[Skyylar]

I'll admit to being a bit baffled right now. I know we've only had our boy for a couple of days but I've never seen a dog with so little interest in training.

I do clicker training as it has worked well for me with past dogs but I'm wondering if it's possible to do at all with Trouble. He seems distracted by everything. Mind you I even tried using the bathroom of all places to train in. He found things to pay attention to including TOILET PAPER...any little thing. I understand pups are interested in everything in their environment but damn, I cannot get his attention to save my life, not for food, not for toys....nada..

So the question is, how do you train a dog that isn't motivated? How do I motivate him?

 

[trainingjunkie]

Just keep working. You need to build the game. Motivation comes with understanding. Train just before meals with a good treat. Just charge the clicker. Play that until it's fun. Keep the sesssions really short. It'll come.

 

[Laurelin]

Why not use the toilet paper to your advantage? Mia loves shredding toilet paper and always has. It works well as a reward, actually.

 

[haileyandbandit]

You could try higher value treats, you may have just not found the most interesting type of food for him!

 

[Skyylar]

Why not use the toilet paper to your advantage? Mia loves shredding toilet paper and always has. It works well as a reward, actually.

I never thought of it that way! Thanks for the idea. If this doesn't work I will try some higher value treats.

 

[KBLover]

Why not use the toilet paper to your advantage? Mia loves shredding toilet paper and always has. It works well as a reward, actually.

This.

Use what the dog is interested in. Don't fight it. Exploit it.

 

[Pawzk9]

You've had him two days? Give it time. Also is it possible that you are asking for too big a behavior?

 

[Skyylar]

Pawz, we are asking for him to look, toward us when we make a certain noise. Basically attention exercises. It's always been the first thing we work on and I've never had a problem before. I understand it will take time. I suppose I'm just used to dogs who are highly food motivated and can't wait to get to work. Trouble is mellow and kind of a little lazy and could care less about what I'm babbling about.