Quote:
Originally posted by Judi W
Maturity and training take care of the problem, so keep working and remember to be reasonable in your expectations. |
Judi hit the nail on the head. He's still a baby. You need to consider what is best for him at this point, and not necessarily what you would like now.
Believe me I know first hand. I had these great dreams of having Riven's CD at two. He's wasn't ready at two. I finally figured out that I need to go by when he was ready, not when I was ready. That schedule is different with every dog.
Rottie boys especially can be slow to mature, don't push him. Pushing him at this age, might kill some of his enthusiasm and desire, especially if he is telling you he doesn't have the skills to cope yet.
I would work on bringing him to distracted places and working on the perimeter. Have some high caliber treats and reward any and all attention and eye contact. Try not to prompt the eye contact, wait him out. If you have him on leash, he won't be able to go visit or be reinforced for watching the other dogs or people. If he can't focus on you at all, move back from the action. If he can focus and offer sustained eye contact slowing start moving in to the action.
The key is, he gets nothing for watching the action and lots of great food for any voluntary eye contact. In the beginning you may just mark the moment he offers you eye contact, with a yes followed by a treat. Gradually you will ask for longer and longer eye contact before you yes and treat.
Always rasie your criteria gradually and get away from luring with the food or using lots of verbal reminders to watch. He needs to learn that looking to you is rewarding and that doing anything else gets him nothing.
If you can get sustained eye contact in the midst of the action, I would begin to work attention heeling at the perimeter. Short (10 paces) patterns, at a brisk pace. Lots of rewards and verbal praise for eye contact and staying with you. Again you gradually work further and further in to the action. If you have loss of quality, move out again and get his confidence back up.
Sounds like you have a great boy, good luck!!
Dawn
U-CD Cammcastle's Mystic Riven CDX OAC OGC NA NAJ NJC TT CGC
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