Adult dog training

[Poriomania]

A friend of mine's sister has a six year old lab that my friend would like to have around because her husband travels for work. The issue is that this dog has been neglected for a long time and so has control issues since it has a lot of energy and it's owners haven't given it the necessary attention and training for a long time. My friend is impressed with how well my dogs behave nad asked me if I could try working with this one. I've had mine since pups and I don't know how much effort it would take to get an older poorly trained dog into shape. Could a one or two week "boot camp" with training and attention be enough to get it started down the right road? I'm going to try to meet the dog tomorrow and gauge it's attitude.

 

[erics_bruisers]

as long as the pup is treat oriented (which most dogs are), I would try the no free lunch training -- everything is earned --

http://www.aocb.com/no_free_lunch.htm

e

 

[Tooth Fairy]

I agree with Eric. It's doable with time. One thing I do not do with my dog anymore is no praise unless obeying a command. Kinda like the seeing eye and police dogs. He was great when I was doing that.

 

[DenverCruiser]

Practically every dog is trainable. Age is not really a factor at all. Patience IS.

 

[The Dude]

Practically every dog is trainable. Age is not really a factor at all. Patience IS.

With a caveat, that the dog is well tempered or has a good disposition. Not all dogs are trainable. (hence your "practically" I know )

The biggest hurdle you will face with training an older god is teaching it how to learn. As a puppy this is a much easier task.

Personally I am not a big fan of the treat methods, but it may be needed. I am a huge fan of positive reinforcement, but I also understand that negative punishment is also needed and is to be used with discretion. My dogs get lots of both sometimes, and they usually know they deseve it, good or bad....

 

[3rdcruiser]

No free lunch is always a great place to start. In my experience, it works for dogs motivated by food, toys , and/or attention. We have two adult Belgian Malinois that would be completely unmanageable had we not been introduced to this principle. One is completely toy and treat motivated, the other, only wants attention and approval.

A boot camp approach might work for correction of immediate or dangerous problems, but, the no free lunch approach is an easy way of everyday reinforcement.

 

[overhanger]

Practically every dog is trainable. Age is not really a factor at all. Patience IS.

DC, the dog in your avatar looks like a stone killer and I'm not sure I trust your opinion!
;p

 

[Big_Moose]

Remember, Dogs are a Pack animal, and interact / respond to a dominance hiearchy. Since the Dog will think that the new owner is a subordinate and new member of the "pack" (dog & his family / owners), you must be strong predominantly with a leash / choke chain for a while. Whenever the dog responds favorably, you must show extreme affection, change your vocal tones, and possibly a treat. You just don't want to use treats all the time, since the dog hasn't been "told" / "instructed" / "imprinted" that YOU are the alpha male of his PACK.

Now I know this sounds cruel and unusual punishment - expecting a knock on the door from peta! Of course this must be handled in a firm manner, but not in a cruel way. Another factor is that you must do this for a week to a month, rather then a little training here & there. Now I know the *&^% will hit the fan / peoples nerves, especially with the choke chain & leash, but once you have taken the time, care, and love in training, you will be rewarded with a life time friend - especially with a lab

He is my mangy lab standing upright in the pool (not on the steps)!

Just my 0.03 over inflated cents

 

[Junk]

Here's the ideal training implement.

 

[Tooth Fairy]

Junk,
My 130+lb. malaweiller has taken a boot to the head a few times. It's usually when he's trying to pin my foot to the ground while I'm pushing the lawn mower. It just gets him fired up.


I don't mow the lawn in ice climbing boots anymore and he leaves me alone now.

 

[T Y L E R]

I don't mow the lawn in ice climbing boots anymore and he leaves me alone now.

Pssst ! I think this is what you affectionately refer to as a thread pirating TF ... but they're 'mountaineering' boots .. Asolo Titan GTX's

 

[Junk]

Tooth, it's only cause you're too trust me, those will get the job done.

BTW, those aren't my boots, just needed a pic fast with little effort (kind of like what I've heard about you)

 

[erics_bruisers]

here's my all-time favorites --

-- vasque montanas --

-- they stopped making them a few years back, but there's always a bargain on ebay for them now and again ---

-- that is, if you don't mind wearing someone else's old shoes --

- i certainly don't.

e

 

[Tooth Fairy]

Continuing pirate, Crampons work great for aerating the lawn while you mow. It's a little more difficult with the riding mower that I have now.

In all honesty, I think a leftover set of Junk's momma's dentures would be easier. Can you imagine how the lawn would luuuv these.

 

[Junk]

Well, if you weren't paying my momma so much, she wouldn't even have the falsies and be totally gumming like yo momma.

Actually, after looking at your avatar, maybe they came from her?

 

[woody]

Roll the dog onto its back...when you can place once finger on it's chest and get 'em to lay there still, you are in charge...until then, you are subordinate to the dog. It may be easy, it may be a nasty wresting match....and expect to get bit....no two dogs are the same...

When I was training my dog, one of the other owners NEVER got theirs to be subordinate, and that dog was near-useless to train. Mine was nasty at first, even as a pup, but he still gets that "reminder" every few months. He's a 110# Chessapeake Bay retreiver and the only reason I remain in charge is I'm more stubborn than he is...he doesn't listen well to anyone else tho, including my wife. He'll heel offleash regardless of the distraction tho, he's even been charged by other dogs and doesn't break.

However, he's 13 years old and I'm finally being a bit leniant with him...hehehe

 

[DenverCruiser]

DC, the dog in your avatar looks like a stone killer and I'm not sure I trust your opinion!

No kidding. He is only 3 and acts like is 13. Only time he even gets frisky is if he knows he is going on a walk and then he does a butt-skoot around the house till were out the door.

 

[Tooth Fairy]

Well, if you weren't paying my momma so much, she wouldn't even have the falsies and be totally gumming like yo momma.

Actually, after looking at your avatar, maybe they came from her?

Moms are okay, but, don't make fun of my you fawker! LOL

She'll straight up kick you in the bits, that is, if your mom hasn't bit them off.

 

[Benji]

My dad used to beat our dogs into submission. I hated seeing that as a kid. I have a wonderful setter/lab mix, and all I show is affection, without treets for training. I like to use both vocal cues and hand signals for instructions. When they finally learn the trick a simple hand gesture is all you need for them to listen. It's real nice in situations where your focus is talking to another person. A simple hand motion and the dog goes away, lays down, heels, sits, or whatever.

Pavlovian conditioning with affection or treats works well with most dogs. I would never use it with physical force. Choke chains can be helpfull in some situations, but should be used for short-term training, rather than a permenant substitution for a real collar.

Patience is the key virtue. When it finally clicks with dogs, it's there and it does not go away.