Hello.
I'm an inexperienced dog owner. I have an 9 month old male mini-poodle I take to obedience class. He knows the commands and obeys very well at home, but at his recent dog classes, he refuses to sit or lie down. Treats won't work. If I fold up his back legs to make him sit, he will stand up again. He obeys for other commands like heel. Any ideas on what I am doing wrong? The instructor said she would help me, but did not. He is the only small dog in the class. Should I accept that he obeys at home. He attended puppy school at this same facility. He is friendly toward people, but dog school and the groomers is his only opportunity to be around other dogs.
I am an experienced dog owner having trained my older silver minipoo. I have an 8 month old male mini-poodle that I take to obedience class.
My dog was the best dog in class, we were used as the demo dog to show the other students what they were supposed to be training. That all crashed three weeks ago when my puppy first lifted his leg to pee, then started to pee mark (Outside in appropriate locations). Even worse he became highly distractable in class. His hormones are raging and he’s a wild teenager. I have to work 10 times harder and smarter to get him to work in class with me.
I did lay a strong foundation training things like sit, down, stand and loose leash walking in many locations as well as at home. I also reinforce these behaviors at home. My puppy has to sit before a gate or door or crate is opened. He has to lay down while I prepare food. We have been working on attention and getting him to stay seated or stay down because as a puppy he doesn’t stay down for very long. We’re working on duration. You can continue to work with your dog the same way at home.
We just started a small dog obedience class filled with the most friendly and excitable puppies that I‘ve ever seen. So many wiggling butts, tails wagging and clueless new dog owners. One chihuahua levitates with excitement. This is a huge distraction for my dog right now and I’m taking this class to help work him through this. If I can get him to be attentive to me in this class, I know he will work in the more typical situations.
My puppy is also in a second class training for his AKC Canine Good Citizen in a completely new training place he’s never been before (independent dog food and toy store, lots of temptations) with 6 large dogs that bark during class. In this class he is learning the skills we need to pass the test and working around large barking dogs.
It’s smart that you are taking him to class, like my puppy, yours needs to learn to work in other environments other than home. Keep taking him while you work through his issues.
I am making an assumption that it the distraction of the class that is the problem. Does he have fears of large dogs? Some of what I suggest will work for fear of large dogs but that’s a separate issue.
He knows the commands and obeys very well at home, but at his recent dog classes, he refuses to sit or lie down.
Unlike humans, dogs don’t generalize easily. You can teach a young child that her dress is blue in the kitchen, then later in her bedroom ask her what color is her blue book and expect the child to answer correctly. Not dogs. If you teach sit in the kitchen, they may not sit in the family room until you teach it there. Then they will sit on the floor in the family room but not understand if you ask them to sit on the couch. You need to practice sit in all kinds of places, outside on your driveway, in the park, on carpet and woods and grass. etc. It takes many repetitions in many different environments to get a dog that will consistently sit anywhere you ask, including in a very distracting class. This might be part of your problem. Most dogs are wonderful at home, but leave the home and things fall apart. Leave the home and add in distraction, distance and duration make sits and downs fall apart. Add in hormones of a teenager and things fall apart. Keep working these commands.
He’s beyond threshold, too many distractions and maybe fear of large dogs. Look to stand farther away from the other dogs, especially if you think he’s afraid of a particular dog or one that is very wiggly and wanting to play with your dog. Move 10 feet or farther if needed. If there’s gating stand on the other side of the gating. This is something your teacher should help you with. You’ll know you are far enough away when your dog will take treats and starts to pay attention to you. You will eventually be able to move close. When you can work 10’ away, try 9 next class.
If I fold up his back legs to make him sit, he will stand up again.
Dogs do not learn when you manhandle them into a position. How would you feel if someone told you to sit … you didn’t sit quickly enough so they pushed you down into a chair. What message are you sending to your dog? Will he be worried you will manhandle him again? If he won’t sit, move him father away, far enough that he feels comfortable sitting. Or work on keeping his attention, and ask for a sit later.
He obeys for other commands like heel
It could be because movement is easier for him to comply with? I find if my dog is getting distracted when we’re loose leash walking, if I walk faster I keep my dogs attention. Or it may be as suggested above, related to fear.
Should I accept that he obeys at home.
No , keep working through these problems, keep going to obedience classes and working at home. If you continue to work with him you will have an obedient dog that you can be proud to take anywhere. He will learn and mature with time. Work on keeping his attention.
As for your trainer, can you come 10 minutes early to class and ask for help on what to do in class? Or hang after class?
I’ve been taking my puppy to different classes in different venues and some trainers/classes. Some have been much better than others. Some have more knowledgeable trainers than others. If you are not getting the help you need, ask around to find another class that can better meet your needs.
