11 1/2 weeks.... training a bit tough :)

[Cetan]

Okay, needing a bit of advice here.

He's good at learning and following instructions when there's treats or toys involved, but if I have neither, there's no remote chance in getting him to do what I want... save for "go potty".

I've been doing some clicker/marker word training throughout the day. Outside ?f that, he doesn't really care to listen. How do I get him to want to listen to any command, treat or no treat?

[GatorDog]

Well being a young puppy still, he's gonna have a short attention span. I'd check out the videos that Michael Ellis from Leerburg has made about engagement. Personally, I try to always have some kind of reward on me at most times because I don't want to give him the option of ignoring me, or getting him used to doing commands for nothing because that's no fun to them =P He won't want to work for you if he knows that he won't get any reward for it most of the time.

The Michael Ellis School for Dog Trainers

[MaggieRoseLee]

He's just a baby! Attention span of a gnat! So if you aren't pretty amazingly fascinating, you aren't going to 'win' in competition with the fun and excitement of NEW stuff when out and about. And that's NORMAL and what we want with a pup, curious and comfortable.

While they are LEARNING to listen and pay attention to us.

The transition from our quiet home and training, then into the world and training (distractions is the 'official' term) is exactly why many of us sign up for the dog classes! Huge help in a safe environment to help teach US how to get our pups to focus and learn (love to learn) from us.

Getting them to 'engage' is key and that is trained!!!! So more importantly than the time we spend to have them learn to 'sit' or 'down' or 'whatever' ................ the time we spend teaching them to love to ENGAGE and be with us if key! The Michael Ellis stuff is great, another link with information is (click this ---> Engagement - Key to Training

[doggiedad]

i slowly phased out treats but i always praised.

[Cetan]

He's due for a class here soon, a little late due to a miscommunication with his rounds of puppy shots.

If he's "just a puppy" I can accept that. :-) Some books and websites seem to be a little more expecting of the puppies.

[PaddyD]

11 1/2 weeks
If he is responding to potty training you are doing well.
Anything else is gravy.
He's a baby and your expectations are too high.
Lighten up and s l o w down.

[Cetan]

Originally Posted by PaddyD

11 1/2 weeks
If he is responding to potty training you are doing well.
Anything else is gravy.
He's a baby and your expectations are too high.
Lighten up and s l o w down.

I'm not expecting him to be an all-star right now. Most of the material i have been reading seems to imply their puppies around 12 weeks have a firm grasp on sit/down/stay/come.

My biggest concern was that I am behind, not ahead. I definitely prefer experiences from the forum folks over books.

Believe me, I'm definitely not pushing him.

[Emoore]

Originally Posted by Cetan

Most of the material i have been reading seems to imply their puppies around 12 weeks have a firm grasp on sit/down/stay/come.

Sure mine did. . . when I was holding hot dogs. Actually "down" was a serious challenge, I don't think we had that at 12 weeks, even with hot dogs.

[PaddyD]

Originally Posted by Cetan

I'm not expecting him to be an all-star right now. Most of the material i have been reading seems to imply their puppies around 12 weeks have a firm grasp on sit/down/stay/come.

My biggest concern was that I am behind, not ahead. I definitely prefer experiences from the forum folks over books.

Believe me, I'm definitely not pushing him.

Don't measure your puppy by what you think other people are doing at the same age. Like children, puppies each have their own speed and we have to suck it up and go at THEIR speed rather than that of our expectations. Some puppies start slowly because they are sensitive and intelligent then once they get going they pass their peers. Consider Albert Einstein.

[MaggieRoseLee]

Think you may want to brush up on your clicker training too. I know I read up on it all the time to make sure I am marking at the right time, not going too fast or slow with the progression, starting up random reinforcement at the right time......

Great tips on --> Intro to Clicker Training (perfect for puppies!)

And keep in mind, though many of us have a marker word, a clicker really does work much better/faster/clearer. Specially for a puppy. So when we are able to take the time to learn our part of clicker training, those amazing puppies then really take to THEIR part!