Training

[Rusty]

Hi everybody

Just trying to find out some information about training classes  
Would I have to take Rusty to obedience classes first before we progress to training, unfortunately our vet did not do puppy classes so I feel that Rusty missed out there. But he has been well socialized as we always go to the park, or to the beach each day depending on the weather. He is quite happy to go to other dogs and investigate   I think it is time to take him somewhere for him to see other dogs but also learn to behave with them instead of always jumping around and barking :x  :x
Would be grateful for any advice so we can progress with him.

Many thanxs

Elle & Rusty                      

[PennyB]

I'd train as you go along with all the basics if a class isn't available yet. Most training classes start off with puppy classes (which is obedience/training whatever you want to call it) with other dogs up to age 6 months.
 
Ruby couldn't start her classes until she was 4-5 months old (as a lot of them had closed down for the summer here) but it did her no harm as she spent the summer on the park every day meeting with all sorts of dogs. Rusty will behave with other dogs in time (Wilf's still learning and he's 14 months but then he is going through adolescence which brings up a whole host of new experiences).

Rusty's behaviour now is all about learning from the dogs he meets (some will chastise him some will join in with his excited play) so don't worry about him jumping around and barking. There's plenty of time for him to learn (as long as he's well socialised and has good recall there's no rush to have them jumping through hoops). Its also better not to force things as that can create more problems than they are worth. When Wilf was about 14 weeks we met another male cocker the same age. His owners kept holding him back when he wanted to act like a normal pup yapping and barking and play growling (and playing roughly but he and Wilf were 14 weeks so it was no big deal really). So his owners kept telling him to stop it and putting him on the lead. I met them recently and the other cocker is so shy meeting other dogs including Wilf and am sure its because they kept stopping him acting like a normal pup.

As long as you all keep an eye on him there's not a lot you can do re socializing him with other dogs other than let him play with them and interact.                    

[Jaljen]

Well, we have two.
My partner's 3 year-old bitch didn't go to classes but my small boy has.

They are both good with other dogs, people, children.

My boy learned:
Sit
Down
Paw
Walking on the lead
Walk to heel
Walk and turn

Our bitch learned these things at home. You can work on obedience from books but classes can be fun. I'd recommend them if you can find one.

BUT what matters is the effort you put in on all the other days AND what you want from your dog. I'd quite like JB to be an obedience champ but I haven't the commitment.

Best wishes.                    

[Rusty]

Thanks to your replies,but just something you touched on penny about recall if something catches his attention he will not recall, I eventually have to go and get him and put him on the lead. My husband keeps him on the lead all the time as he runs home if he lets him off the lead, he will not recall at all for him and the last time he ran home he nearly got knocked over   so thats a bit of a worry.

Many thanxs Elle & Rusty                        

[PennyB]

I've not had too much of a problem with recall as I do it all the time. Do you practise recall or just when you want him on the lead.

I see pups on the park where their owners won't let them off anymore because they don't practise recall and only recall the dog when they need them to go back on the lead or something else equally as boring for the dog. And then the only way they get the dog back is to run after them, which means the dog thinks their owners are having a lovely game with them!

Try letting them go so far (short way when they are pups) and then call them over, very excitedly (go on make a fool of yourself!) and then treat them and wildly praise them when they come back. Then maybe play a game with them and then let them wander a little and call them back and treat them, and so it goes on. Trying running a short way backwards as you do this sometimes as they will be anxious to make sure you don't leave them.

Another trick is hide and seek games as they will worry where you are (which isn't as cruel as it sounds).

Wilf is now in his teens and has quite good recall but if for some reason he's more distracted than usual and I see danger ahead I shout him then run away from him—he's so scared I might leave him he runs after me but I know if I ran after him he'd just keep running in the direction I don't wan thim to be in). I still play hide and seek to keep them on the ball as they are so confident in their local park and run on ahead sometimes (so I hide behind and bush or tree and in seconds they're both back again).

While they are still quite young don't let them get so far they can't hear you or don't care—keep recalling them with treats and games and squeaky toys. If you think they are just running off staraight away recall them straight away but maybe with a treat and then a game of ball or whatever to focus them. You need to increase your bond with your dog and find their focus, i.e. what makes them listen to you (these can change and vary over time).                    

[Rusty]

Thanks Penny for you reply  

We do play hide and seek at the park and he loves it and the girls love it too, we do recall with him quite a lot, not just to get him back to go home just to make sure that he will come, he has never ran away from me   just my OH    but he is at work all day so Rusty spends most of his time with me and the girls. My OH takes him for his night time walk, he spends plenty time with him at the weekend, he keeps him on the lead all the time just to be on the save side because the last time he ran away it was very scarry as we nearly didn't have a Rusty

Thanks again penny for your advice

Elle & Rusty xx                    

[PennyB]

Maybe its something your OH needs to work on with Rusty so he doesn't have to spend all his time on his lead with him.

My 1-2-1 trainer often uses longlines that drag behind the dog but things like this are sometimes best shown to you as there are a variety of different ways of using them (some trainers don't use this method though but I know it works if done correctly). I've got one which is basically a 10m long thin climbing rope with a trigger hook on it that I attach to Wilf's harness. I'd go hoarse recalling Wilf on trail walks along the Taff Trail and as there are far too many hazards—steep cliffs that you only see at the last minute, spouts, disused shafts etc.—which Ruby will come back from straight away but while Wilf doesn't do a runner he gives that look of ah mum can't I just take a little look over here (and they egg each other on but Ruby being the eldest is the more obedient as she knows she should know better most of the time—bit like kids really).

Have you thought of training Rusty to a whistle (especially if he may be choosing to ignore your OH). The Acme gundog whistles are good (basically you use it in the house a lot and treat him each time, even whislte and give him his normal food so he associates a whistle with very good things). I've got the acme 210-1/2 (which you can also get from any gun shop):

http://www.smithscountrypursuits.co.uk/pag...dogwhistles.htm

Rusty's running will get worse as he gets older and his hormones kick in if its not kept in check now, so its better to work on him now even though when he reaches the Kevin stage and has chosen to forgot everything you taught him when he was a pup at least you'll remember all the tricks that worked then and just reinforce all the basics again. And I bet you thought it would get easier (actually I find the adolescence bit quite amusing in Wilf as I know he knows and he knows I know but he's cheeky with it all the same). LOL