Basic Obedience

A

AshScache

Forums Novice
Ok, I need some newbie advice on basic Sheltie training. My girlfriend and I are dogsitting (as a trial run for adoption) a five year old Sheltie. Chauncey belongs to friends of ours who with two careers and two small children can't handle the dog. Since a good home is available, they're thinking that might be the way they want to go.

So, I walked him last night and the this morning and my initial impressions are that he really needs some work on his leash work. He's a puller and barks at other dogs while we're out. He has a harness as opposed to a collar. I've worked with my mother's former German Shepherd as well as her two standard poodles and golden retriever. We used an electronic collar on the GSD, but prong collars on the other three. Will I "ruin" him by using a prong collar on Chauncey or can he still be taught some better leash manners at five years old?

Ash
 
Hello and welcome, Shelties are really lovely dogs. I hope you get to experience the pleasure of having one soon :biggrin2:

I must tell you absolutely NO corrective collars should ever be used on a Sheltie (in my opinion on any dog, but in particular a Sheltie) because they get caught in the fur and simply don't work as they intended to.
Most of us recommend a more modern positive and not corrective, choke chain approach for training your dog. Shelties are by nature very eager dogs who want to please and are fairly easy to train.
You may want to check out these videos to see if this is something you may find helpful in creating a positive, trusting bond with Chauncey at ANY age :D

Good luck and many happy walks!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFgtqgiAKoQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NT8VDgR_Koo&feature=fvwrel
 
I use a harness on Beau precisely because he use to pull me. Now he doesn't pull me at all

when he pulls you make him stop and sit down for a few minutes. Once he calms down you can proceed.

the other alternative. (although I always felt like a crazy person when I did this) was once he started pulling, I would take him in the opposite direction. But, like I said, it made me feel as if I was going in circles
 
I would definitely recommend against corrective style training with a Sheltie, they don't need a heavy hand as a general rule. Most Sheltie's I've encountered are VERY food motivated and will work for a small treat. That combined with their nature of wanting to please make them a perfect dog for positive reinforcement training.

Personally, I love using clicker training techniques. The sound of the clicker marks the behavior you want and it is immediately followed by a small treat (about the size of a navy bean or Cheerio). There are video on clicker training on YouTube and www.clickertraining.com has some great information as well.

As for the pulling while on a walk, if he pulls, you stop. Say nothing to him, just stop. You don't move forward again until he walks back over to you. When he returns to you, praise him with a "Yes" and a treat or a Click and treat then start forward again. Repeat as often as necessary. Sheltie's are very smart dogs, he'll probably pick up the behavior you want before the end of the first or second walk.

For the barking at another dog on walks, teach him the "watch me"/"look" command. Use a treat he can't resist (like hot dogs or boiled chicken). Teach him the command indoors before you try to apply it outdoors. Mark the behavior you want (looking at you) with a "Yes"/Treat or click/treat combination. This one will most likely take the most time to teach before you are trying to undo a learned behavior or even a behavior that exists because of insecurity. You need to behave like you are in completely control, even if you are nervous.

The next best thing I can suggest, if you adopt him, is take a basic obedience class with him. Local human societies and some shelters offer the classes as a way to raise funds. Being from Philly, I'm sure you can find some place with relative ease. Just make sure wherever you take him is using modern positive reinforcement techniques.
 
Obedience

I second what everyone else says on here.Shock collars,choke collars and prong collars send me sideways when I see them being used.They should not be used on any dog.Positive reinforcement and clicker trainer is the way to go.I saw last week a five month old boxer puppy with a prong collar on it and I was besides myself.I had to bite my toungue but did get in to the woman how would you like me to put that on you and see if it hurts?Good Luck with the dog!!!
 
No one said you have to feed dog's meal in the bowl. Put that breakfast in your pocket and go outside, feed one kibble at the time walking when dog at your leg/pant seam area. Do that twice for a week- this will get your loose leash walking in no time. Every time dog pulls turn around and recall dog to you, reward for being near you.
Regarding dog barking at other dogs- that might be a bit longer- you need to ask for different behavior and create distance between you and other dogs. Look into getting Gentle leader. It is excellent tool, but need to be taught slowly.
http://susangarrettdogagility.com/2010/09/head-halters-vs-a-flat-buckle-collar/
 
AshScache said:
Ok, I need some newbie advice on basic Sheltie training. My girlfriend and I are dogsitting (as a trial run for adoption) a five year old Sheltie. Chauncey belongs to friends of ours who with two careers and two small children can't handle the dog. Since a good home is available, they're thinking that might be the way they want to go.

So, I walked him last night and the this morning and my initial impressions are that he really needs some work on his leash work. He's a puller and barks at other dogs while we're out. He has a harness as opposed to a collar. I've worked with my mother's former German Shepherd as well as her two standard poodles and golden retriever. We used an electronic collar on the GSD, but prong collars on the other three. Will I "ruin" him by using a prong collar on Chauncey or can he still be taught some better leash manners at five years old?

Ash
Click to expand...

Please do not use a prong,electronic,shock collar on that dog. You will ruin him.

I think the best advice I ever took & used for our lab was...when your walking the dog,and he starts to lunge,or show non disireable behavior you immediately change direction and do about face and walk the other way. Once he settles,continue the walk.

I guarentee you,about 10-15 times of redirection he will get the hint. Use a firm hold on the leash, a little snap of the wrist to redirect him. And continue to walk him.

I also have used "look at me" along with a clicker,say for a distraction (passing dog,car etc) Make him look at you with a cue "look at me"..instantly click the clicker then treat him when he looks at you. I put the dog in a sit as well.
Remember you click for good behavior.

No dog is to old to learn. And shelties are amazingly smart,it does'nt take much to get thier attention.

Good luck,its an amazing breed. I think you would also get a wealth of info going back into older threads under behavior,training etc to get some other good methods.
 
With Olive, the second she starts to put any tension on the leash, I stop and wait. I don't start to walk again until she comes back to me, sits and/or puts herself in a down at my left side, and takes on a "meh" attitude (relaxed posture, no obvious tension). Sometimes this takes 10 seconds, sometimes it takes five minutes. And sometimes the second we start walking again she instantly pulls. So we stop and wait. It only takes two or three stops and she remembers her manners. This can make for incredibly long walks time-wise, and short distance, and get us some super-strange looks from passers-by, but it's effective.

I do use the change direction technique if the reason for her pulling is another dog/people/car/machinery/etc., instead of just pulling for the sake of pulling. She likes to meet people and other dogs, but I don't want her to think she can just run up to strangers either. We have to be calm and respectful, even if that means waiting for them to come to us.

She knows I always carry cat kibble in my left pocket, so jingling the kibble in my pocket sometimes is all she needs to bring herself around.:lol:
 
I have had the saem issues with Mia but only when she sees people and other dogs on her walks in the area. Anywhere else and she is fine. My trainer said to try a Gentle Leader. It will keep her from pulling when she is excited.
 
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