What do I do? Treats work inside, but not outside. Help!

x0emiroxy0x · 01-25-2011, 05:09 PM

When we are inside, Rocky will listen 99% of the time with treats (doesn't work if I walk away from him while my boyfriend is training...he doesn't want me out of sight)

However, when we are outside I believe he listens 3% of the time with treats the first 50% of the walk and maybe 15% once he has calmed down.

He goes on a walk every morning for 1-2 miles and one every afternoon for 1 mile. We are only not home about 3 hours every day so he is with us when we aren't at the gym or school.

Perhaps I should work more at home and try and see if he will work for a toy outside?

This barking thing started yesterday and he has now barked aggressively/defensively at 6 or 7 people.

I feel like a failure because I don't understand why he started doing it and I don't know why he suddenly stopped listening to me outside.

Maybe getting neutered will help?

onyx'girl · 01-25-2011, 05:20 PM

Make yourself irresistibly exciting, and play some before doing any obedience. Bring high value toy that he only gets on the walks along with high value food treats. Walks can get boring for a dog, especially if you go the same route all the time. When he was barking at the people, what did you do?
Neutering will not help a training issue.

**lhczth** · 01-25-2011, 05:33 PM

How old is Rocky?

x0emiroxy0x · 01-25-2011, 05:53 PM

He is 6 months...

When he barked, I instantly said "AH AH" (like a no noise) and we went the other direction until he ignored them and then he got a click and treat. This worked perfectly yesterday.

Today my boyffriend was the one holding the leash, but when he said AH AH and walked away, Rocky would freak out if I was not directly beside him.

Maybe I should continue the training walking alone? Two of us might be a distraction.

I know I can't expect it to work right away, but he caught on to everything else in a day or less!

A lady at the track made me feel so good yesterday..she said "I'm so glad you are training your dog. Most people don't care to" (Rocky barked at her and we did the UH UH)

onyx'girl · 01-25-2011, 06:10 PM

Just keep up with the consistancy. Many times when pups react(because they are going thru a fear stage) we need to make the stranger as unattractive as possible, so ignoring and redirecting the reactive behavior is recommended.
If you correct the pup, the pup may see the correction as coming from what they are reacting to.
So bring along that squeaky toy, yummy treats and try to read your pup, re-direct before Rocky starts to react.
I would still go together on the walks, Rocky needs to just get over it and move on, distractions included!

Stosh · 01-25-2011, 06:12 PM

Could be a fear stage- are you taking him to an obedience class?

x0emiroxy0x · 01-25-2011, 06:22 PM

Yep! He is in a puppy class with a golden retriever, boxer, a mix breed, and a little dashund (sp?)that is his best friend ever. He is kinda timid around the bigger dogs though.

01-25-2011, 05:09 PM	#1 (permalink)
x0emiroxy0x Master Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 918	What do I do? Treats work inside, but not outside. Help! When we are inside, Rocky will listen 99% of the time with treats (doesn't work if I walk away from him while my boyfriend is training...he doesn't want me out of sight) However, when we are outside I believe he listens 3% of the time with treats the first 50% of the walk and maybe 15% once he has calmed down. He goes on a walk every morning for 1-2 miles and one every afternoon for 1 mile. We are only not home about 3 hours every day so he is with us when we aren't at the gym or school. Perhaps I should work more at home and try and see if he will work for a toy outside? This barking thing started yesterday and he has now barked aggressively/defensively at 6 or 7 people. I feel like a failure because I don't understand why he started doing it and I don't know why he suddenly stopped listening to me outside. Maybe getting neutered will help?

01-25-2011, 05:20 PM	#2 (permalink)
onyx'girl Crowned Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: SW, MI Posts: 17,611	Make yourself irresistibly exciting, and play some before doing any obedience. Bring high value toy that he only gets on the walks along with high value food treats. Walks can get boring for a dog, especially if you go the same route all the time. When he was barking at the people, what did you do? Neutering will not help a training issue. __________________ Jane~ Kept by Onyx, Kacie and Gideon v Wildhaus aka Karlo

01-25-2011, 05:33 PM	#3 (permalink)
lhczth Administrator & LOTR Addict Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 11,698	How old is Rocky? __________________ Lisa Clark Zu Treuen Händen Working German Shepherd Dogs *South Michigan SchH and Police Club*

01-25-2011, 06:10 PM	#5 (permalink)
onyx'girl Crowned Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: SW, MI Posts: 17,611	Just keep up with the consistancy. Many times when pups react(because they are going thru a fear stage) we need to make the stranger as unattractive as possible, so ignoring and redirecting the reactive behavior is recommended. If you correct the pup, the pup may see the correction as coming from what they are reacting to. So bring along that squeaky toy, yummy treats and try to read your pup, re-direct before Rocky starts to react. I would still go together on the walks, Rocky needs to just get over it and move on, distractions included! __________________ Jane~ Kept by Onyx, Kacie and Gideon v Wildhaus aka Karlo

01-25-2011, 05:53 PM	#4 (permalink)
x0emiroxy0x Master Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 918	He is 6 months... When he barked, I instantly said "AH AH" (like a no noise) and we went the other direction until he ignored them and then he got a click and treat. This worked perfectly yesterday. Today my boyffriend was the one holding the leash, but when he said AH AH and walked away, Rocky would freak out if I was not directly beside him. Maybe I should continue the training walking alone? Two of us might be a distraction. I know I can't expect it to work right away, but he caught on to everything else in a day or less! A lady at the track made me feel so good yesterday..she said "I'm so glad you are training your dog. Most people don't care to" (Rocky barked at her and we did the UH UH)

01-25-2011, 06:12 PM	#6 (permalink)
Stosh Crowned Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: tyler texas Posts: 8,434	Could be a fear stage- are you taking him to an obedience class?

01-25-2011, 06:22 PM	#7 (permalink)
x0emiroxy0x Master Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 918	Yep! He is in a puppy class with a golden retriever, boxer, a mix breed, and a little dashund (sp?)that is his best friend ever. He is kinda timid around the bigger dogs though.

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