Too Busy to Train

[adas]

Originally Posted by Freestep

Really? The guy's in a wheelchair and works 14 hour days. Remember, he also has to eat and sleep somewhere in there... IMO his situation really warrants a professional to help him out.

Yes I work, but I do not at all need to work. I totally love what i do and that is why work the 12-14 hours. I am single and eat and sleep on site, have friends over, have a pool and since I am in Hawaii, I do not need to hibernate for the winter
.
Nimai's disposition is not really troubling as there are 4 homeless shelters, a US vets and a US vets "crazy house" nearby so the area always seems to have issues around me. There are no police patrols, or city electrical, water sewer and no MP's anymore as it is a former military base that has been de-commissioned and the military is backing out fast. It is known that I have a German Shep that is quite protective and I have had no theft problems at all. And 750 mostly vacant acres around me.

But I really need to be in control of Nimai as the threat of him biting and me being sued is certainly there as well as protecting the punk from cars and other dangers.

So all your suggestions and training methods are very welcome.

Francis

[Holmeshx2]

Just a few things. While I can fully appreciate an actual class might be difficult for you right now I do believe a trainer would be of great use.. HOWEVER, some people think training takes so much time but honestly if you can set aside 10 minutes a day to train you will see a huge difference in the dog. People think training takes so much time but honestly if you set aside just a few minutes even 5 minutes twice a day which every single person should be able to make work will go a long way in teaching a dog. Also you have a huge advantage that you have the dog with you all day. Does the dog like treats? If so keep a treat pouch with you all day when you go to the mail box have dog sit reward have him stay while you put mail in or take mail out "good stay" and reward. You have all day to reinforce the behaviors you are looking for and putting a name and reward with the action that is HUGE if you utilize it. Things like have already been recommended don't just let him offleash then call him to you when you go to take him away he will learn not to come because it means something bad (play ends) so you just don't do it until his recall is solid. When he comes to you tell him "good come" reward then tell him "go play" or whatever you want so he can continue playing. One time he gets to you hook his leash then let him play another minute longer and keep doing it so he learns not every time he comes to you he's going to have to leave.

Oh almost forgot an E-collar will not make a difference because you still have to train the behaviors with the E collar its just a tool not a trainer. So if you use a prong, an E collar, a favorite toy, a clicker, treats and marker word etc.. all will do basically the same because it all still takes effort on your part and kind of the same time if you find what works best for the dog. So no an E collar will not train him if you dont put the time into training but like I said you can do it with a trivial amount of time spent each day you dont need hours just 5 minutes in the morning and evening maybe 1 more during lunch time and you would be golden plus little quick reinforcements during the day when he does something good. Don't worry about correcting bad worry about reinforcing the good behavior.

[Freestep]

Originally Posted by Holmeshx2

don't just let him offleash then call him to you when you go to take him away he will learn not to come because it means something bad (play ends) so you just don't do it until his recall is solid. When he comes to you tell him "good come" reward then tell him "go play" or whatever you want so he can continue playing. One time he gets to you hook his leash then let him play another minute longer and keep doing it so he learns not every time he comes to you he's going to have to leave.

Yes. He needs to only have good things come to him when he comes to you. Treats, play, whatever he loves most. You probably know this already, but never, EVER punish or scold a dog after he's come to you, even if he was doing something bad right before. His doggie mind will remember getting punished because he came to you, not because of what he was doing just before. Coming when called should always carry asylum.

Sorry I misread how old he is (I was just talking to someone with a 12 week old). At 12 months you could use an e-collar, but let a professional trainer show you how. Doing it wrong can have the opposite effect of what you intend.

[adas]

Seems to be a new group of GSD buddies here, so I will give u a bit of Nimai history. I got him from a breeder who had him as the pick of the litter from imported German Parents. He has a long German name, (but who cares). He developed an out-turned left leg and paw and was not judged any good as breeding stock, so he became the yard dog at the breeders farm. I saw him being offered on Craigs for a couple hundred about 3 months ago and had him flown over from another island. His did not limp on his leg, but it only looked weird. About 2 months ago when we were coming into our compound I let him off leash and he bolted to the neighbors dog to play, but just then the neighbors worker ran him over with the dual back wheels of his truck, (right over his head, like a speed bump). Nimai was not expected to live and it was thought he had brain damage and or had broken his spine, but after great Vet workmanship in 3 days of intensive care and $3500.00 later I was able to take him home and play nurse for him for a month. In the last month, he has become "normal" and puppy-like, but will have a bad limp. He can gallop OK, but his cantor and walk where he must put all his weight on the leg produces a bad limp.

He really remembers the neighbors yard and every time we go by the neighbor, Nimai goes into warp speed to get out of that area.

I got Nimai, right after Rasa, who was killed 3 1/2 months ago. We were coming home down the road on a walk and Rasa was on leash, by my side and a hit and run driver killed her and almost got me.

One very important thing i will need to discipline myself is to never give a command that I think Nimai will not carry out. Such as the "come", stay, etc. He picks up routines or body language or thinks some commands are optional Very Very, quickly.

francis


francis