Training advice, please help!

[jovens]

Hello everyone! New member here. This forum is such a warm and loving place, and I have learned so much from reading all the various threads. I would appreciate some suggestions on training. Here's my situation...I have a two yr old rottie...Kobe. He's turning three this April. In his first year, I was the one doing his training and we were making great progress. He did well with sit/stay both verbally and hand signals. Was able to potty train him with a command word, and a few other things. Well when he was turning two, I tore my acl and had to have knee surgery. I still tried to do the training as usual but it was difficult due to my knee. My sister was helping me by walking him, taking him out, and playing with him. All she wanted to do was baby him. Unfortunately she doesn't have the discipline to do any of the training. To make matters worse, I had to have a second surgery due to complications with my first surgery. So now he's turning three and I know he needs to go to some professional obedience training. Here are my questions...

1. Is the age of three too late for training?

2. Would it be wrong to find a training school/class where I would leave him until training is completed? Not my choice...the only reason I ask this is that my physical therapist has told me that my knee is not strong enough to control and handle a 120 lb rottweiler yet, and I don't know how much longer I want to delay him going to training.

3. When I do get him enrolled in training, is it a good idea to tell the trainer what I have already taught him? Or should I just start from scratch?

Thanks in advance for any and all advice.

-Joven

[BostonRott]

No, 3 is not too late.

Training yourself with an instructor will get you much further than sending away to a facility. There is no reason you can't control him reasonably well. Maybe his heeling will have to wait until your knee is more healed, but there's plenty else to work on.

It's always a good idea to fill the instructor in on what you've previously worked on, and how you taught it.

Good luck!

[RottiMomCT]

Originally Posted by jovens

1. Is the age of three too late for training? No, my father in law adopted a 7-9 yr old rottie and she excelled in classes - better than the younger 'green' dogs

2. Would it be wrong to find a training school/class where I would leave him until training is completed? Not my choice...the only reason I ask this is that my physical therapist has told me that my knee is not strong enough to control and handle a 120 lb rottweiler yet, and I don't know how much longer I want to delay him going to training. YES it is wrong to send away for training - the dog will learn, but will not resepct you at all and will possibly not even listen to you as you didn't do the training. I have to have knee surgery and alot of walking can be painful - BUT I take both of my dogs to classes twice a week because they need the physical and mental stimulation, and if they DON'T go to class they know it and are buttheads.



3. When I do get him enrolled in training, is it a good idea to tell the trainer what I have already taught him? Or should I just start from scratch? I would contact the training facility and see what the beginner level classes entail, and if the dog already knows the exercises, enroll him in the next level up. Ask if you can drop down a level if you discover the dog needs a 'refresher' in what he does know. What he's learned at home may be perfect, but in class it'll be alot more distracting and he may need the beginner level class.

Welcome to the forums - stick around, read, read, read....we're a passionate group and we don't mince words - we tell it like it is...