teaching patience?

[kim86]

ive heard of people not being able to train their dog because they dont have the patience. but i feel like its the other way around in my situation, i think my sheltie daisy doesnt have the patience to learn new commands. shes a very smart but very energetic dog, and so whenever i go to teach her something all she focuses is on the fact that she knows shes going to get a treat. the moment i call her over she gets all tense and excited and i can tell shes not listening to a word im telling her. like, ill tell her a command, a command she would know very well like if we were in public like sit, but the moment we are in the
"training zone" and i tell her to sit, she freaks out and quickly does as many commands as she knows right in a row in hopes that it will get her a treat. and when she doesnt do the right command because shes not paying attention and i tell her the command again she starts barking at my like crazy as if to say "i already did it, give me the treat, stop telling me to do it again". earlier i was trying to teach her "down" and i dont know how many times while i was trying to teach her she tried to snatch the treat out of my hand. so i have no idea how to get her to calm down!

 

[MissHazel]

You could try and leave the treat out of the equation. Give her a a good petting when she gets it right with happy sounding gentle words. Or alternate between pets and treats so that way she's not always focused on "I'm getting food, I'm getting food".
You also said the "Training Zone" gets her exited, try teaching her something new on your walks.

 

[romeosangiovese]

I would try ignoring Daisy if she gets overly excited and tries to grab treats out of your hand or barks at you.

I'll try to describe a scenario.

You sit yourself on the floor, and bring out the treats and training accoutrements. Daisy comes over all excited. You say, "Daisy sit". Daisy doesn't listen and does a whole host of behaviours, then starts barking and lunging for the treat in your hand. Daisy can do whatever she wants, but you just get up and leave. Show your back to her, no eye contact. Five minutes later, you try again. If Daisy doesn't sit nicely and still, off you go again for another 5 mins. Show her that if she goes slightly mad during training, she doesn't get anything at all - no training=no treats for her! When after X number of tries, she finally sits nicely, you praise her and give her a small jackpot of treats for being a great girl!

You should also teach the "Off" or what some call the "zen" command. It teaches self control to a dog. What you do is hold a piece of treat in your hand, let Daisy sniff it. Then close your fist around it. She'll paw, scratch, bite your hand to get the treat out but you just keep it closed! The minute she stops trying to destroy your hand to get to the treat, you (click if you clicker train, and) treat her with the treat in your hand or another treat from your treat bag (I'm not sure if there's any difference. There doesn't seem to be for me!). When you give the treat, say "take it!"

Keep doing it and try to slowly open your palm up. Aim to hold the treat in an open palm in front of her with her not going for it. If she knows the "watch me" command, throw it in also, so that she looks away from the treat and at you instead (instead of staring intently at the treat). You can also try it with the treat on the floor but covered with your hand. Ultimately (this will take time but you can get there!! If Romeo the Greedy can, Daisy can too!), you want to be able to throw something Daisy really likes right next to her and say "Off!" and without moving from her spot (and after flicking a quick glance at it) she looks up at you for instruction! Then you can say "Take It!" and make her really happy.

 

[BarbV]

I would try ignoring Daisy if she gets overly excited and tries to grab treats out of your hand or barks at you.

I'll try to describe a scenario.

You sit yourself on the floor, and bring out the treats and training accoutrements. Daisy comes over all excited. You say, "Daisy sit". Daisy doesn't listen and does a whole host of behaviours, then starts barking and lunging for the treat in your hand. Daisy can do whatever she wants, but you just get up and leave. Show your back to her, no eye contact. Five minutes later, you try again. If Daisy doesn't sit nicely and still, off you go again for another 5 mins. Show her that if she goes slightly mad during training, she doesn't get anything at all - no training=no treats for her! When after X number of tries, she finally sits nicely, you praise her and give her a small jackpot of treats for being a great girl!

You should also teach the "Off" or what some call the "zen" command. It teaches self control to a dog. What you do is hold a piece of treat in your hand, let Daisy sniff it. Then close your fist around it. She'll paw, scratch, bite your hand to get the treat out but you just keep it closed! The minute she stops trying to destroy your hand to get to the treat, you (click if you clicker train, and) treat her with the treat in your hand or another treat from your treat bag (I'm not sure if there's any difference. There doesn't seem to be for me!). When you give the treat, say "take it!"

Keep doing it and try to slowly open your palm up. Aim to hold the treat in an open palm in front of her with her not going for it. If she knows the "watch me" command, throw it in also, so that she looks away from the treat and at you instead (instead of staring intently at the treat). You can also try it with the treat on the floor but covered with your hand. Ultimately (this will take time but you can get there!! If Romeo the Greedy can, Daisy can too!), you want to be able to throw something Daisy really likes right next to her and say "Off!" and without moving from her spot (and after flicking a quick glance at it) she looks up at you for instruction! Then you can say "Take It!" and make her really happy.

Essentially, this is my advice as well. I'm going through the same thing with Indy (9 month old male) who came home just 1 week ago. I quickly discovered that he had no manner's at all. Whereas I can realiably put 9 month old Bacca into sit-stays-downs-off-look!

I now have Indy sitting for his treats and even doing look! These would be the two areas to focus on, in my view for now. "Look" involves getting the dog to focus on you and only you when you call his name. Put treat in your hand. Call the dog's name and "look" (e.g. Indy, Look!) and bring the treat up to your eye. If your pup makes eye contact, then mark the behaviour (either a verbal YES or a click if you are going to clicker train) and give treat. Repeat, repeat, repeat.

The other trick they taught us at obedience school was "settle". Bring out pups favourite toy and play, play, play. Then say "Settle" remove the toy, get the pup into either a sit or down position, even if you have to push him there. As soon as he complies mark and treat.

It does seem to work. When my boys are starting to play rough, I tell them both to settle and they normally stop and look at me for more direction. The hardest part is having the treats at the ready to reward the behaviour!

Good luck and don't give up!