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Subject: Getting pup to ignore other dogs?

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AnieMoore

Posts:2

06/06/2010 10:57 AM
Hi! I'm new to the forums, but the seem great! I have 2 questions, and I hope someone can shine some light on the matter for me. I have a 5 month old puppy, who I 've only had for the past month. He came potty trained, crate trained and with basic commands as sit, stay and come. He lived on a farm where the only contact he had with dogs was with his mom and brothers and sisters. I live in a culs-de-sac community thats close to a forest, with a very large common front yard and all of my neighbors have dogs. My puppy goes crazy everytime he sees a dog, he just loooves to go and play.. the problem is that he's stopped minding. He completely ignores me whenever there is a dog around, and I've read it's bad to chase him if he doesn't come but if I turn away or go in the house he will just stay there playing with the other dogs. Should I go back to keeping him on a lead? And continue to reinforce the "come" command with distraccions? He is also good walking on the leash but like I said.. he will just go nuts if he sees a dog.. the problem is that all of my neighbors let their dogs run loose and I can't avoid having dogs come over wanting to play with mine. Our front yard is like a dog park! My other question is about how much excersise and what type should my pup be getting at this age? I 've read that strenuous excersise could develop joint problems in pups, but he has sooooooo much energy that he's like a little energizer bunny. I normally take him to the forest and let him run like crazy but I want an excersise that he can be on a leash with, because of the dog issue. Maybe a run? Or me on skates? But how for how long? Sorry if this got a little long, but I'm just wondering how get over the dog thing. I want to be able to take him out in front with the other dogs and not worry about him following them home. Thanks!

Texas Belle User is Offline

Austin, TX

MH
Posts:7835

06/06/2010 3:30 PM
"Should I go back to keeping him on a lead? And continue to reinforce the "come" command with distractions?" Yes, you should go back to on leash. At 5 months he is still a puppy and he is actually approaching a time when he will seemingly forget everything he knows (like a teenager). I call this time the puppy stupids. Anyway, he obviously is not solid enough on his recall with the overwhelming distraction of other dogs. So, start working his recall on leash without distractions until he is solid and then start adding in more and more distractions. If he regresses, back off the amount of distractions until he is solid again. I literally do thousands of recalls before mine are reliable and even then I sometimes have to use the ecollar to enforce the off leash, but only after they are 150% on leash with distractions. It would also probably do him some good to go to an obedience class just so he can get used to being around other dogs. The more dogs he is around the less interesting them will be for him. Plus in obedience class it will give you another place to practice and reinforce his learning. "My other question is about how much excersise and what type should my pup be getting at this age?" At 5 months his growth plates have not closed yet, so any formal running especially on pavement would not be good for him. If he runs on his own no problem. I would also not start him with the roller skating either. I do not do anything like skating or biking until mine are at least 18 months. I would absolutely let him keep running in the forest and having fun, just do not call him if you know he is not going to respond. Let him wear himself out and then offer him a high value treat or toy, play with him a little, maybe let him run some more and then treat him again and put the leash on him. The thing you want to avoid is a pattern where he plays, you get him back to you with a treat and then leash him and play stops. He will learn that if you offer a treat his fun ends. So find a way to get him back to you without ending the play every time. Be creative, use toys, treats, act goofy, whatever you need to do to get him to you, just don't use his recall if you can enforce it. If you do and he does not come, then you have to go get him. I would also be leary of creating the chase game too as they love chase. When mine are little and they are ignoring me, I will hoop and holler and act silly and then squat down and/or even run away shaking toy or something like that. It usually works, especially if it is a toy he loves and you only let him have it at special times. Just remember when he gets to you play with him and praise him. You want him thinking every time he comes to you wonderful things happen and you are the best thing on earth. Good luck and don't worry about long, my response was a little long too. By the way we require pictures on this forum. : ) Good luck with you pup and give him some time. He is still figuring out his new home and you. He will get there.

Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna) Yellow Rose GSPs "A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato

AnieMoore

Posts:2

06/06/2010 9:53 PM
Thanks so much for the response!! It was exactly what I was looking for, I will definitely take everything into consideration. He is such a great pup, really smart, super sweet and eager to please... I just don't want to mess him up by not having the right approach on training. Another thing we have on our training list is a way for him to "ask to go out", but we're working on it. And I'll get on that pictures thing also Thanks again!

pixie bee

MH
Posts:4448

06/07/2010 5:15 AM
+1 what texas Belle said. Francine

"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle

Texas Belle User is Offline

Austin, TX

MH
Posts:7835

06/07/2010 9:51 AM
You might try a bell on the door. My girl taught her self of the Christmas holiday to ring the bell when she wanted to go out. Of course, you may get more than you bargain for in that they will ring the bell every time they want out. LOL

Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna) Yellow Rose GSPs "A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato

Diamond

Southwestern Ontario

MH
Posts:349

06/12/2010 5:42 AM
just a quick tip for a treat for recall...peanut butter! It's a little messy but the dog generally go nuts for it and it's something that they have to stand there and lick and lick and lick (as apposed to just gobbling up and keep on running) this gives the brain a chance to slow down a bit more I think and they make the connection of "I like being here!!" "I should come back more often". It's a really cheap treat too and takes zero time to make. I usually put a couple spoonfuls in a small plastic container and carried a spoon with me, you could use your fingers but I prefer the spoon plus it gets the dog used to the feeling of metal on his/her teeth handy trick if you are planning on your dog retrieving different kinds of items.

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