lots of 5 min sessions.

I have found that a structured obedience class did not work with our Doodle.

Multiple mini-lessons keep the Doodle's attention and make it much more fun.

[Noble Vestal Labradoodles]

First Rule of Dog Training

Do not feed your dog the day of training... fast him the entire day... YES you heard me... Do not feed your dog the day of training!

Dogs who are healthy are fine being fasted for a day, studies actually show it is good for your dog to fast once a week.

Dogs who are hungry are more alert. Invision Thanksgiving Day, after you eat you are sluggish and not as alert. If your dog is hungry he will be more likely to preform better in class. He will be more food focused than play and dog focused and you wont have to take mini breaks to potty him.

I am surprised your trainer hasn't recommended this to help you.

Most of my dogs are in advanced training at that age and have their CGC by 10 months.

[Mommy2Max]

My personal opinion is it's an age thing. I just read somewhere, and I hate to say I can't remember where, that a dog's attention span lowers considerably after 20 minutes. So, maybe it's a canine thing?

Max is the same way except he bounces off walls instead of shutting down. He wants to play and is very easily distracted. Our class is an hour and a half with one potty break and one play break. He isn't food oriented either. He never was. I tried not feeding him which the instructor suggested, to everyone the first day of class but, it made no difference for Max as far as focussing. If anything feeding him helped a bit to calm him down. He will eat the treats most of the time on a full or empty stomach but, he is rarely impressed by any food treat and will even reject a treat if he isn't in the mood. However, if your dog is food oriented and tends to be on the calm side - try withholding food - it wouldn't hurt to give it a whirl.

Let us know if something works. :)

~Danielle

[Joy Originator of GiantSchnoodles]

Hi Jane, I think your pushing it. The problem wi classes is that they are usually an hour long. Your puppy is only good for 10 minutes. You should quit at 9 minutes. Keep it fun. They can learn everything they need to know in 9 minutes. My dogs have their CGS's by 10 mths but in 10 minute increments. Fit training to dog, not dog to training. Good luck & puppy love from Joy & furry folk

[Noble Vestal Labradoodles]

I disagree with what a lot of people are saying about age~ A dogs biggest training barrier is that its human owner underestimates its ability!

[GBK]

There was a time Jane when I thought the same thing with Kona. I felt like she was NOT enjoying class and maybe I should give her a break. I was wrong, we worked through it and instead of coddling her (sit Kona, please, sit, sit) I would take her leash and help her into a sit with one word. Once she knew I meant business we turned a corner.

Our trainer, even in advanced classes gives everyone a walk break at least 4 times through our hour class. If someone's dog is flopping around, or getting the zoomies, she will ask them to take a walk around the store. We also have a little play time after class, and I know this is Kona's favorite time and she knows it is AFTER we work the hour class :)

Kona went straight through from puppy, to intermediate, to advanced without a break and is doing wonderfully. I can finally put her in a sit or down stay in class for up to 10 minutes with me out of her sight. You'll get there Jane, sounds like a good plan not to feed her before class too, hang in there :)