When and how to add corrections

[dmoniz]

I mean more serious attention getting corrections. Let me try to explain: Logan responds beautifully in class and at home both off leash. I can also take him for walks around the neighborhood without having to give him a physical correction. He is still on a buckle collar and 9 months old. Training is still a lot of fun and we are giving small treats as rewards. Or I will train before dinner and his bowl is the reward. My problem is when we are in a new place. Now he is pulling lunging at the other dogs (not aggressive, just wanting to get to them). My corrections on a buckle collar are not very effective, but on both the pinch and the electronic collar he responds, but I can see him "shutting down" that this is not so fun anymore. On the buckle collar he finally does settle in after a few "arguments" with me. I even got him to stay in his down stay while a dog walked by and I was out of sight. Should I just stay with the buckle? I don't want to "nag" him, and it is hard to get his attention when there is a new dog around and I don't have treats with me all the time.

[Bruce Lanthier]

When you "enter" the new place have him sit beside you. Just stand there for a couple of minutes and let it all sink in. If he is breaking the sit place your hand around his collar while he sits. The sitting will calm him a bit as will the watching. He must obey your sit or then you correct him for failing to sit. This (the sit command) will kind of put him on notice that commands still count and he must obey. I would not make him down as that submissive position may make him more uncomfortable in a new place. Once a couple of minutes go by then move around the new place, if he misbehaves, make him sit and be still again for a minute or so. He will get the idea that correct behavior means activity and incorrect behavior means no activity. Be prepared for a lot of sits as he gets used to this new way of doing things.

[Judi W]

Bruce's suggestion will work. Personally, I'm not that patient that I want to get where I'm going 3 steps at a time and I am absolutely not enamoured by a dog that thinks it can drag me around. 9 months is certainly old enough to be corrected. You are seeing a shut down because he feelings are hurt that he can't do what he wants. He'll get over it when he realizes the praise comes with compliance. He's not a little baby any more and can start to be responsible.

[groupieindenial]

My puppy 9 mos too. And most of the time he's a GEM! But like you are indicating, my guy gets overly excited and wants to play with the other dogs. All I know is that when he's older, and more chilled atttitude, I'm gonna be missing the days when he used to act like a little punk!

[2rotties2luv]

Originally Posted by groupieindenial

All I know is that when he's older, and more chilled atttitude, I'm gonna be missing the days when he used to act like a little punk!

I seriously doubt that.

To me there is no greater satisfaction than walking into a new place with a rottie by my side that is behaving as the perfect gentleman. He learned that he can check out the new place while still keeping himself under control, and he can trust me to let him know what's expected of him. This is a result of training and maturity, but mostly training.

[groupieindenial]

I was just speaking of that rambuntiousness they can't contain when their young. My friends boy used to have so much spunk, now he's pretty chill, and I miss the funny things he used to do. Now he looks at my pup like "your STOOPID, chasing your stump of a tail". Or everytime I try to wipe puppy's paws down from coming in from outsite, I can only get two done, before he starts to chew at the towel. THe 3 year old stop doing things like long time ago.

One thing i DO NOT miss, is the early days, the ankle biting days. However, nice to have the adorable pics for how cute and little he was.

[dmoniz]

They might be dogs, but they sure know how to manipulate don't they? He does recover quickly from the correction when I praise him, but it makes me feel bad - although not bad enough to not do it! So when I have the time - leisurely walks alone - I will take things more slowly with him and do lots of sits. He will also have times where he needs to behave now and quickly, where he will have to deal with harsher corrections. Is it fair to combine these, or would he find that confusing?

[Canadianrotti]

I would think that a sit is a sit, no matter what the situation, and the response for a "command" should be immediate. There should be no thinking involved in a command, regardless of the distractions. JMO

I know that our pup still has difficulty with sit/stays when a new dog is around. If she breaks the stay, she gets corrected, if she holds, she gets praised and we move on.

I used to feel guilty when giving a correction, especially if there is a yelp involved, but it is for her own good (and safety). I would be concerned if I was correcting frequently, but it is only on the rare occasion where she forgets where she is and what the rules are, if she is corrected, it is usually followed up with good behaviour for the rest of the walk.

[Judi W]

He will be confused and probably is confused if you keep changing the idea as to whether he has to be respectful of you or not, whether he has to listen depending upon where you are, etc. You are making him try to figure out whether this is one of those times you mean it or not. He is in training, that means you should fairly let him know whether he is right or wrong. I see no reason for using an ecollar for this. I'm not sure which it is, do you correct him or not? Why would you be using an ecollar if you are not willing to use a regular slip or pinch? Be honest and fair with your dog. That does not mean training does not continue to be fun. Training is not either/or it is about balance.

[dmoniz]

Well I would make him listen to me no matter what. I was just thinking that in one instance I would put him in a sit and correct him if breaks the sit, it's easier than the heel and he is less likely to break a sit than a heel. I was getting him used to the e-collar corrections for things like barking and shrub destroying. I wanted him to know the correction came from me and to boost my no's. I found my no's to be ineffective and I coudn't back up with a collar correction in a timely manner. Dose this make sense?

[Judi W]

If you insist on using the flat collar, you are correct, your best option is putting him in a sit, and putting him in a sit, and putting him in a sit. It does not allow you to give a normal correction and gives you no option but to hold on or use the sit - so who is in control?

[SonnyRott]

When you talk about his excitement in a new place I assume you are referring to the ballpark, the vets, outdoor picnics and such.

Since my dog was (is) very social he would get beside himself when he saw a child or a stroller or another dog or just an older person approaching. It was all he could do to not break his back end from wiggling so much. I was pleased at his excitement but needed him to learn to be a gentlemen about it. No jumping up. Very hard since they love to get as close to the face as possible. That's where all the pleasing noises are coming from.

Anyway, when people come towards us to pass along the sidewalk, I wait until they are fairly close, pull the dog off to the side and make him sit. He is free to wiggle in the sit position and watch as the person and I exchange a greeting. If he gets up, I immediately tell him to sit. Sometimes I am asked if he can be patted. I say, "Yes, but please only pet him if he is seated." It takes time but they soon figure out when someone approaches they must sit and wait to be greeted or not. Now it is just automatic. He is not distracted and is a little older so I use this time (when people pass) to say, "Watch Me". I usually hear, "Wow....what a good boy he is....I wish my dog could do that..." He will keep his eyes on me, get a little food reward, and then off we go with a "Good Boy" from me.

If we are at a ballgame or place where there are many people, I bring my long line and let him sniff about and check out his surroundings. After 10 mins he is usually all through with the excitement of it all and lays down by the bleachers while I watch the game.

Time, training, patience and consistancy. Make a firm correction when necessary then release and praise. Do not keep popping the dog for small infractions or you'll end up with a confused, basket case. The type of correction must fit the crime.

[dmoniz]

Well with the corrections they would be corrections with a pinch. I was thinking that a sit in a new situation would give him a chance to survey the sights and smells while teaching him to settle. Then move into a more controlled walk - hopefully- if not well at least he is wearing a pinch :)

[Judi W]

Of course it is not going to be beautiful! Don't worry about that but surely you want to be able to get from point A to point B. And yes, an occasional sit does help him gather himself, but to be limited to sitting only because you're on a flat and can't do much else is constricting for both of you.

[dmoniz]

Originally Posted by SonnyRott

When you talk about his excitement in a new place I assume you are referring to the ballpark, the vets, outdoor picnics and such.

Since my dog was (is) very social he would get beside himself when he saw a child or a stroller or another dog or just an older person approaching. It was all he could do to not break his back end from wiggling so much. I was pleased at his excitement but needed him to learn to be a gentlemen about it. No jumping up. Very hard since they love to get as close to the face as possible. That's where all the pleasing noises are coming from.

Anyway, when people come towards us to pass along the sidewalk, I wait until they are fairly close, pull the dog off to the side and make him sit. He is free to wiggle in the sit position and watch as the person and I exchange a greeting. If he gets up, I immediately tell him to sit. Sometimes I am asked if he can be patted. I say, "Yes, but please only pet him if he is seated." It takes time but they soon figure out when someone approaches they must sit and wait to be greeted or not. Now it is just automatic. He is not distracted and is a little older so I use this time (when people pass) to say, "Watch Me". I usually hear, "Wow....what a good boy he is....I wish my dog could do that..." He will keep his eyes on me, get a little food reward, and then off we go with a "Good Boy" from me.

If we are at a ballgame or place where there are many people, I bring my long line and let him sniff about and check out his surroundings. After 10 mins he is usually all through with the excitement of it all and lays down by the bleachers while I watch the game.

Time, training, patience and consistancy. Make a firm correction when necessary then release and praise. Do not keep popping the dog for small infractions or you'll end up with a confused, basket case. The type of correction must fit the crime.

This is exactly what I was thinking - a sit so he learns to control himself while in areas that are sooooooo exciting. Yep, it walking around in the small downtowns around here where everyone has dogs and are eating outside, the beach, anywhere where he gets to meet people. Especially since before he was encouraged to say 'hi' to everone.