[hmeadq]

My pup was not good at class again last night (wandered off during a couple exersices and would not stay down when I was walking around the room) and the trainer suggested we see a behaviorist.

The week before we had had issues with a poodle, so I went into training overdrive. We worked in the most distracting areas possible for an hour or more a day. And at class he did not show any issues with any dogs. I did not let him even look at another dog, which we had practiced during the week (execpt he sniffed a couple butts of his friends before class started.) He was also heeling very well on lead, but to him if I take the lead off that means he can play, we are working on it, but hes OK at home off lead, but until he is a LOT more reliable I cannot take him off lead in public, so how do you practice?

When I took off his lead, its not like he ran to another dog and jumped them, he just walked away sniffing the ground in a goofy way, more interested in what he was smelling then me calling him back. He is a stubborn puppy, thats his breed isn't it? But his is basically good and he is learning, just not as fast as some other dogs.

Sometimes I think the sucession of exercises is to fast. For instance last night we did the serpentine, which we had done before (in the previous class) on lead. First time, it was on lead with a treat. Second time it was with the lead hanging over our neck with a treat and SLOW. Third it was off lead with no treat! He wandered off and went over and sniffed the wheelchair sitting next to the cones. Is it asking two much of a 7-1/2 month old puppy who has been in training for 14 weeks.

Does he need a behaviorist? He is a stubborn dog and a bit slow in training (at least compared with the Austrailians in our class) but I don't think he has major issues. He is on a light duty NILF program, has to sit before going through a door, gets only toys when we give him (which is almost always, but we decide which one), he has to sit or do a task before he can eat or drink. He'll get the puppy zoomies sometimes. He STILL wants to jump on people and say "HI!" Occasionally he'll decide he wants to do something and will bark and fuss if we don't give it to him. If he thinks he may be in trouble he won't always come when he is called. All normal puppy behavior, not tolerated and we do correct him and they are all getting better, but it is normal, right?

I don't know if our trainer is unsure because he is a Rotty or if he is seeing something we are not. I have a call into the behaviorist, but I'm not really sure he needs it. Guess it cannot hurt though.