Choosing a Training "Template" **CONFUSING**

McPatrickClan · 06-12-2011, 09:35 PM

We recently took in a 1-year-old GSD that we renamed Simba. We have had him fixed and he is now 18 mos. He is a good dog. We have three kids in the home (ages 6, 4 & 2) and they are homeschooled so he is around them all the time. He is really great with them and even lets them play with his ears, etc.

As is to be expected, we have a few unwanted behaviors with Simba. We have tried to leave him out in the house for longer periods of time, for example, and he has gotten into the trash. However, the fact that he was home hungry and did not get fed "on time" is probably a large contributing factor in that. We have also had problems with him ignoring our words to him at times (for example, will not come when called, will not stay, etc.) but generally a blast from the Pet Corrector bottle will do the trick.

Anyway, I am a philosophy/theology reader and I realize that there are usually systems or templates that govern all these little choices. The problem is as a friend told me, "the only thing two dog trainers can agree on is that the third trainer is wrong."

So I have a couple of sources we go to now. We have one friend who is a professional dog trainer, we watch Dog Whisperer, we watch other dog training shows, etc. But I wish I had a kind of "do-it-all" book or resource that, if practiced, would answer nearly any problem you might have and teach you how, if you are willing to work hard at it, to teach this smart GSD how to do it.

Our training goals are simple: we want a responsible, well-trained, obedient dog that we can comfortably allow off-leash. We want him to be totally calm around children and other dogs (this is the case most of the time now).

He is 100% GSD (at least that's what the DR papers say).

What resource would you guys suggest for that? Thanks in advance!

doggiedad · 06-12-2011, 09:46 PM

i think you should find a trainer. put the trash
can somewhere where the dog can't get to it,
close the bathroom door so he doesn't drink
out of the toilet or get the toilet tissue, put the
shoes away so he can't get them, crate the dog when you're not home,
think ahead to stay ahead.

McPatrickClan · 06-12-2011, 09:51 PM

I really struggled with the crate thing.... I felt like if he was in a crate when we were gone, it was because we were lazy about training him not to be in one.... I think I was wrong about that idea, though.

**MaggieRoseLee** · 06-12-2011, 09:54 PM

I agree with doggiedad on this one!

It's amazing how when we 'smart' humans put our minds to it and can MANAGE our dogs life and environment, most of the unwanted behaviors just disappear!

Dog training and classes would be great fun and a huge help too.

McPatrickClan · 06-12-2011, 10:25 PM

Sure, I agree that dog training and classes are a good idea but which one? Plus, I am a low-income grad student and have more time than cash. So a book or DVD set would be preferred. Thanks!

**JakodaCD OA** · 06-13-2011, 08:13 AM

I think you can alot more out of training via a class/instructor than from books/dvds.

It's a good way to see what WE as humans are doing wrong and how to correct. It's an objective view that most of us need in order to correct problems.

It's also a great way to socialize the dog to distractions and common 'life' experiences.

Do a google search for training places in your area, and then go check them out yourself..Watch a class (preferably a beginners because the dogs usually go in green and you can see what the trainers approach is to untrained dogs)..if you like what your seeing, sign up.

The payment is worth the results when you find a good class.

**gsdraven** · 06-13-2011, 08:26 AM

You can look for class through your township or local SPCA which may be cheaper than a training school. My local township offers a 10 wk class for $50 twice a year through the Adult Evening Education program.

Ucdcrush · 06-13-2011, 09:28 PM

For a book, I like this one for actual hands on training advice:

Amazon.com: Good Owners, Great Dogs (9780446675383): Brian Kilcommons, Sarah Wilson: Books

One thing I like about it is that it addresses the human experience of dog training. The one that comes to mind for me is that when training in public, do not be afraid to give a correction for concern over what other people are thinking. That said, it's not an all-positive method, but neither is it what I would call "correction based". To me it's very balanced.

There is a section on "doggie boot camp", basically a nice NILIF program.

06-12-2011, 09:35 PM	#1 (permalink)
McPatrickClan New Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 10	Choosing a Training "Template" CONFUSING We recently took in a 1-year-old GSD that we renamed Simba. We have had him fixed and he is now 18 mos. He is a good dog. We have three kids in the home (ages 6, 4 & 2) and they are homeschooled so he is around them all the time. He is really great with them and even lets them play with his ears, etc. As is to be expected, we have a few unwanted behaviors with Simba. We have tried to leave him out in the house for longer periods of time, for example, and he has gotten into the trash. However, the fact that he was home hungry and did not get fed "on time" is probably a large contributing factor in that. We have also had problems with him ignoring our words to him at times (for example, will not come when called, will not stay, etc.) but generally a blast from the Pet Corrector bottle will do the trick. Anyway, I am a philosophy/theology reader and I realize that there are usually systems or templates that govern all these little choices. The problem is as a friend told me, "the only thing two dog trainers can agree on is that the third trainer is wrong." So I have a couple of sources we go to now. We have one friend who is a professional dog trainer, we watch Dog Whisperer, we watch other dog training shows, etc. But I wish I had a kind of "do-it-all" book or resource that, if practiced, would answer nearly any problem you might have and teach you how, if you are willing to work hard at it, to teach this smart GSD how to do it. Our training goals are simple: we want a responsible, well-trained, obedient dog that we can comfortably allow off-leash. We want him to be totally calm around children and other dogs (this is the case most of the time now). He is 100% GSD (at least that's what the DR papers say). What resource would you guys suggest for that? Thanks in advance!

06-12-2011, 09:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
doggiedad Crowned Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Jenkintown,Pa. Posts: 9,853	i think you should find a trainer. put the trash can somewhere where the dog can't get to it, close the bathroom door so he doesn't drink out of the toilet or get the toilet tissue, put the shoes away so he can't get them, crate the dog when you're not home, think ahead to stay ahead. __________________ "Life Without A Dog Is A Life Unfulfilled"

06-12-2011, 09:54 PM	#4 (permalink)
MaggieRoseLee The Agility Rocks! Moderator Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Bushkill, PA (The Poconos!) Posts: 22,215	I agree with doggiedad on this one! It's amazing how when we 'smart' humans put our minds to it and can MANAGE our dogs life and environment, most of the unwanted behaviors just disappear! Dog training and classes would be great fun and a huge help too. __________________ MACH2 Bretta Lee Wildhaus CGC TC TQX Glory B Wildhaus NA, NJ, NF + LOL (still) "*Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much." - Oscar Wilde*

06-13-2011, 08:13 AM	#6 (permalink)
JakodaCD OA Moderator Join Date: May 2000 Location: Old Lyme, CT USA Posts: 14,238	I think you can alot more out of training via a class/instructor than from books/dvds. It's a good way to see what WE as humans are doing wrong and how to correct. It's an objective view that most of us need in order to correct problems. It's also a great way to socialize the dog to distractions and common 'life' experiences. Do a google search for training places in your area, and then go check them out yourself..Watch a class (preferably a beginners because the dogs usually go in green and you can see what the trainers approach is to untrained dogs)..if you like what your seeing, sign up. The payment is worth the results when you find a good class. __________________ Diane Danger Danger vom Kleinen Hain aka Masi "Angel" Jakoda's Bewitchen Sami CD OA OAJ OAC NGC OJC RS-O GS-N JS-O TT HIC CGC "Angel" Steinwald's Four x Four CGC HIC TT Harmonyhill's Hy Jynx NA NAJ NAC NJC RS-N JS-N HIC Jakoda's Jagged Edge

06-13-2011, 08:26 AM	#7 (permalink)
gsdraven Moderator Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Mont Co, PA Posts: 4,630	You can look for class through your township or local SPCA which may be cheaper than a training school. My local township offers a 10 wk class for $50 twice a year through the Adult Evening Education program. __________________ Jamie Raven (GSD) - December 8, 2007 Kaiser (GSD) - November 2009 Lead The Way Life's Abundance

06-12-2011, 09:51 PM	#3 (permalink)
McPatrickClan New Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 10	I really struggled with the crate thing.... I felt like if he was in a crate when we were gone, it was because we were lazy about training him not to be in one.... I think I was wrong about that idea, though.

06-12-2011, 10:25 PM	#5 (permalink)
McPatrickClan New Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 10	Sure, I agree that dog training and classes are a good idea but which one? Plus, I am a low-income grad student and have more time than cash. So a book or DVD set would be preferred. Thanks!

06-13-2011, 09:28 PM	#8 (permalink)
Ucdcrush Master Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 661	For a book, I like this one for actual hands on training advice: Amazon.com: Good Owners, Great Dogs (9780446675383): Brian Kilcommons, Sarah Wilson: Books Amazon.com: Good Owners, Great Dogs (9780446675383): Brian Kilcommons, Sarah Wilson: Books One thing I like about it is that it addresses the human experience of dog training. The one that comes to mind for me is that when training in public, do not be afraid to give a correction for concern over what other people are thinking. That said, it's not an all-positive method, but neither is it what I would call "correction based". To me it's very balanced. There is a section on "doggie boot camp", basically a nice NILIF program. __________________ Proud papa of Riku and Tuki. RIP Dana.

Remove Advertisements Sponsored Links
German Shepherd Advertisement