Just realized I am a terrible trainer

Elana55 · 06-15-2009, 07:13 AM

Yeah.. at 10 years old I don't think you can Reformat his hard drive...

I know you are frustrated but I just have this picture of Brutus out in his House during the day while you are working so hard to make sure he has that dog house (and dog food). Over top of Brutus is a Cartoon Balloon and he is dreaming and saying to you, "And I'm the one who can't be trained?????"

I have learned a lot from your threads posted attempting to train this dog. Everyone comes in and has some really good ideas and advice and while none of it may work on Brutus, I can plagerize at will on other dogs I train!

And remember.. Brutus makes your day Job look easy!

hulkamaniac · 06-15-2009, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KBLover

Try to Premack it.

He wants to see in the trash can? He has to sit. When he does, take something out and let him sniff it, then put it away somewhere.

He wants it (or something else)? Have him do another command, maybe lie down.

Or, heck, if he sits, let him have at the trash can. The whole thing. Or that could be a jackpot reward. But he has to sit first. I've read somewhere, might have been in CU, that giving a dog what they want this way can make them "want it less" (I think it's more that they hone in on you since you've made yourself the key to getting what they want).

I know this is true with Wally so I've stopped "disallowing" things (he got like a kid - I tell him to stay away, he's looking up at it like "I wonder what's up there"), but instead make him give me something before he can go jump on the pillows or sniff the sheets for 20 mintues, or get his dinner.

That's a great idea except that this dog knows no commands except for "crate". I tried over and over and over and over to teach him sit. He still will not sit on command. Crate is the only command he knows. This is what leads me to believe that he's not that bright. He hates the door on the crate being shut which happens 95% of the time he goes in the crate on command, yet he will still go in the crate on command.

Marsh Muppet · 06-15-2009, 12:31 PM

I'll repeat what I said when you first got the dog: teach and train, then teach and train some more. Be as consistent as humanly possible. And any time you get something from the old guy, you immediately plant the flag and declare victory. I'm not saying you should give up on him, but that you should adjust your expectations (downward) and concentrate on enjoying his company. He sounds like good company--if you can avoid getting frustrated over his self-directedness.

hulkamaniac · 06-15-2009, 05:58 PM

I hate having to adjust my expectations. I feel like I failed. I'm used to the fact that if I work hard enough, beat enough bushes, knock down enough doors and smash stuff enough times that I get what I want.

Marsh Muppet · 06-15-2009, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hulkamaniac

I'm used to the fact that if I work hard enough, beat enough bushes, knock down enough doors and smash stuff enough times that I get what I want.

I used to be the same way. I got married and had a kid, and now I'm completely cured.

Curbside Prophet · 06-15-2009, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marsh Muppet

I used to be the same way. I got married and had a kid, and now I'm completely cured.

I need to delete this before my gf reads it.

Marsh Muppet · 06-15-2009, 09:21 PM

Resistance is futile.

poodleholic · 06-16-2009, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marsh Muppet

I used to be the same way. I got married and had a kid, and now I'm completely cured.

Yup. Cured me, too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marsh Muppet

Resistance is futile.

ROFL!

Cracker · 06-16-2009, 07:53 AM

Hulk, I'm wondering if maybe he is a dog that simply doesn't want to sit for reasons we can't see? Have you tried to teach something other than sit? He gets "crate" which is pretty damn good.

LOL for the married and with kids crowd. I'm neither but I had to reduce my expectations when I realized that my dog was not ME and that I had to work with what she gave me and that she and I were just two ingredients...the cake is only as good as the ingredients used to make it.

wvasko · 06-16-2009, 08:15 AM

Quote:

LOL for the married and with kids crowd. I'm neither but I had to reduce my expectations when I realized that my dog was not ME and that I had to work with what she gave me and that she and I were just two ingredients...the cake is only as good as the ingredients used to make it.

Please read the above quote and think about it for a while, so few words that say so much.

Elana55 · 06-16-2009, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cracker

LOL for the married and with kids crowd. I'm neither but I had to reduce my expectations when I realized that my dog was not ME and that I had to work with what she gave me and that she and I were just two ingredients...the cake is only as good as the ingredients used to make it.

Looks like I have another close relative separated from the family at birth by circumstance.... this time in Canada.... LOL

hulkamaniac · 06-16-2009, 10:08 AM

I've been thinking and thinking about what's been said here. I don't think my expectations are too unreasonable. I can accept that I'll probably never be able to take him to a picnic as he's probably never going to be able to curb his food appetites. I can accept that he's always going to follow his nose into everything.

All I'm wanting from him is to stay out of the trash, stay off my counters and know how to sit. I don't think this is terribly unreasonable. He did actually calm down in the crate yesterday and I walked over there, clicked him and treated him heavily. As soon as I turned around he started howling again.

I want that cartoon mentioned earlier.

peppy264 · 06-16-2009, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cracker

...I had to work with what she gave me and that she and I were just two ingredients...the cake is only as good as the ingredients used to make it.

I think my dog would say the same thing.

Cracker · 06-16-2009, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elana55

Looks like I have another close relative separated from the family at birth by circumstance.... this time in Canada.... LOL

My mum was always taking in stray humans...Probably why I spend more time with dogs. Maybe we ARE related..lol

And Peppy, are you saying I'm a dog? LOL

peppy264 · 06-16-2009, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cracker

And Peppy, are you saying I'm a dog? LOL

Not in my imagination thats for sure .... but I haven't checked thru the pictures thread yet.