Dog training advice, please ...

[Flaxbee]

So, the neighbor's sweet golden lab/golden retriever is being thoroughly ignored by his owners. The dog - Gus - is young, probably 6-9 months old. He's driving me apeshit, because they let him run loose all day and all night and he has torn our porch to shreds, pesters the cats, has f*cked up the feral rescue thing I have going on, etc.

But since the neighbors ignore him and none of the local rescues can take him, I need to train him so that I can at least get a few things done when I go outside w/o having to tie him up to the garage door.

I have taught him to sit (though he seems to only comply when he knows there are doggie biscuits in my hand) and for the most part, to not jump (though yesterday he leapt up and smacked me in the jaw hard enough for me to see stars). Now I want to teach the little shit to STAY when I tell him to stay.

So. Dog people. How do I train a young, enthusiastic, energetic 'teenage' dog to stay? Please give me some pointers. No one else will help; I'm on my own. And I figure if I can get him trained to at least sit and stay, his owners (who aren't bad, just stoooopid - at least Gus isn't tied to a tree in their yard for endless hours) might actually like to have him around. The neighbors have a newborn (they bought this dog for their grade school son to compensate, I guess) and don't invest any time in Gus at all.

Any and all suggestions - real help - will be very much appreciated. Also keep in mind I don't have a lot of time to do this - maybe 20-30 minutes a day, max. Do I have any hope?

[puerco-bellies]

1. Umm. try this

[jpgray]

2. Be consistent. Don't repeat yourself overmuch. Scolding is considered attention.

Respond to behavior you want with attention and affection, and deny both when the dog engages in behavior you don't want. In other words, if the dog is leaping on you and drooling all over your shirt, don't give him that scratch behind the ears. :D Wait until Gus is calm and still, -then- provide the attention and affection. If you start paying attention only when Gus interrupts you or does something bad, remember that's a form of training in itself.

[Madrone]

3. First realize it won't be immediate!

That said, he'll probably surprise you with how fast he learns. Dogs WANT do do what you want them to do. The problem is getting them to understand what you want - once that's been accomplished you'll find he eagerly does what you tell him.

Don't be afraid to use the treats! It helps focus their attention. Later the treats won't matter. As for jumping - my uncle, a well-known hunting dog trainer (people in other countries would ship him their dogs to train, even) taught me an excellent trick for that one. Stand and pat your chest, essentially asking the dog to jump on you. NEVER show disapproval or say NO - get him to jump, then grab him and gently put him over on his back where you hold him briefly. When he gets back up, do it again. Don't be surprised if he won't. If he does - repeat the same process again, but you will likely find it won't take you more than twice. Remain positive and happy the entire time. What happens is reverse psychology. You're not angry - the dog thinks it's a game. But it's a game he doesn't like (being put on his back) - so he'll simply decide to stop playing it. After I did that with my dog when he was a puppy he not ONLY wouldn't jump on me - he wouldn't do it to anyone else either - no matter how much they cajoled him to do so! LOL

For stay - have him sit in front of you. Remain facing him while you back away slowly repeating the word stay. When he gets up say NO - put him back into a seated position and do it again. When you get away from him and he's seated call him - praising him a LOT when he comes and telling him "good stay!". Start with shorter distances and work your way up. Also - don't try to do to much at once. You don't want to frustrate yourself or the dog. Maybe a max of 5 attempts each time. When you see the light click on have him do it over and over a few times then stop. 15 minutes later, have him do it again for a few more times. Etc. He'll get it - and it won't take that long. Once the light comes on it's ON.

[Flaxbee]

4. thanks -- that's great advice (and fits into my time frame, too)

I have discovered (to my dismay) that I am not really very patient. Much easier for me to deal with cats. But this guy needs help, and I really believe his life will be much, much better and easier if he has some simple training in place. I do know dogs (esp. these two breeds) want to please and that once he 'gets' it he will be happy. I just want him to have a safe and happy life, and if he's a total pest, and gets fully grown w/o some simple training, the likelihood these people will keep him and/or pay attention to him will plummet. So I want to help him (and myself, so I don't get clobbered/slobbered on all the time, and so he stays put when I tell him to so I don't get shredded when I go to pick up a cat).

I'll start giving this a try. Simply learning "stay" would be so wonderful!

[BrklynLiberal]

5. Since they obviously do not give a damn about this dog..why not ask them if you can

adopt him, and really train him well....
Or perhaps, report them to the local animal abuse authorities..

[Flaxbee]

6. If I didn't have seven cats and

wasn't already totally overwhelmed, I might consider it. But I have no fenced-in yard, either, and honestly, am not really interested in having a dog right now.

I live in shit-for-brains rural western NC. Wayyyyy far away from the more enlightened folks near Asheville -- here, if I called local authorities, Gus would probably be put down within a week. This being a rural area, many, many, MANY dogs wander free; the owners feed him and give him some affection, he is not abused or beaten, so he's in better shape than many creatures out there. I just want to help him some, make him a good pet. I've called several local animal rescue groups and all have their hands full right now but I'm going to try to continue to place him. Figure he'll have a better chance if he can sit / stay ...

You know anyone who wants a sweet beast?

[BrklynLiberal]

11. I know someonme who lives in Eden, NC. how far is that from you?

Would the rescue places be able to provide someone to help you train him..?

[grasswire]

7. be sure that you don't give him the wrong kind of attention

Many people when praising a dog or trying to work with it use an excited high voice and a lot of energy. The dog gets worked up and is harder to manage.

Caesar Milan, the Dog Whisperer, recommends giving a dog time to be calm and submissive before working on training. He doesn't come up directly to a dog he's working with, he just sits down with his back to it. He says you must establish yourself as the pack leader with your calm, assertive energy. He says that dogs walk in packs to establish dominance, and recommends taking a walk with a dog on a leash to establish your authority. Shoulders high, leash loose, confident. Don't let the dog pull or get ahead of you. Make it wait while you go first.

He also says that working breeds need to work. He recommends fitting them with a small pack loaded with water bottles, and going for a walk. Apparently it works wonders in attitude.

You might want to watch his DVD.

[Flaxbee]

8. any other input from day-DUers?

kick

[Inchworm]

9. I think 'no' comes before stay

It's hard to harness all the energy of a hyper mutt. You probably don't have time to wear him out, but a few long stick/ball tosses in the beginning work for me. It let my dog know I was paying attention then he'd follow me all around the property contented.

When he did stuff like.. nose in trash, pee on tomato plant, eat bottom step of porch.. he'd get a "NO! Dumbass, c'mere"

That worked pretty good 90% of the time. He only screwed up when he was unattended.

Stay is not a good one for my hyper ass Akita. LoL.. he does "get the fuck down!" "c'mere buddy" "get out of there!" "You better get over here where I can see you, dumbass!" and "where's your ball" pretty good.

His BIG trick is sit, then shake, then other hand. I do it every time I feed him.

Hella little treats are good at first to let him know he's gonna get a reward :D

Kisses, hugs and belly rubs

:hi:

PS: the kisses, hugs, and belly rubs were for the pooch :P

[Parche]

10. hey Flaxee

Kitty cats are better, much better!!!

:woohoo: :hi: :hug: