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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 725
  
| I recently got a mini aussie/ heeler mix pup! When I got him he was only six weeks old, I know it's kinda young, but the breeder wanted them gone. When I first got him, he was quiet, and low energy, loved being held, and played with gently. A week later he is a little ball of energy that does NOT listen, he has zero attention span, and doesn't pay attention to me at all. He barks like crazy when I put him in his kennel, and attacks my feet when I walk. He knows what NO means, and responds decent. I have read tons of puppy training blogs, but just wanted to see what you all thought. Should I just let him be a puppy and play with him a ton, or start working on him listening, and following commands? Thanks! | |
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Duct Tape Bikini Girl
Posts: 2554
| I have a 5 month old Heeler, and I am the worst dog trainer ever. Would be happy if I could teach him not to jump on me. | |
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What Name?
Posts: 1994
| I personally develope a method of this is okay when we're/I'm doing this.
Example: It's okay to play rough when I'm playing rough. When I say stop, you stop. Being under my feet is never okay. For many reasons. Buying is a habit that should be stopped as earlier as possible, simply because it will save you grief later. I always start training young, they learn faster and retain it longer. I'm training a great Pyrenees pup I just bought. 6 weeks old. Knows no. Sit, stay, last down, up, down and shake.
If you gave any questions you can pm me. I'm pretty good at training, and my dogs always turn out well | |
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boon
Posts: 2
| You should start training your puppy as soon as you get him or her home. It is very important that they have structure.
There are a few necessary steps when it comes to dog training. No matter what you are training your dog to do, be it to come when called, stop barking, sit or anything else there are a few necessary steps. You have to understand the importance of these steps because they are critical in getting fast results that last a long time and help the bond between you and your dog to develop.
The first step is easy. You have to win over your dog’s mind. You will be struggling all the way through if you don’t do this. What I mean by this is that your dog has to look to you for all decisions.
Just when you really want your dog to listen to you, they will go off and do their own thing. You dog may be obedient 99% of the time but if you want your dog to always listen to you and to do as you ask then you need to win your dogs mind. Become the Pack Leader.
The second step is to have your dog motivated. You need to find out what your dog enjoys in both exercise and play and also in reward. If you make it an enjoyable experience you will both look forward to training. You have to find out what your dog loves to do and help them develop this. Some dogs love agility, some to fetch, some love obedience training or swimming out into water and fetching something. Work with your dog. You also need to reward your dog in order to make training enjoyable.
There are three main rewards:
Food: Any kind of food will do. It could be a dry biscuit or a whole sausage.
Affection: Lots of praise, cuddles and pats.
Toys: chase your dog; throw a ball or stick, tug of war with a toy.
Let him know that your are the pack leader and he will listen to you every time. But do it gently. No yelling, hitting, kicking or any other form of punishment. This will make a fearful dog and he will just try and hide from you and won't want to come near you. We don't want that. That is hard to correct.
Keep your training to a minimum of 20 minutes each time. By then the dog will be thinking of something else.
Good luck and have fun.
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992
Location: Kansas | heck....I'm still trying to train my 8 week old mini aussie to quit pottying/pooping in the house....frustrating. | |
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Expert
Posts: 1599
| Food, Food, FOOD! I have a 12 week old heeler/Catahoula I am training. If he jumps on me an barks I ignore him until he stops and stands and then reward him with treat. Reward only good behavior, ignore the bad. Will take a lot of patience but so worth it. They are soooo smart and pick it up quickly!! Mine knows sit, stay, come, down, and "get out" (of the arena lol, he learned to stay on the edge after just 2 times!). Also, I had to roll him on his back a few times and hold him until he quit SCREAMING. He got really naughty at first. But now he submits right away. | |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 312
Location: KS | We have two dogs they are both about 9 months old now, one blue heeler and the other a rotweiler. The heeler seems to be much more trainable, my husband showed her cows right away, she had the knack for it, think shes going to make a good cowdog. The rotweiler is an amazon, she's about 3 times the size of the heeler and the biggest lover. She doesnt listen as well. Very upset with her this week. Came home and the wires under my green mtn grill were chewed on, I wasnt sure who did it so couldnt really discipline them, had my cousin come over and fix the wiring. Came home today for lunch all is well and I come out around 12:30 or so and the rotweiler has chewed on them again. Oh was I mad. They are home all day by themselves and she waited till we were home to chew on something. Theyre good dogs stay around the farm all day, my husbands usually in and out and I come home over my lunch hour.
One posts said that when your dog is bad, you ignore her. What do the rest of you do to discipline? | |
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 I Chore in Chucks
Posts: 2882
Location: MD | Find out what he responds best to...
Food
Touch
Negatives
Positives
Every dog has something. Mine is fortunately a piggy and will do anything for a morsel of something yummy! Get that boy in puppy classes as soon as you can! Seriously even the cheaper petsmart classes are worth it, anything to get him out and listening. Be consistent with everything you do!
Eta: mine is hyper sensitive. So when I have to get after him it's got to be quick and to the point or he will tip toe around the house all day like I've beaten him!
We will respond to something naughty with a loud deep, "AH AH AH!" Then make him lay at our feet for 1-2 mins(or until he visibly settles down). Then I will reach down and pat on the head and encourage some type of play or activity he's allowed to do. Like going to chase the horses or play tug-o-war or catch. Then we approach the naughty situation next time like he knows how to behave, and not acting like he will act out or be naughty again. Leave it fair and give him the opportunity to behave before I jump on him for something he hasn't even done yet. (If any of that made sense LOL!)
Edited by Crowned Image 2015-07-15 4:00 PM
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boon
Posts: 2
| An Aussie Heeler pup has lots of energy. Even as an adult they have tons of energy. Your dog should get lots of exercise. He is attacking your feet because this is how they herd animals. A dog as lively as this you should start training right away. This dog is also very smart and will learn fast. Keep your training sessions to about 20 minutes per session or he will become bored and start to think about other things. | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 725
| Update! He was only six weeks old when I posted this. He is now a totoally different dog! Cesar Millan videos have helped me a ton, but he is now a very well behaved pup! Probably the smartest puppy I've ever had too! He walks on a leash like a pro, sits, lays down, stays, comes when called. He helps me do chores daily and when I tell him to stay he doesn't move until I come back from closing the pasture gates. And he's best friends with the barn kitties, He is the sweetest thing! :) | |
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 My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | IowaCanChaser - 2015-07-19 9:14 PM
Update! He was only six weeks old when I posted this. He is now a totoally different dog! Cesar Millan videos have helped me a ton, but he is now a very well behaved pup! Probably the smartest puppy I've ever had too! He walks on a leash like a pro, sits, lays down, stays, comes when called. He helps me do chores daily and when I tell him to stay he doesn't move until I come back from closing the pasture gates. And he's best friends with the barn kitties, He is the sweetest thing! :)
Congrats on your growing boy! | |
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 Expert
Posts: 4121
Location: SE Louisiana | IowaCanChaser - 2015-07-19 9:14 PM
Update! He was only six weeks old when I posted this. He is now a totoally different dog! Cesar Millan videos have helped me a ton, but he is now a very well behaved pup! Probably the smartest puppy I've ever had too! He walks on a leash like a pro, sits, lays down, stays, comes when called. He helps me do chores daily and when I tell him to stay he doesn't move until I come back from closing the pasture gates. And he's best friends with the barn kitties, He is the sweetest thing! :)
Congrats!! Are you sure he is the smartest puppy you've ever had, or is it because you put forth the effort to learn how to deal with puppy problems? Did we ever get pics? | |
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