Hard head - Page 1

I had Argo trained to sit and stay at the door till I opened it and told him it was ok to enter. Well, last week it was raining so we just ran inside the door from the yard. Now he gives me issue to sit at the door. We will spend like 5 min at the door with me saying said née over and over again. I wish he would do what I ask and not make everything a power struggle. Also, when we are out in a strange environment he gets so excited he walks me. Any time he gets excited he stops listening and pulls me on the leash. I spend 1 hour everyday first playing ball to tire him out but that energy never stops. I use a chain choke collar but correction does not phase him. He is 2 years old and came to live with us about 3 months ago. Should I go to a prong?

If the choke collar is no longer (or never did) affect Argo, then yes I would probably try a pinch for a while until
the behavior is under control and he knows you're not messing around. I too have a stubborn one in this aspect
and the choke collar does not phase him. I vary which collar I'm using while training while using the ball as his
reward. I can, for the most part, work him only with the choke collar now. .02

Melissa

I have a dog that loves to be out in front, and some dogs are more trouble than others to teach to heel properly. HOWEVER, most of the time it's a training problem, not the fault of the dog or the collar. Timing is VERY important in heeling. You must correct the dog the instant its shoulder gets past your knee, and the leash must be slack except when giving a correction.
 
Here's an excellent video on teaching the heel. I hope it helps.

I know this is not a schutzhund training video. Maybe other members can find a good one for the schutzhund-style heeling.  I did search, but the ones I found showed trainers working with dog that already had a very good heel, and did not focus on correcting problems.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIdeT5S9u4Y&feature=related 

Thanks, I didn't know about the shoulder and my knee. And yes, I'm the first to say I'm clueless. My dog is smart but this is the first trained dog I've had. I'm trying hard not to screw him up.

You need to get with a trainer and get some first hand guidance. 

You have a lot of "SGO" stuff going on in your dealing with this dog.  Why would you repeat "nee" over and over.  Tell (command, don't ask)  the dog to do something once, if the dog understands the command and decides to not follow it that is disobedience.  You need to correct a dog for disobedience, not nag it with "nee, nee, nee."  Are you a Monty Python fan by any chance?  If he understands the sit command at your door or anywhere else; command him to sit and give him 2 seconds.  If he is not sitting with in 2 seconds make him sit.  Don't ask again, don't nag, just do it.  Dogs are not children or people.  They respond best when things are black and white and very consistent.  When he is correct praise and reward.  Instead of 1 hour playing ball spend 10 minutes doing obedience and reward with the ball when he is correct.  I never take my dogs out to play ball for an hour.  We go out and do some fun, high energy obedience and they earn that ball.  When you get some consistency and control everything else seems to fall into place. 

Jim

You need to be taught along with your dog how this all works.

What Moons and Jim said!  You're obviously new to dog training, and need help with learning the basics of teaching your dog.

Definitely what Jim and Moons stated. And please don't think they or we are being mean. It's funny, (but not funny) how all of us have different visions or wants or needs for our dogs. And yes it depends on the dogs purpose. And my belief along with a few others is to have a well mannered dog. Some of my friends will think I am mean/or strict/too strict with my dogs IE; I just don't let them run up to them when they visit or if the neighbor comes over into my yard,(no fences). The dogs must get a command from me in order for them to "go see" the friend(s).

I think only certain types of people want certain types of dogs. Meaning say, a service dog/handler to a dog/trainer to a pet/owner.  On one hand it is the owner's training, background and possibly job that makes them train, teach their dog a certain way. I'm with Jim; Dog gets one command. One. First though, make sure the dog understands that command. We each have our own ways of training to get the results we are looking for. For me, if this was my dog I would make sure he knows the command. Keep it simple; one word, same word every time. Only for that action. Once "KNOWING" that command and if he disobeys/ignores the command then correction. Determine LEVEL of correction to make him follow the command. I was taught that when my dog disobeys the command to then do three (correct) commands/actions in succession. If he/she fails/disobeys/ignores than start all over. All my training is rewarded by praise or toys. No food or treats.

For the door issue; "STAY" means stay. Doesn't matter if he's in a "SIT", "DOWN" or whatever. He doesn't move to you give the release command. If he's not staying back to square one. Consistency. I'm just curious......... Why do you have him sit before entering? Are you ? "calming" him down to go into the house? Does he usually race to get through the door? I'm not being mean or making fun just curious for me. Also depending on his actions at time of the command it might not be a "power struggle" might be as simple as confusion? Along with other things. For strange environments; You are the boss! Everywhere. Indoors, outdoors, home, on the road and in strange environment. EVERYWHERE and what that means is what you say goes, anywhere and everywhere the first time! You just need to go back to basics on obedience.

You stated the dog is two and he came to you 3 months ago. Who knows how they handled him or what they let him do, be or get away with. You missed the crucial, (in my eyes), bonding, imprinting and training stages and now have to do some catching up. Treat him as a pup and go back to square one. For the walking IF, IF the corrections are correct and to proper level and he STILL pulls hard when walking then go to a prong. But know how to use it, know how it fits on his neck. And if you don't go to a trainer, (if no trainer stop in to your local P.D.) I wouldn't go to like PetSmart though. If he were mine I would shorten his leash movement. I would bring the leash around me where his "end" of leash is at my side. If he is "pulling" hard then your waist/butt can absorb the pull. Once he realizes his place is at your side then give him slack. To me it depends on what you want your dog to do/be. My dogs can be on leash/off leash. Depends on how much EFFORT you want to put into it. If on leash, do I want them to be at my side, do I want them to "roam" or are they on a 30' lead and doing what they want? And if they're off leash all of the above also. BUT they all must listen, and on the first command. And if by chance they don't, for whatever reason, they know what comes next.

Now with all of this you have to be consistent, you can't be wishy washy or on some days let him do whatever he wants. He's playing you! Good luck and keep us informed.     

With a new dog like this, I would NOT start off with escalating force unless you are prepared if the dog returns the favor by increasing his aggression.  He may decide to bite you because a prong collar can increase aggression.  This is a new dog to you and he obviously does not think of you as his leader and obedience is optional to him.  If you will tell him 100 times to do something, why is he going to listen the first 50 x especially if you, just once, give in.  

I think I said this more times today than ever but he needs to bond with you and learn to focus on you.  Please try to teach him focus excercises.  http://dogscouts.org/Indirect_Access.html  Try to make sure you are being a leader at home in that he does not rush in front of you, demand attention by pushing on you or pawing you.  Reward only correct behavior but really reward it so the dog WANTS to listen.  Give commands only once and use your body to guide him to a sit and REWARD.  Praise and love only when he is calm.  IF he gets agitated at the sight of something, do not pat him to calm him.  If you do get guidance but BEWARE of anyone that is going to use brute force to "train."   It is YOUR dog, so YOU handle the leash.  Your dog might know commands or learn commands but that does not mean he is commanded by YOU or respects you.  Bond, Focus, Training, Consistency and you will see a great improvement. 

The more that he thinks you are the leader and the more his focus is on you, the less he will feel he needs to pull or lead the way.    If one of my males decides to show out, the others feel comfortable ignoring it because they know I will handle it!  He needs to think that too.

Hunger4justice, your post could be quoted and stickied to the top of the page.  Great advice and I thank you.