Just curious if this is fixable, or if it's just a young pup thing or what. But my dog Dusty listens sometimes, but whenever we take him for leashless walks in the woods or similar excercises, he doesn't listen, apparently so intensely into sniffing for scents/exploring that he doesn't listen too well. Any ideas on how to get him out of the zone or get him to listen better?
Obedience...
- Thread starter adamwehn
- Start date
My dog (11mo) is the same way; both on and off leash. He responds to a lot of commands but when he's in full out sniff mode; it's hard to get him to listen. I was watching two dogs playing together off leash as their parents walked them the other day; my dog would never play like that; he'd be too busy sniffing away. 90% of the time; he'll cooperate at least to an extent; the same day he wondered around 1/2 a school not listening to me.
W
getting a dog to be obedient under distractions, especially heavy distractions like in the woods or at a school, have to be trained. Its like starting over in your training. They listen when nothing is around and then you slowly introduce distractions and build them up till they can handle all the sights, smells and sounds, and they still know that you have the best stuff. I took my dog to a strip mall last night to do Ob in the parking lot and in front of the stores, lots of distractions there, but i've built up to them.
at 11 months, and how old is dusty?, you can't expect much in Ob under distraction. and ABSOLUTELY do NOT give comands to them under these heavy distractions when they're off leash. You have no way of gaining control of them, and all it teaches them is that they don't have to listen to you.
If you want to let dusty off leash for exercise, make sure its in a safe area, and let him sniff and ignore you all he wants, do not expect him to obey you, it won't happen. So there's no need to set him up for failure and you'll know a little better what to expect.
at 11 months, and how old is dusty?, you can't expect much in Ob under distraction. and ABSOLUTELY do NOT give comands to them under these heavy distractions when they're off leash. You have no way of gaining control of them, and all it teaches them is that they don't have to listen to you.
If you want to let dusty off leash for exercise, make sure its in a safe area, and let him sniff and ignore you all he wants, do not expect him to obey you, it won't happen. So there's no need to set him up for failure and you'll know a little better what to expect.
You have to be able to beat out the competition for motivators. Coming to you has to be better than anything else in the whole world. If you keep a long line on him, that's good, but try to avoid reeling him in by force if at all possible. It's better yet to entice him (don't use the command word) by running like a silly nut the other way, making squeeky fun noises, tossing a toy or jiggling it to get him interested. See if he'll come along to you. When you're positive he's coming and hes just a couple of feet from you, then say, "come." And right away praise and give him a treat. Make it so wonderful that he came to you. Don't use the word "come" before he gives you the behavior....not until way, way down the road when he's very reliable. Just entice him and reward like crazy. If you must, then reel him in or give him a little tug to get him started.
Attention training is also very useful in early training. Teach "watch me." You can do a search for that and also some games to help teach the recall....it's good to make it fun for your dog to come to you when you call and to interact with you.
Attention training is also very useful in early training. Teach "watch me." You can do a search for that and also some games to help teach the recall....it's good to make it fun for your dog to come to you when you call and to interact with you.