Advice on difficult dog (shepherd, lab, terrier, vet)
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I have a BIG, strong, smart, healthy dog. My best guess is mostly Lab but with some DEFINITE personality influences that I suspect are Pyranees or some other type of shepherd type or LGD dog.
This is the most gentle, loving, STUBBORN, independent and willful dog I've ever experienced. At 70 lbs, she will not do anything that she doesn't want to do.
She loves beef jerky more than anything in the world but if you try to pursuade her behavior she will turn up her nose and take off in the opposite direction rather than let you win. I can stand at the front door with her food dish filled with her favorite food and call her name and she can be sitting 15 feet away and won't move a muscle if she doesn't want to, even if she is hungry.
You don't Train a dog to come by just calling them. Put a Long line on her go to the other end ...at 1st just 6 to 10 feet away slowly increase distance over Weeks! When you Call her to COME Tug on the line Even if she walks up to you Have her When she gets in front of you Don't Reach for her let her come in ALL the way Then give her Lots Of GOOD GIRL Hugs & petting... Repeat.
Ditto on getting a long lead. What helped us with our lab is getting a home with a fenced in horse paddock. It takes time, practice, being consistent with voicing the commands and staying the dog's alpha.
There has to be a consequence or a reward the dog cares about.
One technique that helped with my rescue rat terrier (standard size), was that she really hates it when I'm mad at her and/or ignoring her. Treats also work with her, but that didn't always work when I first got her.
So, if she didn't come when I wanted her to, when I did finally get her to come to me, I would just put her leash on her, and then completely ignore her while walking her home, then go home and put her in her crate. No scolding, just giving her the silent treatment. My dog actually likes her crate, so I was just putting her into her safe place, but I was separating her from being able to be close to me. I'd leave her in there for around an hour, then let her out and be normal again.
It took probably around a year or maybe even a little longer before she stopped ever ignoring me anymore.
In the meantime, we also worked on her coming to a whistle. I made that a separate game where she got really great treats that she only got when we were playing the "come to the whistle" game.
Somehow, the combination of her getting the amazing treats during the whistle game, and me giving her the silent treatment when she ignored me, ended up working. But, it took quite a bit of time. It just got to be less frequently that she'd ignore me. And I think the whistle game is what made the most progress for us.
I love smart, independent dogs, but they can also be challenging as far as getting them to also do what you want them to do, when you want them to do it. They really weren't bred to be subservient. They're bred to go work all day, independently, using their own minds. So, it's asking a lot to require them to stop thinking for themselves, and simply mind us at the drop of a hat. We have to make it worth their while, because with this kind of dog, it's always their choice whether to do what we want them to do, in my opinion. We can accomplish it with fear, or discomfort (even if that is just withholding attention or affection) or rewards. Or a combination of the above. For me, it was just a lot of trial and error.
I have a BIG, strong, smart, healthy dog. My best guess is mostly Lab but with some DEFINITE personality influences that I suspect are Pyranees or some other type of shepherd type or LGD dog.
This is the most gentle, loving, STUBBORN, independent and willful dog I've ever experienced. At 70 lbs, she will not do anything that she doesn't want to do.
She loves beef jerky more than anything in the world but if you try to pursuade her behavior she will turn up her nose and take off in the opposite direction rather than let you win. I can stand at the front door with her food dish filled with her favorite food and call her name and she can be sitting 15 feet away and won't move a muscle if she doesn't want to, even if she is hungry.
I'm at my wits end. Advice?
You have probably taught the dog that you won't follow through or insist. If she doesn't do what you want and you stop trying, what did she learn? She doesn't want your treat badly enough..it doesn't have enough value. Sure, she may love jerky, but it may not be what she values the most. It could be attention. It's not really a matter of "winning" or "losing".
You have probably taught the dog that you won't follow through or insist. If she doesn't do what you want and you stop trying, what did she learn? She doesn't want your treat badly enough..it doesn't have enough value. Sure, she may love jerky, but it may not be what she values the most. It could be attention. It's not really a matter of "winning" or "losing".
Oh, I follow through. I have no choice. I pick half of her up and pull her along until we get where we're going. Thank goodness she does not have an agressive bone in her body.
LOL I had a dog that wouldn't recall for bacon. A freedom run was a bigger reward. I don't remember how I accomplished recall with that one.
OP, you need a good trainer.
I've thought of that. I may have to look into it. Thanks.
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