Dog Training

CBoukal

CBoukal

Impeached Staff Member
Joined
Dec 9, 2011
Messages
9,420
Location
Omaha, NE
First Name
Chad
Let me first say I know this is a Cigar forum and not a dog forum. Everyone on here is a friend so I am reaching out here first to see if anyone has some advice. We recently got 9 week old Puppy and we are just starting potty training. (WOW DID I FORGET HOW BAD THIS IS) My last dog I did a few classes with and he was able to sit, stay (sometimes) shake. You know the normal dog stuff. My wife and I were talking about getting help with this puppy for training so he can be a much bigger part of our family and not an issue at baseball games, hotels, walks or on at the dog play area's. We stumped across a place that does 2 week "boot camps" for dogs. Basically they take him, teach him everything and return him to your home with a 3 hour in home class to teach you what he learned and how to continue it.

My question is, has anyone done or knows someone who has done something like this?? Its a whole new thing for me and I am afraid the puppy won't be as "bonded" to us afterwards. Or maybe I am concerned he would more "military like" and not as roughhouse then cuddle and watch a movie. He's an English Springer Spaniel which means he is naturally wanting to please us anyway. Below is what their "promise" is after he comes home from the training.

  • The Board & Train Service is 2 weeks This includes training, boarding, equipment and lifetime support.
  • After our training services, your dog will know these commands: come, sit, place, wait, off, quiet, release and you will have the control that you desire. (Note: sit and place both have “wait” incorporated)

Oh and here is the pup :)
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We are just a few weeks ahead of you. Our pup is 5 months and we still get a surprise every few days or so.

We kennel her when we leave and/or she needs a nap, and at night. During the day, we take her out immediately after she wakes up from a nap (no matter if she was in the kennel). Also, if she's been wrestling with our other dog, we take her out as soon as they peter out. Even then, she will still find time to sneak off, and potty on the floor if we aren't on top of her. It's been challenging, but she's getting better at letting us know she needs to go.

Luckily, she's not pooping, but it will be awesome when she stops pissing in the house.

House breaking is doable on your own. If you want more, it might be time to hire the pros.
 
Scap said:
We are just a few weeks ahead of you. Our pup is 5 months and we still get a surprise every few days or so.

We kennel her when we leave and/or she needs a nap, and at night. During the day, we take her out immediately after she wakes up from a nap (no matter if she was in the kennel). Also, if she's been wrestling with our other dog, we take her out as soon as they peter out. Even then, she will still find time to sneak off, and potty on the floor if we aren't on top of her. It's been challenging, but she's getting better at letting us know she needs to go.

Luckily, she's not pooping, but it will be awesome when she stops pissing in the house.

House breaking is doable on your own. If you want more, it might be time to hire the pros.
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Yeah I appreciate it. I know the House breaking will come and I am not really worried about that. I just keep reading review after review about how happy people are with they puppy after these classes. Off leash walks, and great on leashed walks. We travel for my sons baseball a lot so if we have a well behaved dog that would SAVE us money not having to board him. It won't make up the whole cost but its a start. Plus my son is 12 so hopefully the dog lives long enough to move out with him so a better trained dog would be awesome!!! I hire a pro stock broker, why not a pro for dogs also?
 
Get on YouTube and look up Sympawtico Dog Training. Ian has literally changed our lives with Enzo. I've done a few F2F meetings with him via Zoom, but started out incorporating everything I found for free in his videos. He's based out of New York, so obviously meeting in person isn't an option for you, but his approach sounds like exactly what you are looking for. The thing with dog training is consistency -- that's where most owners fail. Teach him, yourself, and the bond will be that much stronger.
 
kann said:
Get on YouTube and look up Sympawtico Dog Training. Ian has literally changed our lives with Enzo. I've done a few F2F meetings with him via Zoom, but started out incorporating everything I found for free in his videos. He's based out of New York, so obviously meeting in person isn't an option for you, but his approach sounds like exactly what you are looking for. The thing with dog training is consistency -- that's where most owners fail. Teach him, yourself, and the bond will be that much stronger.
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This! Dogs love routines. The more you do things the same way every time the faster it will be for them to learn. I started training the day I got her (8 weeks old) and she has been great at her commands. Also, make sure your commands the same time. If you teach them "sit" then make it always "sit" and not "Senna, sit," or any other variation. It also helps to find out what your dog looks for in rewards. Most dogs it's treats, others it could be a ball, a sound, or encouragement or any combination. With my dog, if I have a treat or a tennis ball her focus is on me 120%.

I also wouldn't be too be worried about your dog being "too military." Dogs are pack animals and this is why it's important to assert dominance over your dog right away. If a dog things they are the alpha they will be harder to deal with. Also, I know a few people who have service dogs and they all the say the same thing. When they have their vest on they know it's time to work and when the vest comes off they know it's time to let the guard down and have fun. The same will happen with your dog. He will know when you give a command it's time do what is told and he will know when its time to play.
 
My brother in law had his dog trained at a camp. She is still super friendly but knows all the commands and got potty trained as well. I have a miniature Schnauzer so I thought she is too small to send to a camp like that. But will definitely send my next dog to a camp. Just tell them you want command and potty training no rough stuff and you will be just fine
 
Sending your dog off to a 2 week training camp, isn't going to affect your bonding long term. So don't worry about that.

Whether you train him or someone else does, remember that consistency and routine, are key. I liken it to corporate training, rolling out some new system. You take an intensive training for 2 weeks and you're an expert at it. If you continue to use it daily, you'll remember it and it will become second nature. If you have a lapse between the training and using it, it's much harder.

Create a routine and you'll be happy!
 
We did all that training with our dog ourselves it was a lot of work. It is my wife that did most though to be honest but she took him out every hour until he was house broken. that didn’t take too long even Incorporated ringing the bell so now he rings the bell when he has to go potty. Our dog is not perfect he can be stubborn at times but we kind of like that about him because he’s Still acts like a dog. do you know what I mean?
 
We have sent our dogs off to training, done training ourselves, and then had 1-2 where we did minimal training just to see if they were more relaxed. Training helps, at least from the stand point that the dog can communicate with you more and you can communicate more with them. The two weeks isn’t a big deal to the bonding, it typically sets up the buddy to understand that there is work to be done periodically, which most doggos love to do and preps then for more training if needed. Then ours typically love coming back and getting treats while learning how we say the commands. I’m for it, as long as it’s reasonable and others have said it’s a good program.
 
I can definitely see how a camp would be beneficial if both of you are working all day. Sit and Stay are super easy to train with rewards, but I don't envy anyone housebreaking a puppy. Honestly, I wasn't really even thinking about house training with my first reply. Enzo was good with that when we got him, but he was untrained in any other fashion. There are two things in life I'll pay someone else to do, every time:

1) Changing the 16 spark plugs in my truck

2) House training a puppy
 
kann said:
I can definitely see how a camp would be beneficial if both of you are working all day. Sit and Stay are super easy to train with rewards, but I don't envy anyone housebreaking a puppy. Honestly, I wasn't really even thinking about house training with my first reply. Enzo was good with that when we got him, but he was untrained in any other fashion. There are two things in life I'll pay someone else to do, every time:

1) Changing the 16 spark plugs in my truck

2) House training a puppy
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House training is.. slow. But today is only day 5 of having him soooo. Last night we went potty at 950, then he normally wakes us up around 2-3 to go outside again but he didn't. I took him out at 6 and then when my wife woke up I asked what time she took him out overnight.... We were both surprised that the other didn't take him because he didn't whine at all. If he wants to start holding it overnight, that'll be a good start!!!!!
 
YES! Do the class. We have an English bully an he went to a one week camp. Our trainer was great and she trained us as well. It's been said, consistency and repetition are key. Same word EVERY TIME, no cuss words in front of or behind the command. They'll bond with you when they return, and continue to bond (better in my mind) once you both know what the other is saying.

Spend the money and spend the time. You'll NEVER regret it. In fact, it'll irritate you once you realize how untrained too many dogs are.

Floyd T
 
A note about consistency, which may help explain the concept to your kids so they can better understand -- As much as we'd like to think that dogs understand what we are saying, they really, really don't. They understand sounds and tones, and those sounds and tones are used in conditioning desired responses from them. This is why, if you've ever watched sheepdogs at work, the trainer/master never even uses verbal commands; it's all done with different pitches on a whistle. The dog hears the pitch, and understands the command being asked of it. In Ireland, I saw a guy working five dogs at the same time using nothing but a whistle, and each dog had a different set of pitches, which is how they knew when they, specifically, were being "talked" to. That, of course, is wayyyyy beyond anything you'd do for a normal house pet and member of the family, but you get the idea that it's about sounds, not words.

Therefore, make sure your family is all using the same word/combination of words in the same tone and inflection when giving a command. My daughter wonders why Enzo obeys me nearly 100% of the time, but she can barely even get him to let her put his harness on, sometimes. She gets frustrated when she is trying to tell him to do something, but she is the one who doesn't understand that he is getting just as frustrated trying to make her happy, though he isn't sure what is being asked of him. Imagine going to visit Japan, and a Japanese dude walks up to you on the street and starts talking to you in Japanese. You (I assume) have no idea what he is saying. What would your reaction be if you can tell he is getting louder and more visibly frustrated and upset because you are not responding to him in his own language? Your dog is experiencing the same thing when that happens. That's not to say that you can't teach imperative/emergency responses using the "Dad Voice" through a scaffolding of rewards, as you absolutely can and should, so that your dog will begin to understand happy, tail wagging asks vs. "oh, shit" responses. However, once taught, use it sparingly and only in situations where you need compliance NOW -- like if he's running towards the street or some other dangerous situation. Ask your family how they would feel if you yelled at them all day and never asked something politely with a smile. Again, your dog feels the same way.

Anyway, that was much longer than I originally intended, and I meant most of it as a way to help you maybe better explain to your family the importance of consistency, repetition, and routine. You don't have a multi-lingual dog, so make sure that everyone is speaking the same language! :)
 
One last thing I'll say about this. Check out the trainer and their dogs. See if they have control of their dogs.

This gal came to our house, with the dogs in the van. Popped the van door open and told three dogs to stay, van door open. She then came into my house and we spoke. We could see the dogs through the window. They could see us. She went out, called to one, and only it came. Then she sent the dog back to the van, and called another one. Only it came. Etc, etc.

We liked what she said and what she showed us. We hired her and the rest is history. Good luck in your search.

Floyd T

PS: Kann speaks wisely. It's hard to do, but when you practice, it comes more easily.
 
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