Do You Cop Out?

[Bubitty]

I was thoroughly ashamed of myself last night. I had deboned chicken drums. Bitty’s food when into a bag so we could go off and train while I dumped Bubby’s share into a bowl and told him to do a sit stay before feeding him. So Bubby just got to eat his food while Bitty and I worked together in the yard.

I felt a bit guilty because this happens quite a bit in my house. Bubby gets a kiss and sits with Daddy while I go off and embark on some training venture with the little one.

I always wonder if I should try harder to teach him something, to get him to work. Thing is he’s so mellow and it would probably kill me to teach him things whereas with Bitty its exciting and I feel that I can teach her anything with little to moderate effort.

I have had people tell me that I will learn more by trying to train Bubby but honestly it’s like pulling teeth!

So my question is have you ever had a hard to train dog and did you cop out? Do you feel guilty for copping out?

[FHRP]

I guess I 'copped out' with my Whippet. I never intended to compete with him dog sports and although we went through two levels of obedience at the dog club and started agility, in the end I gave up. I did not enjoy trying to train him, and he is a perfect pet with the little training he's had. He doesn't need the training that my other boys need to keep them and me sane. Herbie (Whippet) didn't appear to enjoy training and if I persevered I would say it was more for me than him. He did enjoy getting treats of course, but he still gets those I don't see a problemw ith concentrating on the dog that enjoys and needs the training. As long as the other dog isn't missing out on time with you as a result and that you're not letting them get away with undesirable behaviours just because it's too hard to train them.

[MolassesLass]

I don't see it as a cop out but as accepting that dog's personality and not forcing it to do things it doesn't enjoy.

[Bubitty]

I don't see it as a cop out but as accepting that dog's personality and not forcing it to do things it doesn't enjoy.

Someone told me that I would be a better trainer if I can make Bubby ENJOY training and improve his motivation!

I guess I am curious, these mellow dogs, are they wired differently and should be given a chance to be trained by employing various different methods or just let them chill somewhere because that’s who they are and not every dog likes to run out and do 20 laps of fetching.

[tlc]

This will be an interesting thread! My youngest Bronson who is around 2 and half has been tougher than the other 3 as far as obedience and general behaviour, he is very head strong and demanding if he doesn't want to do it he just doesn't

At our obedience school we have puppy class then well behaved class then we go into classes 1 - 10 My first 3 were passed puppies and the well behaved dog program by the time they were 6 months old and well into class one straight after.

Now Bronson can do all the obedience stuff and passed everything on his well behaved card reasonably quick but one thing we couldn't get him to do was the out of sight wait. He had to be tied up for 30 seconds and i had to go out of sight and the idea is he is to sit quietly till I return, yea right!!

Bronson is a true mummys boy he is just attached to me like you wouldn't believe and after a while I just stopped trying it was all too hard!! So unofficially we headed in to class one where he is great does everything he needs to do to complete class one but can't because he officially hasn't completed the first stage (well behaved) so fast forward till now 2 and half years later and me still not ever bothering to try to do the out of sight wait and then last Sunday the class did an out of sight stay and I thought there is no way he is going to do this and sure enough as soon as I went to go out of sight he broke his stay to follow me.

So I just thought ok Ill tie you up and we will try the out of sight wait, which I hadn't bothered with for about a year. Guess what ......he did it!! He just stood there looking around wasn't bothered that I was out of sight, he didn't cry, didn't carry on just stood watching everything around him!! I was so proud, don't know if it was a fluke or not but I didn't care we can finally officially try out for other levels now!

Sorry a very long winded account of my boys acheivment but I do feel now it has spurred me back into putting in more training time with him because he can do it. He has just been a little slow to let go of the apron strings than the other 3...

I think what you should do with Bub is not set your self to high a goals work on something little that he will get/or enjoy doing and build it from there. Believe me I know what it is like to have one that is fun to teach, My oldest girl Lacy is just a wizz with obedience she is keen to learn and loves food and to teach her new stuff is unreal as it doesn't take her long to pick stuff up and she does it every time!!

This was Lacy at obedience a couple of weeks ago, she has done little jumps and such before not proper agility so she had never jumped through a hoop so I showed her once then set her up and went the other side with the camera and she just did it easy peasy Gotta love a keen to learn dog for sure!! But sometimes I do think we have to put the effort in to the ones not so keen. Well thats just me anyway.

Here Lacy jumping through the hoop

Edited June 24, 2010 by tlc

[MolassesLass]

Someone told me that I would be a better trainer if I can make Bubby ENJOY training and improve his motivation!

If you care what others think of you as a trainer, then I guess you should listen to that stuff. I don't care what anyone thinks (I'm the one who lives with them, it's my choice what I do or don't do with them) so pay no attention to that kind of statement.

[dee lee]

I have this *ahem* friend, who has this lovely goldie who is such a good pet that I (oops, yes its me! ) don't feel hugely compelled to train her.

She is such an easy dog to live with that its not a priority for me.

I take her to obedience classes when I can and I do train with her, just not as much as I probably should.

She is also not the easiest dog to train- eager to please but a bit slow on the uptake.

Additionally, after having to work so hard with my last dog, I find it nice to just enjoy her.

[W Sibs]

What molasseslass said.

But, I understand how you feel, because that's what it was like in my house when I first got Emmy. I kind of got lazy with his training, because I was too focus on Emmy. I kept saying it's because is still a puppy and needs a lot of attention, like I use to give Charlie a lot of attention when he was a puppy.

But, I now have the boyfriend to play games with Charlie inside like search while I take Emmy outside to do some training. I bought this game for Charlie too.

But, I have to admit that Emmy is more fun to train then Charlie, because she challenges me on finding new ways to train her. Whereas Charlie is very easy to train and it gets boring fast (especially because there is a limited on things he is allow to do)... so right now, it's all about using his nose and brain.

[tlc]

I don't see it as a cop out but as accepting that dog's personality and not forcing it to do things it doesn't enjoy.

Someone told me that I would be a better trainer if I can make Bubby ENJOY training and improve his motivation!

I guess I am curious, these mellow dogs, are they wired differently and should be given a chance to be trained by employing various different methods or just let them chill somewhere because that’s who they are and not every dog likes to run out and do 20 laps of fetching.

What makes you think he doesn't enjoy it?? is it because he doesn't do what you want him to do? or he is not motivated. My oldest is very mellow and layed back at home extremely well behaved and a real gentleman, He was hard to teach to begin with he alwasy wanted to be sociable at training instead of focusing on me and what I wanted him to do but he finally grew up, still likes to socialize above anything else but is also happy to train and loves to please. With him it just came with age, he is 4 now.

What sort of things have you tried with him to get him a little more motivated with training? Do you use food rewards or a different method?

[Bubitty]

Deelee

Bubby LOVES a walk! So we walk and walk and walk and find new places to walk!

What gets me is if I need to teach him anything that affects his daily manners, he knows instantly and just lives by the rules as soon as I set them or change them! BUT try to get him to walk backwards and I will pull my hair out!

[tlc]

I guess another thing is too, if you are happy with a dogs behaviour and there is no issues then why not concerntrate on the one that loves it or needs it the most. I try to spread it around with my lot the youngest needs the most training and he benifits from it. But the others enjoy it too so I keep it up with all of them.

[tlc]

Deelee

Bubby LOVES a walk! So we walk and walk and walk and find new places to walk!

What gets me is if I need to teach him anything that affects his daily manners, he knows instantly and just lives by the rules as soon as I set them or change them! BUT try to get him to walk backwards and I will pull my hair out!

He sounds like an ideal dog!!

[Bubitty]

tlc I dont think Bubby dislikes training. Bubby just doesn’t really care and would rather walk or sit around calmly.

Just to clarify I am not worried about Bubby, I am just curious about everyone’s take on this so gave an example of my own dog! I relieve my guilt of not training him by taking him on an extra walk so we’re all sweet!

[JulesP]

I have a border collie that would be dead if he was any quieter, lol. I much prefer working with Poppy but am appreciating Brock as he is actually more consistent. Brock doesn't need training as such, but if he asks to come out when I am training then he gets a whirl around.

Do you want to train Bubby? Do what you want to do and give the dog what it wants/needs and stuff everyone else!!

[W Sibs]

I don't see it as a cop out but as accepting that dog's personality and not forcing it to do things it doesn't enjoy.

Someone told me that I would be a better trainer if I can make Bubby ENJOY training and improve his motivation!

I guess I am curious, these mellow dogs, are they wired differently and should be given a chance to be trained by employing various different methods or just let them chill somewhere because that’s who they are and not every dog likes to run out and do 20 laps of fetching.

Charlie is very mellow and laid back... but he will only do training with me. He is a total mama's boy, and will do everything I ask of him. BUT, this is the dog that use to sleep in obedience classes, play dumb when instructor tries to use him as a demo dog, and while all the other dogs are playing with each other... he is off saying hello to every kid he sees and begging for cuddles.

I've just learned that he is one of those dogs that just like to chill... as long as he knows the basic and listens to me, then if he wants to sleep in class or whatever, that's fine with me.

We do challenge his little brain, because that's just good for his health.

[tlc]

tlc I dont think Bubby dislikes training. Bubby just doesn’t really care and would rather walk or sit around calmly.

Just to clarify I am not worried about Bubby, I am just curious about everyone’s take on this so gave an example of my own dog! I relieve my guilt of not training him by taking him on an extra walk so we’re all sweet!

Well I think thats great that you know him well enough to know exactly what he likes and like someone said in a post earlier on as long as you still get to spend that time with him thats great. It is interesting to see how other people view training thier dogs and why they do it. I have known people to say to me that mine are well behaved and it is a credit to me that they are but the simple fact of the matter is, I don' think I could have four and not have them trained to a acceptable well behaved level, imagine what the place would be like with 4 unruly oodles taking over

[Bubitty]

Well I think thats great that you know him well enough to know exactly what he likes

He is SHAMELESS! Sometimes he comes out into the yard with us. He sits there, looking gorgeous and serene. Bitty does her thing, at the end of the session I give her a big hoopla on what a marvel she is and then we both run back to the porch and Bitty's like "I LOVE YOU BROTHER!!!!" *snuggles* I then go and pay homage to the little lord and so there he sits, being fawned over by us, looking as pleased as punch! That is the kind of thing Bubby is into!

[Red Fox]

I struggle with that question every day

Trying to train a low drive dog in drive is HARD, it's taken me months to achieve what some have in a few days and there are days where I think I should just chuck it all in, get the high drive dog that I really want and not bother with Kei (well not in a training sense anyhow). But the thing is that he still has so much to teach me. And I believe that those lessons will be invaluable when I eventually do get another dog.

The part I find the hardest is motivating my dog. Some days I need to play the role of a whole cheerleading team! (And end up sounding like a demented crazy lady, I'm sure the neighbours will have me committed one day!!) But this is not always easy, particularly when things aren't going to plan. It doesn't exactly come naturally to me either.

I have days with Kei where it's like getting blood out of a stone, and others where he will throw me the most brilliant session and I wonder why I ever worried

It's certainly challenging but it's still early days and while we are still both enjoying the work I will persevere with it, in the end the results are worth it IMO

[huski]

Daisy used to find obedience very boring and was a real challenge to train. I used to leave obed club in tears after class. This is the same dog who would ignore a piece of steak in favour of scenting.

But I found a method of training that works for us and now she loves training and is always keen to work.

I slack off with Micha because he is so easy to live with. I wish I had started him younger because he would be a good obed and agility dog, but because he can be DA that also adds extra work to get him to a place where I could trust him 110%. At almost eight years of age training strictly for fun is enough ;) though I do feel like I let him down and wasted his potential.

[tlc]

Well I think thats great that you know him well enough to know exactly what he likes

He is SHAMELESS! Sometimes he comes out into the yard with us. He sits there, looking gorgeous and serene. Bitty does her thing, at the end of the session I give her a big hoopla on what a marvel she is and then we both run back to the porch and Bitty's like "I LOVE YOU BROTHER!!!!" *snuggles* I then go and pay homage to the little lord and so there he sits, being fawned over by us, looking as pleased as punch! That is the kind of thing Bubby is into! ;)

laugh: He sounds like the overseer (sp) of Bitty's progress and Bub sounds like he thinks he is the king, very similar to my boy Cooper, my 3 younger ones are like his groupies, they all stand around him trying to get his attention and he loves it!