Disobedient in the Park - Page 1

This statement says it all: "when he knows he has the freedom to run away". Indeed!!

Your dog is NOT trained and to boot, he is young. Of course, it is more fun for him to go off and do what he wants to do. If no one else helps, tomorrow I will give you some suggestions. In the meantime, do yourself a favor and accept what is, and do NOT give him the opportunity to do as he pleases. Keep him on a leash. He has already learned some very bad habits and what little training you have done, is essentially ruined because it has not been enforced. 

I am going to go to bed now, but will try to help tomorrow if others don't post suggestions.

I had one like this.

He was an angel on the lead, get him in a wide open space and he would run wild.

I cured him - i took him somewhere safe, (make sure it is safe) let him off the lead, he bolted as normal, i called him once and once only, he didn't come back, so i would just simply walk away from him, and keep walking. When he got close i would ignore him until i told him heel and he did. Then and then only would he get praise

Puppies generally like to be able to see you, when they can't they will come looking. go after them and its like you are playing chase.

Thanks for that tip, i think it might be worth starting to take the 50 mintue drive to our cloest enclosed dog park to give that one a go. your right about the thing that puppys like to have you in site, he always makes sure he can see us, just always makes sure to be out of hands reach

He is most likely playing, to him it's a good game!

It will take a few attempts for him to get the right idea, however you must remember to not try and reach for him or grab him as he comes close, otherwise he will dart off again, also keep walking away from him, don't turn to face him or stop, wait for him to come to you and be by your side. Doesnt matter if it takes 20 minutes, he will come back. You just need to ensure you can see him at all times, and be prepared to call him if he heads off in the wrong direction when he tries to find you.

Also try to resist the urge to put him back on the lead when he does come close, all this will do is make him feel constrained rather than rewarded. Treats or a huge *Good boy* will be more than enough, then you can send him off and call him back in the same way. Make it fun for him to come back to you, and he will. He isn't going to want to come back if you scold him or put him back on his lead.

If he doesn't respond after a few attempts, or come close enough, try sitting down and keeping still where you are and calling him, his protective instinct will want to know why you are not standing.

As for the house and the gate, i can only recomend reinforcement of sit and stay on the lead as someone opens and closes it repeatadly until he gets bored and takes no notice, then practice heelwork on the lead to the gate, through the open gate and sitting after the gate, to combat the general excitement he no doubt displays as soon as the gate is opened.

Great thanks for that, I think i will pack a lunch to take with me, as i can see the process taking a while.

Really appricate your description, its most helpful

If it's any consolation, personally I think that is the absolutely worst age for male dogs anyway as far as obedience and attitude and ability to focus, lol.   Can you tell I've got one at home that age too?   He makes me groan and roll my eyes more times in a day than I can count.   But they are pretty funny at this age too, and they'll do anything for a laugh or to get you going.  Definately agree the posts here on how to work on it are very good;   more training, more proofing, prevent bad habits, don't give him the chance to practice the wrong stuff, keep at it.  But 11 months is young to not be influenced by crazy impulses and the desire to test boundaries.   I bet with continued work by the time he is 2 you will have forgetten that he was ever like this.    Patience...  

Heather

OK, I said I would come back and help. So here is my help for what it is worth. I strongly disagree with the posts suggesting you take the dog somewhere and just walk away. And to go to a dog park and do this is nuts.

You must teach the dog that "come" means "come" and it means immediately to do so. You cannot ever use the command it you cannot enforce it as you are doing now. The dog has already learned it is in charge and it does not have to obey you unless and until it wishes to do so.

Put the dog on a 10-15 foot leash and go somewhere where there are NO distractions. Make certain the dog is VERY, VERY hungry. Keep the dog on the leash and just walk. Let the dog go on the leash which is dragging perhaps by held firmly by you,. until you note the dog not paying attention to you. At that point give the command "Come" and be prepared immediately to enforce it with the leash (so you have to be ready and the leash short enough that you can pop it). The dog must immediately turn his head towards you. At that moment, if he does, you must be very excited and praise him verbally and when he actually gets to you, give him a very small piece of food or a treat. Then start walking again, ignoring him, turn away from him and walk until you note he starts to be focused on going his own way and repeat. If he does not immediately turn his head toward you, you will pop him with the leash and then when he turns towards you, praise him all the way until he gets to you and then you will reward with a small piece of food.

You must do this for weeks, perhaps months. You must NOT allow the dog to be loose and off leash in any situation where you will have to call him and he will ignore you. If you train this way, do it only 5-8 or 10 times at a time and then just let him walk on leash. If you give him to opportunity to disobey, even once, you just will have undone all you tried to accomplish. Once he is really reliable and is immediately coming when called on leash, then and only then do you begin to introduce some small distractions, all the while he is on leash. When you get to this point, let me know if you want more help.

It is very important that he learn this. This command, when properly taught, is a command that may save his life some day. It is also important because it is you who must always be in control of the dog. For now, he should NOT be off-leash except in a fenced yard. And don't use this same call when you know he will not obey. So, in other words, when you really want him to come in from your yard too, use some other words and always be ready to reward him. Don't ever show anger when he blows you off, or he will also learn not to come to you because he knows he is in trouble. Work as I suggest, for a short time each day, and he will get it.

Good luck.  

Thank you so much for your help. Training has begun as of today, and playing in the park off leash has ended until we have this all sorted out. Many thanks

This should be done in the yard also, if I understand your post correctly anytime he is outside of the house you have the problem.  It will take time to correct as it took time to develop the problem, don't give up.