BC Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 Cooper is 4 in April and in the last few months he has become more switched on in regards to training and more wanting to be with me and willing to please. We had a good 10 minutes training outside today (mostly tricks with some formal work thrown in) and even when other dogs were barking at him under the front gates he had a quick glace then continued to be all up in my face wanting to work. He has always been a really good boy, and pretty good to train, but he always had a bit of a silly streak and could be quite easily distracted for a couple of seconds I am thinking he is starting to mature more and his working brains are starting to fully function Is there an age where you would say your dog was fully matured or there was a stage where all of a sudden they seem more switched on ? Erny, Tonymc or someone else may also have some insight into his sudden willingness ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lemonlime Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 Maybe he heard that you are getting a new puppy soon and he is trying to be top dog Sorry I cant help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BC Posted February 7, 2008 Author Share Posted February 7, 2008 Maybe he heard that you are getting a new puppy soon and he is trying to be top dog Sorry I cant help Yes, maybe he is trying to suck up my bum now before she comes !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silvawilow Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 A little OT but anyways: Kira was (and sometimes still can be) a complete dick when it came to obedience - always train well but give me the middle claw at trials When she was 2 I got Narmi and boy did her results improve - title in one weekend. I think a little bit of competition for my attention work wonders (although that was not my intention when I got Narm). I think the maturity thing is a part of his willingness. Kiz has only (in last 4-6mths) just started not to be a spaz all the time in the agility ring. She is a lot more consistant and WAAAAY calmer. She's now almost 5 (only took 3 years for her to grow a brain) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Clover Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 Ohhh lucky you, i am still waiting for my 4 year old Border Collies to grow brains. Elvis was totally switched on when at Flyball, but anything else he is still a bit loopy. I am hoping he behaves at Agility, switches on and concentrates.. but knowing him probably not . Tinny is just nutty, i swear that dog will never mature. Clover did not start to settle down until she was 2 - 3 years old, and just got better at obedience as the years went by. She is pretty good now but at 9 years old still has her 'moments'. Harri has come along in leaps and bounds the last 6 weeks or so, he is only 14 months old... so i am pleasantly suprised with him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dee lee Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 God, i hope maturity helps! My 1 year old dog seriously needs to calm down and learn to pay attention- it cant JUST be me!!! Right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaybeece Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 Mine turned 3 last week and I'm still waiting patiently for the brain fairy to turn up Slack cow. That said he's much better than he used to be. He had a particularly stupid day yesterday (couldn't focus, heel, sit, stay, or anything else) which really highlighted how far we've come from when he was a silly puppy, thankfully he was back to normal after a walk wore him out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaybeece Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 (edited) gremlins Edited February 8, 2008 by jaybeece Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaybeece Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 (edited) more gremlins Edited February 8, 2008 by jaybeece Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lablover Posted February 11, 2008 Share Posted February 11, 2008 (edited) Cooper is 4 in April and in the last few months he has become more switched on in regards to training and more wanting to be with me and willing to please. We had a good 10 minutes training outside today (mostly tricks with some formal work thrown in) and even when other dogs were barking at him under the front gates he had a quick glace then continued to be all up in my face wanting to work.He has always been a really good boy, and pretty good to train, but he always had a bit of a silly streak and could be quite easily distracted for a couple of seconds I am thinking he is starting to mature more and his working brains are starting to fully function Is there an age where you would say your dog was fully matured or there was a stage where all of a sudden they seem more switched on ? Erny, Tonymc or someone else may also have some insight into his sudden willingness ? I am someone else LOL. Have you changed your expectations? More consistent, more experienced, more time focusing on this particular dog? We often blame our dogs, when often we need to change OUR behaviour/methods. Edited February 11, 2008 by Lablover Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BC Posted February 11, 2008 Author Share Posted February 11, 2008 Cooper is 4 in April and in the last few months he has become more switched on in regards to training and more wanting to be with me and willing to please. We had a good 10 minutes training outside today (mostly tricks with some formal work thrown in) and even when other dogs were barking at him under the front gates he had a quick glace then continued to be all up in my face wanting to work.He has always been a really good boy, and pretty good to train, but he always had a bit of a silly streak and could be quite easily distracted for a couple of seconds I am thinking he is starting to mature more and his working brains are starting to fully function Is there an age where you would say your dog was fully matured or there was a stage where all of a sudden they seem more switched on ? Erny, Tonymc or someone else may also have some insight into his sudden willingness ? I am someone else LOL. Have you changed your expectations? More consistent, more experienced, more time focusing on this particular dog? We often blame our dogs, when often we need to change OUR behaviour/methods. I haven't changed my methods that I know of LOL, but we have had a break from training for a while and only been doing stuff at home. Maybe this could be it ?? I am also starting to teach him more tricks so maybe he is starting to have more fun ?? I really dont know but I'm liking it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogdude Posted February 11, 2008 Share Posted February 11, 2008 In the past I have debuted my dogs in the ring at around 2 years of age. So far the dogs that I have trained have all of a sudden exhibited a distinct "lifting of the fog" moment. From that moment on they seem to be so much more mature, with a seemingly clearer understanding of whats required. My current new pup may be an early starter. Showing great potential. Mrs dogdude"s learning curve will be her ball and chain. :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridgie_cat Posted February 11, 2008 Share Posted February 11, 2008 I saw a realy change in lana at 2 1/2... but since then she has started being evil again - I am just praying that she is coming into season soon - as that would explain weird behaviour... if not... we have some serious training issues :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reddii Posted February 11, 2008 Share Posted February 11, 2008 I've got no real experience to draw on other than my current two. Xena - 21 month old BC bitch. Totally focussed, nothing distracts her from the job she is doing until she is nearly dead on her feet. Has been that way since about 15 months. until then she was awesome for about 40 minutes of a class and would then go 'walk about'. CK - 16 month old BC dog. Totally focussed on what he is totally focussed on. This might be me, it might be the duck poo or one of his friends on the other side of the oval . Generally he is pretty good and is steadily improving, but the 'switch' definitely hasn't been thrown yet. It has been suggested to me that boys from this breeder can be a little slow to mature. He's so goofy you can't help but love him though so I'll have a few laughs and probably a few tears while I wait for him to grow up. :rolleyes: Would be interesting to hear others experiences. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidoney Posted February 11, 2008 Share Posted February 11, 2008 (edited) IMO depends on the dog. Shaula won three novice ob. classes at 12-14 months old. She was just ready! Easy to train, focused. Her sister and her sister's owner were training with us, and Adele (the sister) was not as focused at that age. Xia has become more drivey somewhere around the 2 - 2 1/2 mark. Edited February 11, 2008 by sidoney Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sayreovi Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 I have one dog going on 6 this year and sometimes i really wonder what happened to his brain. He still acts 2 years old, the only area that he has actually calmed a bit and understood what is really required is flyball. Everything else is nearly a lost cause because of my nerves and his silliness but i am hoping that will change this year! My other boy is 3 and is very airy fairy! Attention span of a gold fish but gives incredible work when focused. I am very happy to wait till he settles because i know what he has in store when he does Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lablover Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 Cooper is 4 in April and in the last few months he has become more switched on in regards to training and more wanting to be with me and willing to please. We had a good 10 minutes training outside today (mostly tricks with some formal work thrown in) and even when other dogs were barking at him under the front gates he had a quick glace then continued to be all up in my face wanting to work.He has always been a really good boy, and pretty good to train, but he always had a bit of a silly streak and could be quite easily distracted for a couple of seconds I am thinking he is starting to mature more and his working brains are starting to fully function Is there an age where you would say your dog was fully matured or there was a stage where all of a sudden they seem more switched on ? Erny, Tonymc or someone else may also have some insight into his sudden willingness ? I am someone else LOL. Have you changed your expectations? More consistent, more experienced, more time focusing on this particular dog? We often blame our dogs, when often we need to change OUR behaviour/methods. I haven't changed my methods that I know of LOL, but we have had a break from training for a while and only been doing stuff at home. Maybe this could be it ?? I am also starting to teach him more tricks so maybe he is starting to have more fun ?? I really dont know but I'm liking it A break from formal training and making it fun for the dog could be beneficial. If your dog lives in the house and is with you many hours of the day and night, there are many opportunities to train. If we see the chances. Generalisation and consistency are the key. O, and fun, for both owner and dog!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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