Puppy training nightmare

[Finvarra]

Just got back from our puppy class, this is the first time we have been outside after being in a hall all winter. What a nightmare. Dylan's would not stop sniffing the grass, weaving in front of me, pulling on the lead, lunging at the the other dogs, not listening to a word I said, not sitting or downing in command and behaving like a complete hooligan. My hands are raw from the lead and my nerves are frayed. He's a good dog at home, but he gets so excited he just doesn't pay any attention whatsoever.

Am now sitting with a glass of some thing red trying to distress,mwhile he is happily crashed out dreaming of pinching other people's treats 

Lesley and Dylan

[ejp]

I feel your pain...  cold comfort I know!

[MIN]

it was just the same for us with Gemma

[its.sme]

Is that not how they are ment to act in a Puppy Class ?   

[bizzylizzy]

O'h Lesley! I know JUST what you mean - its exhausting! I did that all through the winter and an hour is a VERY long time with an arctic wind howling round your ears and your dog doesn't even know you exist!! To be honest, I've given up, I stuck it for months but ended up feeling so demotivated and got cross with Humphrey although I know he really can't help it. I'd cringe watching all the other dogs being praised for things Humphrey would do with his eyes shut at home. I've now invested in a couple of one to one training sessions, which are still not easy as there are lots of doggy smells on the training ground but I feel a lot more relaxed, which is better for both of us, and the trainer's been very helpful - I really do believe a lot of the conventional training methods just don't work on cockers, they're too pre-occupied and as my trainer's explained, we need to concentrate on getting the attention before we can go onto anything else. We take part on the organized walks now, so he can socialize and might join the classes for older dogs a bit later but puppy classes, for me anyway, weren't very helpful !

[Londongirl]

We only did a six-week puppy class. Henry was very little and VERY distracted. We learned some stuff, but mostly that other breeds can be much more co-operative from an earlier age. The one thing he was perfect as was recall outside in the woods - something that we've lost again.

I've done all Henry's training myself one-on-one, taking advice most from YouTube etc where I find the trainer approaches things in a way I like - positive reinforcement, working with the dog's natural instincts not against them, etc. He's not perfect but we're getting there. As we live in London we don't need puppy class for him to learn how to socialise - he meets new dogs pretty much every day. I'd be interested to know what you've been learning in these weekly puppy classes, in case I'm missing out on anything!

[bizzylizzy]

We only did a six-week puppy class. Henry was very little and VERY distracted. We learned some stuff, but mostly that other breeds can be much more co-operative from an earlier age. The one thing he was perfect as was recall outside in the woods - something that we've lost again.

I've done all Henry's training myself one-on-one, taking advice most from YouTube etc where I find the trainer approaches things in a way I like - positive reinforcement, working with the dog's natural instincts not against them, etc. He's not perfect but we're getting there. As we live in London we don't need puppy class for him to learn how to socialise - he meets new dogs pretty much every day. I'd be interested to know what you've been learning in these weekly puppy classes, in case I'm missing out on anything!

Sitting in a wait position while you walk away, combined either with a recall or you walk back and the walk around them.  The same procedure in a down position. We did some heel work,  then we had to walk along to heel, passing all the other dogs (impossible with Humph'). Practice meeting someone else with a dog, stop, shake hands and carry on. Walk through a row of people all holding out treats and the dog should ignore them (?? - as if!!!) We also had a course with a tunnel and seesaw and tyre to jump through etc (he liked that!). All good exercises but impossible to do when your nose is either glued to the ground or down a mouse hole!!!

[Londongirl]

Thanks for that! I practice all of that stuff when we go to the park - I get him to do sit-stay and down-stay at random times, just to keep him on his toes! I do need to work on him meeting people nicely and being patient when I stop, but there are lovely dog owners in the park that let me practice on them.

[bizzylizzy]

Sounds to me like you're doing a great job - I wouldn't worry about missing anything, Henry's going to be learning in the doggy school of life! 

[Londongirl]

Sounds to me like you're doing a great job - I wouldn't worry about missing anything, Henry's going to be learning in the doggy school of life! 

You might not say that if you saw how norty Mr Henry can be!

[Neil]

Bobby was always the most vocal and excitable puppy when we did the KC foundation level training. I frequently felt embarrassed by it. Nevertheless when it came to the assessment test at the end of the course he passed with the third highest mark in a class of maybe fifteen puppies, some of which failed the test.

Some months later we did the bronze level training. Once again he seemed to have the shortest attention span, but we made good progress all the same. The end of course test got rescheduled to a date I couldn't manage so we didn't do the assessment, but the trainer and I both expected him to pass had we been able to take the test.

So don't give up, he's probably learning more than you think.

[Finvarra]

I took Dylan to training classes mainly for socialisation after his was beaten up by a Jack Russell on his first outing and screamed whenever he saw another dog. The class has done it,s work and at ten months he is a happy and friendly dog, loves meeting other dogs and is a delightful companion. He does as he,s told at home (mainly) and when out he will sit, do downs, recalls, walks OK and while not perfect he,s pretty good. In the hall he was excited for the first half of the class, then settled down and performed well.

But outside on the grass, with other dogs, the only sense that is working is his nose.

I,m wondering about giving up the class, we're doing fine on our own, but I used to enjoy going, the other dogs and doggy people. Don't know if I can stand the embarrassment and the sore hands!

Lesley and Dylan

[Londongirl]

So glad to hear Dylan has recovered from his bad experience. Henry was bitten by a Beagle a few weeks after we got him. We were really, really lucky that it didn't seem to affect him, although seeing him streak across the park in a panic was heart-stopping. Reading this forum has really helped me understand how dogs more sensitive than Henry might be affected by his rather forceful friendliness.

Sounds like Dylan is doing great in 99% of situations (much better than Henry who has suddenly lost all ability to follow basic commands!). Maybe he will settle down outside at class when the novelty wears off.

[James+Carly]

Im sure the more you and Dylan go along, it will sink it eventually (even though I know at the time it doesn't feel like it)! We have days like this at puppy class, I'm sure they do it just to test our patience!  Although there a two little chihuahua puppies that are far less obedient that Oscar, which does make me feel slightly better, although I bet they do not get a lead burn on their hands