My dog listens (for the most part) but not for long

kryznic · 10-29-2009, 11:01 AM

What I mean is if I tell him to sit, he will. But if I take a couple steps away he gets up. Sometimes he wont sit right away either, it takes a few commands, or he will do it but VERY VERY slowly.

When I take him to the dog park its worse, he will sit, but only for like a second, then he sees the other dogs and starts whining and the closer I get him to the gate the less I can control him. Anywhere else, he is usually fine. And pre neuter he would ignore me completely inside the dog park. The couple times I have taken after his procedure he seems to come by me more than usual.

He can lay and sit and give the paw, thats about it. I would love to teach him more tricks but I dunno how to. He is a serious jumper, easily cleaing a 4.5 foot fence like its nothing.

he also growls at random people, mainly males but once he smells them usually or I pet him while they reach into to pet him he's fine after that. its just the initial sighting that he does this. Not sure how to cure this either.

Oh, one other BIG problem. At least big to me (not my fiance). He will NOT at all sleep in his nice big fluffy bed we made him in the corner of our bedroom. its a big fluffy pillow with a nice big blanket and some of our old pillows so he can have our sent. It takes so much work to get him to lay on it and then its only for a few mins. He will lay next to the bed on the floor or in front and wait for us to fall asleep and then jump in the bed. We have a king size bed and he curls up real small but I dont want him in the bed. At least not every night, only when I want him in it. And I can't keep him out, how do you keep him out of the bed when your asleep? He love to pull stuff when no one can see him its like he knows no one can see him. I would love for him to go to his bed on his own and sleep there all night unless I call him in to sleep with us.

Thanks for any help.

-Chris
He is a 16 month old Boxer.

Keechak · 10-29-2009, 01:35 PM

it sounds like you just haven't been reinforcing the good behaviors well enough. Do you give him a really high value treat every time he sits? Something like Chicken Liver?

kryznic · 10-29-2009, 01:52 PM

No I have not been doing that, I was afraid I would fatten him up too much, he is really lean. And really small treats are like sprinkles to him. I would try that if I knew of a lean treat that wasn't too big or small.

Keechak · 10-29-2009, 02:39 PM

if you increase his treat intake simply decrease his kibble if he starts to look a little bigger. Chicken liver are extremely healthy treats anyway. they sell them for a $1.80 a pound usually and then just take them home throw them in a strainer and rinse them and then stick them on a plate and microwave them for a few minutes until they are hard.

Xeph · 10-29-2009, 02:58 PM

Quote:

What I mean is if I tell him to sit, he will. But if I take a couple steps away he gets up. Sometimes he wont sit right away either, it takes a few commands, or he will do it but VERY VERY slowly.

Are you backing away? Because unless you have a very solid stay you're telling your dog to come to you.

Also, stop repeating your commands. You're only teaching the dog to ignore you. Do you mean it the first time, or the fiftieth? I tell my dogs to sit once (with exceptions as we are all human). One of my obedience trainers always told me "Say it once, make it happen!" and that's what you should do.

You needn't be rough with the dog, but if you told him to sit and he doesn't, guide him into it (don't bother saying sit again).

Quote:

When I take him to the dog park its worse, he will sit, but only for like a second, then he sees the other dogs and starts whining and the closer I get him to the gate the less I can control him.

He's past his stimulus threshold. He can't tolerate sitting because he's so excited to go play. The simple solution? Don't allow him to do that. It may take you a few tries (a lot of tries...) but you need to be able to have him sit (From a distance far from the gait) and reward him for that. The moment he starts straining he's too close, back him up, make him sit, and reward him. When he has done that, he is allowed to go into the park. You need to work him closer and closer everytime until he's finally sitting quietly at the gate.

He'll figure out pretty quickly he doesn't get to go through the gate until he chills out. This could take WEEKS, but it takes patience and lots of time to reinforce.

kryznic · 10-29-2009, 03:06 PM

sounds like a lot of work but if it works then it will be totally worth it. Thanks for the tips on the treats and the commands. We will get started tonight!

Xeph · 10-29-2009, 03:09 PM

Rule #1 in regards to owning a dog: It is a lot of work.

Rule #2: The dog will teach you all sorts of things not only about being a better dog owner, but a better person.

Rule #3: It's freakin FUN MAN!!!!! xD!

kryznic · 10-29-2009, 03:31 PM

Yes, seeing now how much work it actually is. Took it for granted having other people in the house that took care of our last dog. There is a lot of fun but frustration at the same time. I think once I get my girlfriend to follow what I have been doing and what I want to do and stick to it then it will be much less stressful.

Xeph · 10-29-2009, 08:36 PM

That is very much the right attitude ^_^