zsimms

Trying to figure out how to teach recall to an 11 mth old dog who has learned not to come. My husband and I are taking him on from my parents who have helped him learn some unhelpful habits. We have lived on the same property since they got him but we will be moving soon to a much bigger property and he will be accompanying us everywhere which should help ease his boredom. His history: He is a Kelpie, very bright but needs direction as all dogs do. His owners have never trained a dog before and from what I have seen they have been pretty confusing with their methods, but my biggest behaviour to change would be his recall. When he sees something that takes his fancy he is off, chasing and barking and will not come back when called. Then when he's finished his crusade he comes back, gets smacked and tied up on a lead. So in my view he has learned to ignore the human word as it's confusing and then he is being punished for coming back when he finally does, which doesn't help to encourage recall. In a short focussed training session, just working on basics like sit, stay, come and drop he is fabulous and has amazing eye contact but as soon as he's just hanging around the yard and hears something, he's off and no amount of yelling COME will bring him back. Any suggestions would be much appreciated. P.S he also barks non stop when he runs off and I read another topic on teaching the command speak to then teach the dog not to bark? Is that a good idea? Thanks, Z

Hi there, I agree with what's been said and thought I'd add another point of view on it as well. I currently am raising two 10week old pups and have three children, one of who is three years old and my biggest focus has been being wary that the way my children interact with the pups is influencing them towards positive behavior and not negative behavior. So, if am to achieve this I must supervise all contact they have and this just means a whole lot of time spent with the kids and pups and if I need to do something else for a while then I separate the pups into their own fenced off area that the children can't get to. What I have found through this is that puppies are driven to interact with their humans, even my two would rather be with a human than with each other, and they also must be interacting a lot with humans to learn what humans want and don't want them to do. So I suppose I'm saying if I were you I'd make sure the pup is getting more interaction=learning from you than from your children. maybe also some food rewarded training at night time to stimulate him and teach him manners etc. As far as biting goes, it's bite inhibition that he needs to learn right at this age and it's something that takes persistence to teach. I'm sure you'll find loads of other people to get great advice from on this but my two cents worth is that for your pup to learn bite inhibition he needs to be trying to bite you, so that you then tell him 'no' (or whatever method you choose) and then you repeat the process again and again until he learns to absolutely not bite. But if he spends a lot of time on his own or not with his humans then he is simply not getting the opportunity to learn not to bite. I hope all that makes sense. Puppy raising is a complicated task and a hyperactive, biting BIG puppy can feel very overwhelming. The best of luck, Z

I agree with everything else being said. Perfectly normal puppy behavior and you seem to be reacting appropriately. I would only also say that it sounds to me like your pup is slowly learning bite inhibition as he doesn't bite as much as he used to. If he is stopping his biting when you clap or say uh uh, then it sounds to me like he IS learning and it's just a matter of time while he learns that it's not OK for him to EVER bite. I think you're right on track. I can't wait till I'm where you are! Z

OK, your dog is looking to you for direction and you are either giving it or you're not. I have no doubt that you're trying to give direction to him but if it's not in doggy language then he won't understand. If dogs/pups don't know what they're owner wants them to do then they'll make it up themselves. Exercise - he sounds REALLY REALLY REALLY energized. Does he seem energetic to you? You must match the amount of exercise you give him with the amount of energy he has. Even a super well trained dog will misbehave if he's not being exercised enough. And that can be physical or mental exercise, so it doesn't matter if you're not home till dark, you can teach tricks, train commands, and play games that tire him out mentally which will tire him out physically in turn. Boundaries - he needs to know the rules that you want him to obey and this will only happen if you and your family respond to his misbehavior in exactly the same way every time, whether it's ah ah or outside or time out or on the lead, it must be consistent. And please, if he is getting on to the lounge and then nipping you, he is not ready to be allowed on the lounge AT ALL! Also you mentioned that you've tried putting him on a leash and he still jumps up. So put him in his crate, where he CAN'T jump up. I'm sure you are capable of turning your dogs negative behaviors around and hope you keep us posted on his progress! Z

Just wondering what everyones experiences have been with what has made their dog/pup vomit? We are on our second bout of vomiting with our pups. The first one the vet said was a reaction to eating something like weeds so we set out pulling all the weeds out of their fenced yard and they did get better very quickly. But this afternoon one started vomiting and then the other, the first one stopped vomiting and just had the shakes and then slept it off and is now her inquisitive, playful little self again and the other pup has stopped vomiting now, got throught the shakes and is currently on my lap sleeping it off. So it looks like it's something in out yard that they keep eating and having this reaction again but we're trying to figure out what it could be? Our doggy yard is so very plain with mostly grass and a bit of dirt. And we take them for daily walks around our property as well. They are mostly inside so any suggestion of what it could be inside is appreciated also? The only thing I can think of is some rabbit food that was spilled over into their yard that I found this afternoon? Anyway we would love to hear of anyone else's suggestions as to what to look for or what they have experienced? Thanks, Z

HELP!!!!!! I'm trying to find a way to make a banner for my signature with more than one photo in it? I do have photoshop although I have no idea how to use it and I also don't know how I would load it into my signature from my computer hard drive. Gees, I know that probably makes no sense but I've been trying online ones for like a week now but none of them let me use more than one photo?????? Any suggestions would be great. Thanks, Z

Thanks guys, we spoke to the vet and she said it sounds to her like a reaction to a weed Looks like we're in for a long night of bed changing and monitoring! Poor little thing Now I need to find out what the safest way to kill the weeds is -- luckily we don't have many. Z

Wondering if anyone knows what might be causing excessive drooling in my pup? She's eight weeks old and I wormed her yesterday. The saliva soaking has just started this afternoon. She has lots of energy still and is playing like normal, but after waking up we can see her bed or our arm is soaked with saliva. We did just have a cold front come through while we were outside playing and I thought maybe she got shocked from that? Would love any suggestions, Z

I have been wondering the same thing. We live on a property and so it's even more important to us that our pups are socialised in lots of other places and intended on carrying them around now that they've had their first vac but as we live so far out of town, what should we do at toilet time? They have to go on the ground then! Any advice would be nice? Thanks Z

Yes erny, I started the thread in both because I know different people with different experiences are looking through different topics. It's OK isn't it?

Thanks for that info and encouragement. I am finding a lot of ideas from various resources and I think it's a matter of deciding on the one we will use and then just consistently persevering. I have raised two nipping puppies before successfully (meaning they did not continue the behavior into adulthood), but I seem to feel doubtful again when I'm in the moment of it. Don't know if that makes any sense? Anyway, I'm asking for suggestions here so I can get feedback on what worked for other people. So thanks again. Z

Excellent advice and very good timing! I can use what you have said. Thanks.

When she wants to play, whether we are sitting, walking or playing with her.

Hi there, trying to teach a new puppy how to NOT nip nip nip nip nip nip nip! Only eight weeks old. My thoughts so far are: Growl at her Yelp at her Replace us with a toy to chew Ignore I'm wondering if a clicker could be used???????? Any suggestions? Z

Just wondering when it's safe for puppies to meet adult dogs? Like if puppy is up to date with vaccinations but only eight weeks old, can it play with an adult dog who is fully vaccinated? Thanks, Z

Just asking for suggestions as to stop an eight week old puppy from nipping? At the moment we say no firmly and give pup a toy to chew. Any other ideas most welcome. Thanks. Z

That is so fantastic, I'm a home schooling mum and I am seriously going to look into this! Thanks. Z

Thanks bozthepup, I've been reading a bit about it now and it's really interesting. I'd love to raise a whole litter with the same environment/training etc and record their behaviors from the beginning through to adult hood. Z

Thank you, very interesting!

I know some dogs just lock onto an idea and they're off but maybe more obedience rather than or as well as agility? If he could follow through on the Stay command, then I imagine it would have been very different? Best of luck. Z

I know some dogs just lock onto an idea and they're off but maybe more obedience rather than or as well as agility? If he could follow through on the Stay command, then I imagine it would have been very different? Best of luck. Z

We went to see the pup we are buying again today, she's only 6 weeks old now, but today and last week when we visited there was another female pup from the same litter that is always going up to the other pups, climbing all over them, biting them and growling at them, the other pups actually whine while she's doing it. I understand play fighting and that it's natural but it seems to be all she does, like she has no other interest. So it got me thinking about how much you can tell about the future of a dogs temperament and personality based on these early behaviors? Does this little pups seemingly constant aggressive behavior give any indication as to how she will be as an adult dog? I mean aside from her environment and training growing up of course. Or could she be a real little sweetheart but just be testing and learning, although for her she only seems to be learning one side of the coin! Again, this isn't the pup we have chosen, although we were interested in her initially, I'm just curious. Cheers Z

Wow, definitely food for thought -- thinks...

Just bought my clicker yesterday for my new pup -- woohoo! If only I could use it with the children! !!!!!!