Is this too much for him to learn?

[Azucenda]

Okay, Tusker (8 month boxer/english bulldog) and I have been going to obedience classes, mostly to teach him better behavior around new people. He's good at home, but if someone new comes around, he goes insane... jumping, wiggling, licking, nudging... you get the idea. We have class once per week on Tuesday nights, and last week we did laying down and "come touch" where he comes and touches my hand. We're learning clicker training, and class lasts an hour. So homework for last week was just working on those two things, which we did and he learned. This week our homework is to teach him to come when called, lay down with a vocal and/or hand signal, stay, find and stay on a mat, lay down when meeting a new person, and heel both on and off a leash. Personally I don't know if it is possible to teach him all of this in one week's time, and have him be able to do it when around other barking dogs. Our instructor told us that she'd "be mad if any dogs came in and jumped on her". I can understand two or three things to work on a week, but 7 new things? What do ya'll think?

Sorry to ramble on so, I'm just a bit peeved. If it were possible to teach him in one week on my own, he'd know it already. :(

[CanadianK9]

Try not to crowd in too many commands, only work on 2-3 a week, and make sure he knows them fairly well, As far as the reaction in class its because you have to get him used to him responding with distractions. Make sure he knows commands before assuming he does and continuing on to the next thing.

Also boxers tend to be a little stubborn sometimes, take your time, Dog training is about consistancy and patience.

Im sure you 2 will do fine, assuming you have an competant trainer showing you 2 the ropes

[Azucenda]

See, I agree with you that 2 or 3 commands a week is good... I just feel that our trainer is expecting a miracle when she asks us to learn and master 7 commands in a week. I was just checking with everyone for their opinion on whether this is a reasonable request on the part of our trainer.

At the moment the "mat" command is throwing us for a loop. Tusker just doesn't seem to connect the command with going to the mat. Instead he's just following the food in my hand and waiting for the clicker to click.

Thanks for the help, CanadianK9!

[CanadianK9]

Not a problem

7 commands in one week IS a high expectancy, but not if your training ALOT. Though I am assuming you dont have all the time in the world to train; So honestly I would be comfortable with 3-4 commands a week, there is no rush.

About the "mat" command

As long as he is doing the act you want, regardless of whether he is just following the food or not you can teach him by association, it isnt the command yet, but evertime he then does the act you want say the command, therefore associating the action with the command. The dog will catch on and do what you want after a bit of practice and consistancy.

[Mordy]

i don't think that your trainer actually means that your dog needs to have everything down pat all at once.

mixing up working on different things makes training more interesting for you and your dog, so don't limit yourself to doing just 2 or 3 things over and over again, until you both get sick and bored of it. :)

there is also no need to make training sessions overly long, it's better to have 30 one-minute training sessions a day rather than 3 10-minute ones. :) put the amount of treats you want to use per day into a convenient bait bag and wear it all day long. put your clicker on a wrist band or keychain and just do a little bit of work here and there. click for anything you find worthwhile clicking, not just whatever you are working on.