Dog Community

Does great alone, but easily distracted...

Posted : 10/11/2006 12:52:11 PM

Presely is 9 months old now and completed basic 1 when she was 6 MO. She does great with her comands (sit, stay, come, down, leave it and paw) when it's just us (wife, me and the dog) but if she is playing with another dog and I tell her to come, it's like I don't exist. When it's just us and we're out off-lead walking in the woods I can tell her to sit, stay and come and she for the most part will do it immediatly (sometimes I have to say it twice because she is sniffing something interesting).

For instance we went hiking with two friends and their golden this weekend and Presley as usual had to be out in front of the pack wich is fine with me since she never goes more then 20-30 feet ahead of us. With the golden around if i say stay ro come she doesn't even aknowledge my presence or that I'm speaking.

I practice 'come' with her when we are out and never when I need to put her in the crate so she doesn't link 'come" with not being able to play or anything as I have read. Am I expecting to much from a 9MO old pup.

I'm toying with the idea fo going to a Basic 2 class but she knows all the comands I really care for her to, I just need her to do them ALL them time.

Thoughts and advice is greatly appreciated.

Deb

Posted : 10/11/2006 1:24:49 PM

There is a huge leap from no distractions at home to while playing with another dog.

I would ramp up to this more slowly, adding distractions gradually. Try going out into the hallway or front yard and practicing there. Then a quiet street corner. At the bank. With a friend's dog on a leash pretty far away. Then closer.

You see what I mean...

I also would not put her in a position where she's learning how to blow you off. One way to do this is to not try to call her or whatever while she's playing until you are pretty sure you can get a response you like. This means that you have to physically go and get her when she plays for awhile.

mudpuppy

Posted : 10/11/2006 1:28:04 PM

well, this is a very common problem. Best approach is to work gradually towards the goal. You KNOW she won't come if you call her while she's playing with another dog, so don't call her-- this task is too difficult for her at the moment. I'd first work on the necessity to call her twice when she's alone yet distracted. That's not a desired response right there, you're teaching her she can ignore you because you'll just call her again. Then try having her two feet from you while the golden is barely visible off in the distance. If she'll obey under that situation, make it a little more difficult next time. Also, you may need to temporarily pull out the "big guns" rewards for these difficult training tasks-- is she a toy nut? bring her favorite toy. Likes food? bring a big hunk of juicy chicken. Try to be more interesting than the golden-- do fun unexpected things like suddenly run off in another direction, or fall down and make squeaking noises, or pretend to find a juicy morsel (which naturally you dropped for this purpose), or horrors, go pay a lot of attention to the other dog.

Eric Mies

Posted : 10/11/2006 2:00:21 PM

OK, so the name of thsi ghame is "baby steps" - thanks

I'll try your suggestions....

Firestorm

Posted : 10/12/2006 8:12:15 AM

Continue the dog's training. Practice, practice Practice. It takes a long time for them to be reliable with distractions.