Mix breeds and early training

[Mollydog]

Don't know if this is the right place to post this and if not I'm sorry. I want to brag about what a smarty Molly seems to be but I want to get some different ideas about some issues with her.

I have been reading this forum for a while and decided it's time I start register and start posting. My puppy's name is Molly and she's my first none pure breed doggy. My mom raised shelties and my dad raised beagles and they meet at a dog show. Needless to say I grew up in the ring and when I went to college it felt weird to not have a companion of some type by my side. This year after my fiancé and me bought our first townhouse a friend on my found out that her prize wining Chinese crested had accidentally breed with a dog while being kept at the vet. (Long story, should have never happened and there is a major back story surrounding the incident) The dog it breed with was a champion yorkie. At 6 weeks old one of the puppies adopted me and doted on me when I was at her home. The pup was so confident. Nothing seemed to shake her. Just playing with the pup one day I taught it to sit and give me it’s paw on command. I thought this was just a fluke but the next day when I came to see her I jokingly told the pup to sit and she did. I WAS AMAZED. I finally, overcame my hang-ups about not getting a pup that I could show and adopted her. ( Mom is disapointed I went for a mix rather than a sheltie)


My family has always had a hang up about starting training pups to young. We never started with any basics until they where 3 to 4 months old. Molly is 8 weeks a sits fairly reliably, gives me her paw reliably, and walks on leash, but she will only do these things for me. She ignores my fiancé and treats him more like a littermate than an owner. Has anyone ever delt with this?

House training of course should start at this age but she has been picking it up so fast. I've only had her in my home 4 days but she only had one accident and that's when i first brought her home. after the accident i spoke softly but in a neg. tone. She watched me carefully. i then set her out side and went back to spray the spot down. I then took the poop and placed it out side on a grassy area as she watched me. I then made happy noises as she snifed it and the ground around her. I've never seen a dog so eager to do what it's owner wants. The last three days she has slept in my room on the floor in her basket which she took to quickly once i added a shirt with my smell and she stays in the washroom during the day and i come home on my lunch and take her for a little outing. So far ( and this is more than likely going to jix it) Molly has not had and accident in the house. This was amazing to me because all the pups from the litter had only half way attempted to use pads for bathroom. they just went on my friends floor more that the pads.

My questions are if anyone here has had experience with these breeds or a cross of these breeds? Are they normally this quick and smart? I've never experinced a dog that singles out one owner to listen too. He works with her as much as i do both of we take turns giving her food. Anyone have suggestions on what to do about this favortism? what are your thoughts training this early? I’ve always been told that training a pup to early kills the dog’s personality.

[joce]

I've never heard that about early training. My mutts always learned quicker than my purebreds,like they have something to prove :) I'd say if she wants to learn,let her. It sounds like shes a smart dog. I bet shes cute too! As far as only listening to you I think a lot of breeds do that. My beagle and dobe only listen to me. My cousins yorkie seems to live in a world where no one but the two of them exist. She completely ignores everything else most of the time.

[Mollydog]

LOL. I am begining to think the same think about mixed breeds and smarts but I'm sure my dad and mom would argue with me. Most handlers will argue the fact to the day they die. :)


Yea, I've always been told that training to early doesn't allow them time to develop themselves. Has anyone trained from this age and seen what happens?

Just a note, she sits fine except one time in the local pet store. she sit perfect all through the store. I was testing distractions. she sat around kids and people. Though we haven't got stay yet. lol. but there's time to work on that. The problem was that a customer told a trainer at the store that my 8 week pup know how to sit and shake. The trainer told her i was pulling her leg and the lady told her she saw it. The trainer caught us at the registers as we where leaving and asked me if Molly could sit. I said yes and she laughed and said to show her. Any one that has been to these pet stores know the cashiers give dogs milk bones on there way out. Big dogs chomp them up fast and messy which means LOTS of crumbs on the floor. Molly hadn't ate dinner and went crazy and of course refused to sit. :) The one time I needed her too> :) It was very embarrassing


Molly seems to love EVERYONE including strangers, other dogs, and cats. She is never shy and just expects everthing to be ready to play and love her. She just is selective to who she listens to.


One more question though it's not training related, Molly has never barked. Her mommies owner never heard any of them bark. I've heard her whine a few times but always a short whine and normally only once. I know yorkies bark and chinese crested bark. In fact both breeds can be down right yappy.
Not that i'm complaining. :) But does anyone know if this is normal?

[CreatureTeacher]

Molly has never barked.

For goodness' sake, don't jinx it!! :D

Welcome to the forums. First of all, I am absolutely tickled pink that you've come over to the mutt side. Or at least the mixed side. Mixed breeds tend to be a good deal healthier and generally more intelligent than pure bred dogs. (As someone with experience with Shelties, I'm sure you'll be excited about the health issue!) Bless your heart for pulling yourself away from the ring and its stigmas.

It sounds like you have a fabulously intelligent little dog in Molly. You're not alone in the hubby-as-littermate issue. You would not believe what a common problem this is. It's due to social confusion. There's an article here: http://www.dogsday.8k.com/custom.html (second one down on the page). If you start today, your fiance will have Miz Molly doing backflips before the end of the month. Just remember to be consistent with it. If you have any questions about how it works, please feel free to PM or email me.

As long as you're using positive reinforcement, you can start training your pup as soon as she has the physical ability to do what you're asking. The show industry isn't famous for using positive training methods, so just in case you want a little reading material, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Positive Dog Training by Pamela Dennison and The Power of Positive Dog Training by Pat Miller are both great books to get you started on the positive reinforcement track.

Congratulations on your sweet, brilliant puppy! We'd all love to see pictures if you've got some! Molly sounds like an absolutely wonderful dog. I'm so happy you found each other!

[bubbatd]

I feel that it has to be what you've done...one on one. Your folks may have had too many potential winners to start off at an early age. No, I don't feel that mixed breeds are smarter, but some of that smartness has maybe been bred out of some breeds.

[Sunnypup]

Hey, congrats on the new pup! I've ONLY had mixed breeds until I got Sunny as a late Christmas/just lost last dog to car accident present,and they were awesome and very smart and sweet. I've had nothing but blessings! As for training early I have heard mixed things but I started Sunny from day one (6.5 weeks btw, which seems early but there were some special circumstances) and he is now 6 months old and the most well behaved (generally) dog that I know. I'd say go for it. I mean, get the basics down before you go for the agility course ;) but you know that. It's AWESOME that she is potty training so well. That was one of those things Sunny was NOT so great about so you are truly being smiled down upon :D Good luck and welcome to the board!

[Mollydog]

Thanks for the reading creature trainer. I actually have both of those books in my library. J Each member of my family trains differently. Personally, I think how you teach depends more on the personality of the dog. All shelties are not the same. Some are cut out for show, some for pets, others go to my brother for agility. If you pay attention to how a dog/puppy approaches actives a lot of the times you can figure it out Some are motivated by praise, some food, some a fav. toy. Every time I’ve trained a pup is completely different. Some dogs just need you to show them what to do, others need motivation. It's a lot the same as with any animal, including humans. Everyone learns differently. There have only been two dogs that I’ve had to use force with and they where dogs that where going to be gun dogs and while they loved hunting they did things that could have gotten them seriously hurt or killed. So for the most part I certainly agree with positive reinforcement, except in extreme cases.

As for bubbatd’s response about there normally being too many perspectives in each litter I agree in a way, but we did it more with an understanding that not all dogs are going to be show dogs. Even if the dogs a perfect model of the breed it’s really should depend on the personality. If the beagle has a high prey drive it’s better for a hunting dog but if it enjoys people or showing off it is better suited as a pet or in show. If a sheltie would rather protect and work we would train it for someone to use as a herding dog even if it was a perfect model of the breed and would be a champ at show. The big worry is training a dog to act as you want against its personality. I’ve seen show dogs that where made to work and gun dogs that would be much better suited as pets. Most importantly the worry is if the pup doesn’t have time to be a pup and is put in to training to early it may lose much of its spunk and ability to think for it’s self. Basically, It’s a fear of making the dog to dependent and/or breaking its sprit. I’ve seen 4-year-old dogs that could not sniff a tree in a dog park if their owner was not there to tell them to. It’s sad to see a dog that doesn’t know how to play. :(

:) sunny pup, good luck with the potty training. It can be a pain sometimes but the best tip I can give is remember if things go in on a schedule they come out on a schedule. :)


Sorry I ramble. Thanks for all the great feed back. J It has help calm some of my fears about having a mix breed pooch. I'll try to get a pic up. Again Thanks.