Training dogs.

So my roommate just got a German Shepherd puppy and I was wondering what were good resources I could read/ watch/ whatever on training dogs? I have had a decent amount of experience with fully grown dogs but basically none with puppies and none that were chewers.

No puppy pics?

What's wrong with you?

GameboyRMH wrote: No puppy pics? What's wrong with you?

NAWWW LOOK AT THE WIDDLE PUPPY! ^_^

That's better.

Hey where's Snowdoggie? I'm sure he could help.

Cute pup. There are a few sources who would be better than me on training, but I have a well behaved 3 year old German Aussie.

Never call them when punishing them. Their smart and will stop responding. Don't award with treats for too long or they will ALWAYS WANT THEM. Make sure the pup has plenty of running room and a TON of water. Shepherds drink a lot. Lots of attention is needed. Keep in a kennel until chewing problems stop. When walking, use a pinch chain. Keep the dog close so it can understand you control the direction. When she starts gettg ahead give a sift, but firm t ug and a command to make her come back. It will help for off leash training.. Same for keeping excitement down when around other dogs. Games like fetch will come naturally. Over time the dog will learn to talk to you. Make sure there is a distinction between "I'm hungry" and "I gotta pee." Get one of those big ass flavored cow bones to keep her occupied. Their not cheap, but worth it.

All I can think of for now.

All good advice above. Remember the chewing stage is part of their development so you don't want to discourage it but you want to give them acceptable things to chew (big ass bone mentioned above) and make sure they know the distinction. If they are caught chewing on something they shouldn't distract and replace with the approved chewable substance.

As mentioned during this time when they cant be supervised they should be kenneled. Never use the kennel as a punishment and your dog will not have a problem with it. All my dogs, even a puppy mill rescue who spent her life in a cage which left a very negative impression, have kennels and they all like them. It is their private spot, their safe zone. If you keep the punishment value out of it it becomes a valuable training tool and way to save your furniture from becoming a chew toy when you are not around.

I have full grown dogs that are still chewers, but they know what they can and cannot chew (down to not chewing up the toys that belong to the other dogs) Shepards are smart, he should take to training well.

Consistency is key, if you slack off on training they will slack off on learning.

Phrases you want the dog to learn should be different and concise. "No" can only me one thing to the dog. "Off" is good for telling the dog to stop jumping up on people and "Down" for laying down. "Come" for the dog to come to you.

You can use any terms you want but make sure they are all different. Just yelling 'no' at the dog whenever he is doing something wrong doesn't tell him anything.

Whistling and hand geustures help too.

Consider every interaction with the dog as a "win-lose" situation. Did you tell the dog to lay down and he never did? You just lost and the dog is gaining control. He will be come the pack leader, not you. Assert your dominance.

JThw8 wrote: Shepards are smart, he should take to training well.

See, it took me almost a year to figure out the now 3yo shepherd we took in(at 8months old) that he was actually intelligent. He didn't act like it or flaunt the ability to open doors and other problem solving tasks. But, that dog is the most manipulative dog I've ever seen

JThw8 wrote: All good advice above. Remember the chewing stage is part of their development so you don't want to discourage it but you want to give them acceptable things to chew (big ass bone mentioned above) and make sure they know the distinction. If they are caught chewing on something they shouldn't distract and replace with the approved chewable substance.

We have been doing that. But damn she has sharp teeth.

I'm a new dog owner myself. We have a black lab/Great Dane mix. He's not a puppy, but is about 1-2 years old (we got him from the SPCA, they didn't know his exact age). He clearly was someone's dog before us, as he knew basic commands....sit, paw, come and was housebroken. He's very food motivated, so training has been a bit easier. We don't use a treat every time, but he's so motivated for food he always thinks we have something.

I'll add to the recommendations of a bone. We have rawhide ones, and he LOVES them. That, and he loves squeaky toys. They keep him from chewing anything else.

I haven't posted on the site, but found lots of good reading at www.dogforums.com. That site also referred a lot to http://www.dogstardaily.com/ which also seems to have really good info.

yamaha wrote:

JThw8 wrote: Shepards are smart, he should take to training well.

See, it took me almost a year to figure out the now 3yo shepherd we took in(at 8months old) that he was actually intelligent. He didn't act like it or flaunt the ability to open doors and other problem solving tasks. But, that dog is the most manipulative dog I've ever seen

Shepherds have an uncanny ability to manipulate. They will trick and play games you don't even know about.

Isabelle doesn't know i can see her through the window while she is sitting on the couch looking out the window AT ME. When I walk in the door, she walks out of the bedroom as I can imagine she would be saying, "Hey dad, what's up? I was laying down on my bed in the bedroom, not on the couch that your grandma gave you and the cats immediately started destroying."

I highly recommend "the Other End of the Leash" by Particia McConnell. All of her books are awesome and can help you with various problem behaviors, but that's a good one to start with.

For chewing enjoyment, I recommend getting a few KONGs and filling them with various interesting food items. For a dog that is young, and may be getting adult teeth in, I would try plugging the small end of the KONG with peanut butter, then turn it over and place in a small plastic measuring cup and fill the rest of the way up with chicken broth. Then, place that, cup and all, in the freezer until it is solid. Then, when you need to redirect the puppy from chewing on the couch, give it the frozen chicken broth KONG. It will keep the dog occupied and happily chewing away for about 30 minutes to an hour, depending on how vigorous the dog is with it.

When training, randomize when you give a treat for the behavior that you want. In other words, use the slot machine method for doling out treats vs the drink machine method. If you give a treat every time the dog performs the action you want, then, the dog will learn when you have treats and may decide not to obey when you don't have treats. If you mix it up and randomize the treat giving, they will be much more attentive and interested in pleasing you. Think of the person sitting in front of the slot machine for hours, putting in quarter after quarter with very occasional rewards, versus the person who, after putting their money in the drink machine and not getting a drink, starts assaulting the machine.

Cute pup, good luck!

In reply to EastCoastMojo:

We have a KONG, a bunch of bones and a toy duck.

Also she finally started figuring out the fetch thing last night.

93EXCivic wrote: Also she finally started figuring out the fetch thing last night.

They'll run your arm off, as they don't like giving up

93EXCivic wrote: In reply to EastCoastMojo: We have a KONG, a bunch of bones and a toy duck. Also she finally started figuring out the fetch thing last night.

That's a good start. Remember that the cold will help ease the pain associated with teething, so try the frozen KONG treat. An empty KONG is no where near as interesting.

yamaha wrote:

JThw8 wrote: Shepards are smart, he should take to training well.

See, it took me almost a year to figure out the now 3yo shepherd we took in(at 8months old) that he was actually intelligent. He didn't act like it or flaunt the ability to open doors and other problem solving tasks. But, that dog is the most manipulative dog I've ever seen

My wife still doesnt believe me that dogs can be manipulative but she has a rescue chihuahua which was abused and due to an old injury will occasionally have trouble with his leg. He's figured out that when he feels he's not getting enough of her attention he can just to the tripod shuffle with that leg in the air and suddenly he is her world. She'll leave the room and he's right back on 4 running around like nothing happened. Dogs are very manipulative.

EastCoastMojo wrote:

93EXCivic wrote: In reply to EastCoastMojo: We have a KONG, a bunch of bones and a toy duck. Also she finally started figuring out the fetch thing last night.

That's a good start. Remember that the cold will help ease the pain associated with teething, so try the frozen KONG treat. An empty KONG is no where near as interesting.

I will try that. When does teething start and end?

93EXCivic wrote:

EastCoastMojo wrote:

93EXCivic wrote: In reply to EastCoastMojo: We have a KONG, a bunch of bones and a toy duck. Also she finally started figuring out the fetch thing last night.

That's a good start. Remember that the cold will help ease the pain associated with teething, so try the frozen KONG treat. An empty KONG is no where near as interesting.

I will try that. When does teething start and end?

When those teeth dont feel so sharp anymore ;) The "puppy teeth" are pointy little bastards that hurt like hell, what's what you are experiencing now. The adult teeth wont be as sharp.

Although I agree that the chewing phase you are going through right now is brought on by teething keep in mind when teething is over that won't mean the chewing stops. Dogs like to chew. Our one dog gets serious separation anxiety and if she isnt kenneled when we go out she can (and has) eaten a sofa. So chewing is just a thing dogs do, that's why its important to help them by having acceptable chewable objects and teaching them the difference.

Sadly our bulldog learned that small things that squeak are acceptable chew toys, sadly that is because our chihuahuas are small things that squeak...they hate her. She's not the sharpest tool in the shed.

Prepare for lap time.

Think like a dog, dominance is key. At food time, make the dog sit back while you fill the bowl. You always go through doors first, stuff like that. With any dog that likes to play rough, OUCH is a good command to keep in the primary list.

I like to promote leadership as the key.

You don't need to dominate your dog, you need to show it that you are the leader of the pack. Dogs need, respect and naturally follow leaders in their pack. You don't gain that respect by intimidation (not that you were saying that specifically).

Establishing leadership will be done through teaching the dog basic commands like sit and stay, and directing the dog to do the things you want rather than let the dog decide what to do. Case in point, when you leave the house the dog is now going to assume the role of leader, as the pack leader is gone. SOMEBODY has to be the leader! Add to that the anxiety or frustration that some dogs experience during separation, and you have a recipe for destruction. Couches and other things that smell like you will give the dog comfort during your absence, but dogs can and will take their frustration out on these things when you are not around to redirect them.

Crate training is something to consider starting while the dog is still a puppy, so that you can give her a safe place that she can stay while you are gone. Dogs that are properly trained with crates do not dislike them, in fact our dogs love their crates because good things always happen there like feeding, toys, chewies etc.

Kenny_McCormic wrote: Think like a dog, dominance is key. At food time, make the dog sit back while you fill the bowl. You always go through doors first, stuff like that. With any dog that likes to play rough, OUCH is a good command to keep in the primary list.

Yes, the first through the door is the same reason you walk the dog at your side giving commands while tugging the leash attached to a pinch collar. My dog now walks next to me without a leash and takes commands well while doing so.

Not saying good bye to dogs help with the anxiety some feel. Just leave, don't look at them or anything. My old dog knew when I was getting ready to leave and would quitely lay on her bed while I walked out the door. I didn't teach her that.

Give your pre-walk ritual the same treatment. Don't tell them they are going for a walk just put the leash on them and walk out the door with a calm cool head. There is no need to get a puppy excited to do things. They'll usually follow you like a lost puppy anyways.

Bitch School:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cEmbXNd1lU

(No, seriously, it's about dogs...)

FYI, Strongly suggest you check out this training booklet. http://www.amazon.com/SuperPuppy-Raise-Best-Youll-Ever/dp/1886056013

It was very helpful when I started training Rock, our 13 lb Cane Corso pup. He's now about 125 lbs, almost five years old and the best dog you can imagine.

Some of you might have met him at Lime Rock, VIR, or Carlisle.

It's very important that any pup is properly socialized with other people and other pets ASAP.

Www.galekmotorsports.com

Chet