Author Topic: Need some training help (Read 814 times)

tango3065 · « **on:** December 18, 2004, 06:06:16 PM »

My two 8 week old pups refuse to use a leash, and refuse to come to me when I want. How can I train them for this, and are they to young for this training?

victorcharlie · « **Reply #1 on:** December 19, 2004, 08:09:38 AM »

I really think 8 weeks is to young for much training. The attention span of such a young pup is way to short, after all they are justed weaned at that age. You can start by tieing the pup on a short lead for a few minutes at a time. They will learn not to fight the lead this way. The pup also learns patience the same way. I would also think that come needs to be taught before heal. Teach come by bribing the pup with a small treat. Dogs love the people that feed them.

Also, work on only one command at a time until the pup has mastered it. It confuses a dog if to many commands are taught at the same time. Never give a command if you can't enforce it.

Have patience, and don't over correct the pup as this hurts the trust relationship.

It's been my experience that pups are old enough, and most apt to learn when they shed there puppy teeth, usually around 5 months.

A shock collar....did I say that? I mean an electronic training device to be politically correct, set at the right level and applied at the right time has an amazing effect and even a hard headed dog will learn with just a couple of short bumps.

Don't get frustrated, give it a little time, and always, have fun with your pup.

DirtyHarry · « **Reply #2 on:** December 20, 2004, 09:21:28 PM »

It has been my experience that positive reinforcement is the best training method, that means simply when the dog does as you want he get's a treat/praise.

victorcharlie · « **Reply #3 on:** December 21, 2004, 01:59:15 AM »

You are correct Dirty Harry.....

Don Fischer · « **Reply #4 on:** February 08, 2005, 04:14:54 PM »

victorcharlie has done some of this. Gotta agree with most of what he say's but, it your talking about a bird dog, I like to let them grow up befor training starts, 12 to 18 mos. Most trainer's disagree with me on that but I like the dog to get out that puppy foolishness befor we start. As for leash training, it's fairly simple. It's called a check cord and for a puppy require's no collar. If your pup already has one, fine. Get a length of light clothes line and tie it to the collar, depending on the size of the pup, up to about 4'. Let the pup drag it all the time and learn to deal with all the little snags it'll produce. Step on it from time to time and now and again AFTER YOU HAVE THE CHECK CORD IN HAND, call him and haul him in, even if screaming and fighting. Never let your dog tell you "NO". He'll get used to the cord and will learn to give to it's tug's.

As your pup grow's, increase the length of the cord up 20' or 25'. Never let him go without it. Do not tie a not in the trailing end when the pup's running loose.

Don Fischer · « **Reply #5 on:** February 08, 2005, 04:23:20 PM »

I forgot to mention, never allow your pup to do something you'll have to change later. Most pointing dog people like to take a puppy and get it birdy by giving it dead, or god forbid, live bird's long befor they've learned to handle them. They think it make's them birdy. If you need to improve on what's bred into your pup, you need a different pup. They run off and play with the bird's as pup's and they're owner's think it's cute; ain't that great? NO, that's a bad habit you'll have to fix later and YOU TAUGHT IT!!!!!!! Pay attention to what your training.