Training Help Please

[mclark]

Hello, Seattle here. .. I have had my boy, now named Rumble, for a little over a month. I adore him and we are doing very well, he plays and plays with our first dog and they have so much fun together and he does well with the other three dogs that are part of my extended family, lots of running chasing and etc...

He has figured out he isnt allowed to chase the chickens, hasnt quite figured out what a horse is, but you can see he is trying very hard to figure them out, its super cute.

Rumble is 8 months old. I have been using a combo of what is referred to as Nothing in life is free technique and clicker training to work with him and train him on some basics. He is doing terrific, he actively enjoys learning and he is really fun to work with.

However I decided to take him to a Older Puppy Class, for dogs his age so I could relearn a bit as I havent had a puppy for years. The trainer had us tie the dogs to a wall, his first time being tied to anything, and what ensued was much much barking, and then barking and growling when the other dogs were taken off their leashes and he remained tied as the trainer was (of course) worried about his barking and size... UGH!!!!!

I know I failed in a few key areas, and wont tie him and place him in this position ever again, of course in the moment attempting to follow the trainers direction for class I allowed the situation to be what it was...

All that being said he does growl these days on leash at other dogs as we walk through the neighborhood, this is new in the last few weeks... he lunges as well, ugh.

The trouble I have with him at home is normal puppy stuff: jumping up, eating socks, nothing in the least bit serious that isnt expected for puppies: he is not protective of food, treats or any other resource, he is very attentive and works hard to please me with commands he is not aggressive with the other dogs in his life ever and when grandpa tells him to back off, he instantly behaves (grandpa being the oldest dog at 12)

All that being said, is growling at other dogs on leash something to be expected with these guys, and any ideas on our flunking our first puppy class (besides of course the tying to the wall advice)...

I do know these dogs are bred to be protective and perhaps my expectations that he will be able to meet other dogs on the street or in a dog class are beyond reasonable... but feedback would be appreciated. Thank you, Michelle

[jenny]

Hi Michelle
I'm not a trainer but I have experienced some of this behaviour with my Boerboels, especially my male. As his job is actually to keep dogs and other animals away from us on the farm and he is praised for it, I found it quite difficult to get him to behave acceptably in public. I found a way round it in teaching a really firm "leave" command. This has to apply in any situation at any time without any arguments. If we are out at the vet or on the beach and we encounter other people or dogs I use the command "leave" and he knows that he may not react or try to protect. This command is really an all round useful one and can be used if they pick something up that you don't want them to have, stop them in their tracks or get them to ignore something. But it has to be used very consistently and it has to be enforced every time.
I don't like the sound of tying the dogs up at a training class, most dogs would object to this under the circumstances and I'm not surprised Rumble reacted badly. Most untrained dogs would feel insecure and threatened when tied up in a strange environment. What was the purpose of the exercise?
Your dog may never happily greet other dogs in the street but obedience training will mean that he is under control and knows he has to tolerate them because you say so.
Rumble sounds a nice normal dog with plenty of confidence and willingness to please, stick with the training, but maybe try another trainer that is more adept at dealing with guarding breeds or get a really good training book or video and train him yourself for your own particular needs. Not all training methods suit all dogs and there is no reason why they should! Find the right method for your dog and it all falls into place a lot easier.

[mclark]

Actually that was very helpful, thank you. As he is so responsive to training and clearly enjoys having a job and learning I have no reluctance to continue training and finding a significantly more experienced trainer!!! And not allowing myself to follow something that I know isnt working, urg.

I really like the leave it command idea... This is very doable and I have used a leave it with my first dog, the now grandpa... and leave it always meant right now, no argument allowed, period. I had not considered however such a broad use of it, but it does make alot of sense.

As Rumble is also an adolescent and intact I am sure his hormone surges also leave him feeling very sure he is supposed to protect me and himself from every single thing that arrives in his sphere, and it is so clearly up to me to help him clarify and discriminate better.

My nephew who is 17 gets these strong hormone surges and he will be in the middle of a conversation at home and will just drop down to the floor and do 30 push ups, then continue smiling and showing off his big pumped up muscles...I am cracking up just thinking about it!

I appreciate your feedback, and of course since you have never met Rumble I realize it is difficult to speculate, but he is in all ways at home a super normal adolescent puppy... and he is so fun and easy... so I will rethink how to help him more with his urges to guard, so we can be in public ...

I would like to not have to rely on hindsight for my education, but alas this is the way of it. Thanks Michelle.

[karen]

Try walking your dog on a loop rope leash that has a stopper fixed to it. slip the leash over the dogs head and place it high on the dogs neck, behind the ears and under the jaw. Use the stopper to hold in place so the rope doesnt slip down the neck. This point is the weakest area and you can gain more dominant strength if you work with your dog from this place.Walk the dog by your side and make sharp upward and inward corrections as your dog " thinks " about reacting to any situation that presents itself. A dogs brain can only be influenced at a low level. If you wait till he escalates you'll just be holding on for dear life. Also you can re inforce a command with pet corrector spray. I just need to show my bruce it and he like a lamb...must be used correctly though! It's never too late to begin training and taking a dominant hand. Remember they may be big but all Boerboels arent the same. It's possible that he might feel vunerable and need very structured bounderies to feel secure.

[mayahund]

Just a question out of curiosity and to see if the techniques varies from country to country - How do yo find that the both techniques you've chosen work in combination? (Niliff and clicker)

As for you and your dog - Sounds like you've got a pretty good idea on how to handle your dog and all that you need now is to keep on being consequent in what you say and that you also remember its a young dog! It sure sounds to me like he's very well behaved most of the time.
Ewa