Self Rewarding??? - Page 1

A quick background:

Galan is my first GSD. I have wanted one since I was 12 years old and,oh lets say- over 20 years later I finally have him. I didn't start my SchH training right away, like I had planned.
Next thing I knew 2 years went by and we are just joined a club and started training. When I first got him, I had been told to "allow" him to jump, nip and pretty much do whatever he wants (got all my info online, first mistake!)...

Well rude awakening LOL, Now every time I tell him he is good after we complete an exercise or give him his release command he jumps all over me and gets in my face. And the poor guy gets scolded now. Gives me the "What?! We always do this!" look. I could go on and on about the mistakes I have made in NOT training him (I was afraid if I trained him one way and it was wrong, that it would be harder to retrain him, if that makes sense.)

He has SUPER toy drive and NO food drive. When I have a toy and I'm trying to tell him to "Fuss" He is jumping all over me., trying to grab it...My club president told me to put the toy away and I have to get him to show me some respect, before he gets a reward. No more toys unless "I" give them to him. They are mine. 

If I stick the toy in my back pocket, he tries to steal it! SO while practicing at home, I put all the toys away. After our training I let him loose and went inside to go grab a toy so we could play for awhile. A few minutes later when I came back outside, I found he had already rewarded himself :/  The wrenches that were in the bucket were all on the ground :) And to think I spent so much money on TOYS! ~Stacy

Thanks, and before someone else says it I will point it out myself...Yes my yard needs a good raking, and of course I snapped the picture on the corner of the yard where they all poop. It has since been cleaned up. One of my 12 year olds chores

 This is interesting to me...not many people seem to be in this situation with me. My dog has next to no training at 2 years of age. I knew what I was buying when I got him, so I expected it but it does make training difficult once you discover that yes, this dog is in fact a toy monster and others didn't pick up on it because they had limited interaction with him.... Training a mouthy, poor mannered puppy in OB is one thing...training a mouthy, poor mannered adult male GSD is a cardio workout. Especially if you don't want to dampen drive, he's just begun learning focus and it's hard to find that balance....neeeeeed to find a TD soon.

Galan looks and sounds like the coolest of dogs. Thanks for sharing that story and good luck with him!
SS

Thanks for the kind words all, and I am so glad I am not alone MollyandJack! Let keep eachother updated! I am a nasty cigarette smoker and training really "puts it on me." ...Best of luck with you finding a TD. Mine is great and is also is  a guy who can talk dogs all night, like me... :))
I was SO afraid of dampening his drive, I let him dominate me...I have owned big dogs (and small!) For many years. He is so smart, I didn't even REALIZE he was being dominant, since he does show submission towards me...Like when I try to make him "platz" properly instead of with his hips sideways. My clubmembers said that will be VERY difficult to break, along with the side sitting...Funny enough once we have worked for a few minutes and his drive is up he will sit nice and straight and alert! Anyway (sorry I jump around in my story telling!) I told my clubmembers that while I was leaving my PetSmart he tried to go nose-to-nose with a boxer to sniff, which I do not allow...I said firmly without yelling, "NO" and I gave him a quick check and release. Galan DROPPED to the floor and cowered, while I stood there slack-jawed and thought, "Oh My God! People must think I beat him!" My TD had a good laugh and said "He's got you wrapped!"

Focus, no Galan ONLY will focus on TOYS. I have been trying to be patient, I know how important that is. And I have to remember he DOES NOT know what I want him to do ALL the time. He's confused (and at 2 with no discipline, they think they are MEN) ...Now he DOES know what "Sitz" mean, and for the last few days has been completely ignoring me...I have had to start using a prong for those quick corrections....SO we have SO MUCH to work on. And that's just for the BH.

I will try to get some video of of training tonight, that is if my husband gets home in time to take me to training. I'd love to get some feedback!

Shelley,
Thank you, I will be sending you a pm later. About a personal matter :)
Stacy