Busy puppy with an attitude!

corbinam

corbinam

Moderator
Lexi and I had our first obedience class yesterday. We went through all these classes with Bentley, so we thought we knew what to expect. I should have known since we have taken to calling Lexi "Anti-Bentley" (and not necessarily in a bad way...they are just polar opposites!)

Lexi was probably the youngest dog there as beginner obedience can be dogs or puppies. That being said, when we actually got down to work, she did excellent, I was surprised. I mean, I know she's smart, but she's soooo easily distracted and excitable.

Here's the thing...when we weren't "working" she was crazy! She's not 100% used to the leash, but she really doesn't understand standing in one place. She was constantly pulling, barking, walking, etc. Our dog trainer didn't seem concerned and just described her as "busy" "with a high prey drive". These things seem great for an agility dog, but as a house dog, it can be so tiring!

She loves to bark, and at dinner time or when we come home she goes absolutely crazy. I don't let her out of her crate or feed her until she's quiet, but it doesn't seem to stop her from doing it. She just barks until I tell her "quiet" and then as soon as I let her out, she barks and spins again.

Any thoughts? I know some of you with performance dogs have excitable divas...I would love some advice! Also, I know I read about "working" them before bed to tire her out, but I don't want to feed her any treats before bedtime because then she'll have to get up and go out at night.
 
Excitable Divas? Diva sits up, cocks head and stares. "you called?":wink2:

Welcome to the wonderful world of shelties girls, the anti-sheltie boy.:lol:

I know totally what you mean. Does Lexi like tug toys or balls? I work Diva at night with a tug. I ask for a sit, release to tug. Break, ask for down, tug, break stand, throw the ball, heel at few steps release etc that way I can work our obedience and build drive and control at the same time. I found a tug toy at a show that has a squeaky tennis ball on the end. The best of all worlds.:biggrin2: It is the special toy only to be played with when training and then put up. I'm finding that Diva works better for the toy then food.

She still doesn't have the focus my other dogs do but she is getting better. She is over the top busy compared to them. She is looking to be a better agility than obedience dog as obedience moves to slow for her. Time will tell.

You can use a clicker to capture the calm behavior. If she is spinning and barking, the second she stops click and treat. You should find the calm behavior becomes more frequent. Also click treat anytime she is quiet and calm in the house. It'll mean carrying the clicker and small treats at all times but it really worked for Diva.
 
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Sounds like you've got another Bailey on your hands! lol I know it seems like she is not getting the whole "you get more attention when you're quiet", but she will eventually catch on. Just make sure you keep at it. Bailey used to bark and scream to come out of her crate. I never let her out unless she calmed down. It took her a while, but she finally got it. She also used to jump and bark when I walked in the door. It took a few weeks of me ignoring her for a few minutes until she calmed down. Well now, I can walk in the door and all she'll do is wag her tail, sniff me and look up at me with a big smile on her face. Of course then I immediately pet her. These types of behavior are not instant turn arounds. They can take weeks. Just be patient and consistent. Good luck with your little diva. :biggrin2:
 
Che has his excitability modes and we found that "settle" command works great, you just have to be patient to implement it... wrap your girl in tight towel or dress tight/ body hugging/ t shirt, put your hands on the collar and scruff firmly but easily, she can not escape but not hurting, do some deep breathing of your own for couple of minuts , relax your body and praise in low meditative tone only when pup is quiet, do not say anything when she is struggling...
do it several times a day and you will notice how much easier it gets...
 
Settle really worked for me too, particularly when Bacca was younger.

I don't need it much anymore, but it was great when I needed it.
 
Abby sounds just like Bentley.... plus with Abby's injury it is really difficult. On Sunday morning I bought a clicker and by Sunday evening I had a new dog. Clicker training works for EVERYTHING!! Click and treat and all the bad habits are gone. I was so impressed on how it worked on an 8 month old dog. First I worked on leash walking - 5 -6 pulls and that pulling was corrected. Then I worked on Sit by my side when other dogs are near that took about 2 days. They become less distracted with click and treat. Then I worked on quiet and laying down at dinner that is a work in progress but gets better each day. You need to be more interesting than the distraction itself. For me since Abby is so food motivated clicker and treats is more interesting then other dogs/people. Clicker was $4.50, treats you need anyway...:yes: When they do what you want, click, treat - they are sooooo smart it won't take long.
 
Abby's Dad said:
Abby sounds just like Bentley.... plus with Abby's injury it is really difficult. On Sunday morning I bought a clicker and by Sunday evening I had a new dog. Clicker training works for EVERYTHING!! Click and treat and all the bad habits are gone. I was so impressed on how it worked on an 8 month old dog. First I worked on leash walking - 5 -6 pulls and that pulling was corrected. Then I worked on Sit by my side when other dogs are near that took about 2 days. They become less distracted with click and treat. Then I worked on quiet and laying down at dinner that is a work in progress but gets better each day. You need to be more interesting than the distraction itself. For me since Abby is so food motivated clicker and treats is more interesting then other dogs/people. Clicker was $4.50, treats you need anyway...:yes: When they do what you want, click, treat - they are sooooo smart it won't take long.
Click to expand...

I absolutely AGREE!!! When I was first training Bailey, I didn't use a clicker. I had one, but I felt that shelties was too smart and didn't need a clicker. My obedience class instructor observed Bailey last week and said she would really benefit from clicker training. I didn't listen, since I was still convinced she didn't need it.
Well, we were at obedience class again last night and Bailey refused to lay down. All the other dogs were in a down / stay position, but Bailey would not do it. The trainer again suggested I use clicker training. She told me to stay after class, so she can show me clicker trainer. We practiced with Bailey for about half and hour and she was responding really well!
I used the clicker on our walk this morning. Bailey tends to walk in front of me, not pay attention and sometimes pull. Every time she walked by my side and paid attention to me, I clicked and rewarded. She caught on only 5 minutes into our walk. For the rest of the walk, she was by side and giving me her full attention! For the first time since I had her, I was able to let the leash hang loosely and have her walk by my side. It was amazing. So, for all the bratty girl pups out there. I'm talking about Ginny, Lexi....and whoever else I'm missing. Clicker trainer is the way to go. Clickers FTW!
 
take4roll10 said:
I absolutely AGREE!!! When I was first training Bailey, I didn't use a clicker. I had one, but I felt that shelties was too smart and didn't need a clicker. My obedience class instructor observed Bailey last week and said she would really benefit from clicker training. I didn't listen, since I was still convinced she didn't need it.
Well, we were at obedience class again last night and Bailey refused to lay down. All the other dogs were in a down / stay position, but Bailey would not do it. The trainer again suggested I use clicker training. She told me to stay after class, so she can show me clicker trainer. We practiced with Bailey for about half and hour and she was responding really well!
I used the clicker on our walk this morning. Bailey tends to walk in front of me, not pay attention and sometimes pull. Every time she walked by my side and paid attention to me, I clicked and rewarded. She caught on only 5 minutes into our walk. For the rest of the walk, she was by side and giving me her full attention! For the first time since I had her, I was able to let the leash hang loosely and have her walk by my side. It was amazing. So, for all the bratty girl pups out there. I'm talking about Ginny, Lexi....and whoever else I'm missing. Clicker trainer is the way to go. Clickers FTW!
Click to expand...

They are so smart they pick it up within minutes:yes: makes you wonder :winkgrin:
 
We've been very successful with Zoey and the clicker. She's only 10 weeks and she comes, sit, lies down and is in the process of learning to give paw!
 
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