IncrediJack

How old is your friends dog? Adult dogs quite often come back from boarding & training and do very well for a number of weeks before their owners get slack, don't continue on with their training and the dogs work it all out and go back to normal. Bye bye $500+. Fear is no way to train a dog - particularly a 4mth old Golden - neither is punishment so forget the chain and forget Bark Busters. Send him to the in-laws with pigs ears, raw bones and show them how to stuff a kong, give them a lead and ask them to take him for a 20 min walk twice a day- a 'sniffing' walk not a heel-by-my-side-at-all-times-walk, ensure they will give him the stuff to do that you provided them with. You bought a Gundog- they mouth! It's up to you to teach him to soft mouth then not at all, no choker chain is going to do it for you. Tired dogs are quiet dogs, and the same goes for pups, what is his timetable each day? What are you doing to keep him mentally and physically fulfilled? Puppy school is also about early socialisation, very basic training and some behavioural problem solving. If you are getting no help with the mouthing then it is time that you and your pup move on to further training, as others have suggested, so that you have trainers that you can check-in with weekly to help you chart your progress. Kong website Buster Cube Aussie dog toys Barking and Bite Inhibition Self control Lucky last...might be the best one though. It takes a pack to raise a puppy! Mel. Thanks for the links. Asking about mental and physical stimulation, I walk him to the beach and give him two 15-minute training sessions. Except today. I'm trying something different, carrying my treat pouch with me all day, so I have something on hand when he stops barking, biting, digging . . .

Thanks, I do take him to obedience. I guess I will just keep doing what I'm doing and not expect too much. A 4 month old pup is not likely to have the greatest attention span too (something akin to a paperclip in my experience :D ) I struggle with Gypsy at training because she is such a social butterfly and just wants to play with all the other dogs, but I follow the trainers instructions during our daily walks and she is pretty good. She is also only 9months old so has an attention span slightly better than a paperclip, but still very short. You just need to be patient and consistent and he'll get the hang of it. What breed is your pup btw? This may effect how quickly he learns/reacts to the comands too as some breeds are a lot more stubborn/independant than others... He's a golden retriever. It probably doesn't help as well that of the last 6 weeks of puppy school, four of them have been rained out!

Thanks, I do take him to obedience. I guess I will just keep doing what I'm doing and not expect too much.

What breed is your dog? What did you try? Do you walk him (or her?) Do you train? Do you give him things that can keep him busy (like stuffed kongs or bones)? Your puppy is only 4mo, I totally agree with Kavik, it's too early for the hardcore solutions (like the ones you mentionned on both threads). It is a lot to expect from a four-month old. This all started at seeing my friend's new perfect dog come back from that boot camp, but I don't feel right about the choke chain. As far as normal puppy problems, chewing and digging are a nuisance but bearable. I know he will eventually learn. But the mouthing has to stop. And the barking has gotten really bad. We're going away for a weekend next month. He's staying with the in-laws and I'm worried he is going to bark the whole time. Barking and mouthing are problems I need sorted now. And I do take him to training, and love it. It's good for teaching commands but hasn't helped much with the problem-stuff.

Mouthing--putting toys in his mouth, keeping him on a lead so that I can control him, grabbing the skin at the back of his neck and saying a firm "No Biting." Digging-- offering kongs and bones to occupy him, filling holes with vinegar, poo, or bricks, offering him one area he is allowed to dog, which is just a pot from an old pot plant, crate training-- he is happy in his crate at night but barks if left there in the day, so I have been locking him in the bathroom with his crate, water, and toys when I'm out of the house Barking-- I exercise him and train him and try to take control as the pack leader by not allowing him on the furniture and feeding him after we eat, food reward if he stops barking at "Enough! Quiet!"

Okay, no to Bark Busters. I'm on the Gold Coast.

I wouldn't use them either. IncrediJack you seem to go from one extreme to another. Maybe we should start from the beginning: - what specific problems do you have with your dog? - is he pulling, barking, digging, destroying stuff? Maybe we can help you how to deal with this rather then send you or your dog to a boot camp ? Thanks Laffi. My problems are barking, digging, and mouthing. I have tried more than several methods recommended to me by preschool and training guides, but I am really seeking a professional to see/understand my dog first-handedly and help us.

Has anyone tried Bark Busters? And what were your experiences? Were they expensive? When they talk about using the dog's language, does that mean I have to bark at my dog (the neighbours already think I'm weird).

Thanks everyone. I agree it sounds too good to be true, and I really don't like the idea of the choke chain, especially the "pull until they yelp" part. I will look elsewhere. I live on the Gold Coast, if anyone has any recommendations. Pup is 4 months old.

No, it's a drop off farmstay. I really enjoy training my puppy. He knows the basic commands anyway, although I don't know if he would drop from a distance or sit when another dog is approaching. He certainly will perform in his own backyard, though. The appeal about the farmstay was having him professionally trained to get a handle on barking, digging, and biting. Important, as I have two young children, so biting is not on. And the barking, someone is going to complain. He goes to puppy preschool, but I am really seeking meatier professional help. I haven't talked to the trainer at the school yet, but my friend (who says her dog is now aces, mentioned the choke chain. Pull until they yelp?? Sounds like military school.

I'm considering taking my dog to a farmstay for boarding and training for a week. A friend of mine took her pup and totally raves about it. My only hesitation is that majority of the course is done with a choke chain. While I understand they can be useful for lead-walking and certain kinds of training, I'm wondering, "Is a choke chain too much for basic commands? Sit, drop, stay . . . Why not just break out the Schmackos? Is this something I should be concerned about? Or is the norm these days?

Boredom might be an issue. He's just been desexed, so I have been trying to keep him somewhat quiet. At Puppy School, they told us to feed them last, so I have been trying that. Last night, it was pouring, though, so I let him in and fed him first (as we were going to be eating very late). No barking. He got what he wanted, I guess. Ah see, as I said I believe they should be fed first. I dont agree with what the school taught you. Puppies get hungry, and they need food 3 to 4 times a day depending on age. Older they get you cut down the amount. Quite possible that he's barking from being legitimately hungry. Last night, I threw him a bone to chew while we ate. That kept him happy. Funny, our last golden was so well-behaved, even as a pup, and we did everything wrong with him. He slept in our bed, sat on our couch, wasn't crate trained, was let inside if barking, ate with us . . . He always had his way, and it kept him content.

Thanks Garloch, if this continues, I will look into bark collars.

I have some places gated for the kids, but he'd still bark. Actually, he can see us very well from outside. Our table is next to the sliding glass door. I wonder if this could be the problem? But nowhere else to put the table, so we'll have to deal with it. I like the plastic bottle idea.

Boredom might be an issue. He's just been desexed, so I have been trying to keep him somewhat quiet. At Puppy School, they told us to feed them last, so I have been trying that. Last night, it was pouring, though, so I let him in and fed him first (as we were going to be eating very late). No barking. He got what he wanted, I guess.

Thanks everyone for your advice. Tonymc, He starts barking in the house, so I put him out. He can see us. There's a big sliding glass door there, so he can still see in. When he barks, we tell him, "Enough! Quiet!" and when he continues, I put him out (which I'd be doing anyway, but if he was quiet, he'd buy himself an extra twenty minutes or so in the house). No other behaviour associated with the barking that I can tell.

Just when I get one problem sorted, another one arises! Lately my now 18-week golden has been nuisance barking. It's gotten really bad the past few days. It's worse during breakfast and dinner. Barks whenever I'm in the kitchen. I put him outside, because 1) he's barking 2) we're about to eat 3) hectic times, after meals, getting the kids ready for school/bed-- I'm very distracted and can't leave the kids/dog alone unsupervised. I feed him after we eat (not until he settles down, but I can't keep ignoring him--someone is going to council on me!). He continues to bark (to be let back in??--). There are bones and kongs and heaps of things for him outside. Help!! (And thanks to all who have offered their advice in the past. This forum is a godsend!)

Friendly disposition but hates the car (gets car sick) and is only just starting to enjoy walks without being lured.

No, perhaps this is the problem? I would say a part of it. Could be worth going back a few steps in his toilet training ... crate him for a while so that he gets a build up in bladder and bowel, take him out on lead, and stand like a boring post until he does his business, say your toilet cue when you see he's about to do the business, then reward him with treats, games, a walk and so on afterwards. If he realises he gets to do fun stuff AFTER toileting on lead, won't take him long to start to do it for you. Will do. Thanks.

I use the command, "Potty." He's fine at home, but when he's on the lead, the command doesn't work so well.

No, perhaps this is the problem?

A lead is a definite must. We are training our dog not to jump (he scratched just under my son's eye enough to scar, so we are really cracking down on it). I don't let him near the kids when they are running around, unless he is on a lead, under my control. He has to "sit" for everything, food, affection, play. And one of the games I've found most effective is "Circle Sit." Get everyone in your family and whoever else to sit in a circle (higher than the dog). Give them each some treats. Then walk the dog around to each person, have that person tell him, "Sit." Praise, treat, and then make it harder. He must sit before being asked to get the treat. My pup will even sit for my two-year-old now.

My seventeen-week-old golden has never done his business when we are out and about. On walks, he plays stubborn mule, until I walk him back to our own house, where he'll relieve himself. Twice he has refused to go at preschool, held onto it for as long as he could, and ended up pooing in the car! The first time, he barked, and I pulled over just in case, trying to entice him to potty with a treat. He didn't. So we got back in the car, and a few minutes later . . . Then last night, he pooed again in the car but without warning. I have always been very encouraging with him, "Telling him good boy potty outside" and offering him treats, so I don't know why he is so shameful/shy?? Other than this, he is completely housebroken. Help!!

Thanks Poodle Wrangler and DonandSharon. That's good to know about the soft crate. It would be nice to have something easily portable (and affordable). There are pros and cons to every type of crate, I suppose.

Thanks miamay and Spotted Devil! I do prefer the idea of a solid crate that will last. The challenge is finding one bigger enough that doesn't cost $400! I'll have a look on ebay. Cheers!