Best book on training an adult Sheltie?

[Fainlysmom]

Fainly is 2 now, and the happiest and healthiest he's ever been, but he has some serious holes in his training. He has a huge vocabulary but usually obeys when he wants to, or is sure there will be a tangible reward (food!). We also have not been able to get him to stop going crazy when he's on a walk and a car goes by. We're worried for his safety if he ever happens to get away when we're walking him and he sees a car. He also barks incessantly when he doesn't like a movie we happen to be watching (we watch a movie most evenings). He objects to movie violence, of course, and to cars and to people running or arguing. We bought headphones and wear those every evening so that he can't hear the sound track, but he still can see the screen and has his preferences, which he expresses wholeheartedly. He is an inveterate chewer still; doesn't swallow stuff as much, but still chews it.

Can any of you folks recommend a book or a video that's great on training an adult dog? We know the problem is us, the trainers! Thanks very much.

 

[Sharon7]

Firstly, I'm so glad to hear Fainly is doing physically much better, after two major surgeries!

I know folks here like the Monks of New Skete, (books) I don't know how much of their advice is geared towards puppies, but it could be helpful nonetheless. Just avoid Cesar Milan type trainers with the "alpha dog/pack leader" mentality. Keep everything positive. The fact that he responds to food rewards is a good sign. Really yummy tidbits while walking, and teaching the "Look" or "Watch" command is so helpful for distracting from behaviors like car chasing. They can grow out of this, with training. Years ago my girl loved chasing bikes but she eventually did give it up. You just have to make yourself (and your commands) more interesting and rewarding than the stimulus, if that makes sense.

As for chewing, I feel your pain. Meadow is now 3 and still likes to chew. We keep a cardboard box from Costco (the short kind that had fruit containers) and she works on that almost every day. But we have to be vigilant about shoes because she will chew the tips off every time. You can see the photo of her boxes in the thread "Meadow's handiwork".

I'm sure others will chime in with more advice. Any chance you can post a photo of grown-up Fainly?

 

[Cindy]

yes.....photos!!! I live for pictures
Gavin had several times where his behavior became more reliable.
2 was one of those, better at 5, but he still had his moments up until he was about 7ish.
His issues was recall, mainly. he would come back, but not close enough to be leashed.
Part of it I think was his focus on me became more important than the other exciting things going on.

No real advice, except I managed to convince him cheerios were treats much more economical.
Thigh it did lead to him eating through all my coat pockets (and any plastic baggies he found) looking for treats.
I had a more than a few jackets whose pockets needed some repairwork.

 

[Chris]

I highly recommend How To Be Your Dog's Best Friend by The Monks of New Skete!

 

[Sandy in CT]

I bought an online training course but only used part of it. Brodie was never reactive until covid and then became increasingly so. My neighbors think he is a 'vicious' dog... but he's not, he's just reactive. I think having Deacon also increased his reactivity - he feels the need to protect his flock. And it didn't help that I have this jerk of a neighbor who loves to drive by my house always revving his engine right as he passes my house which REALLY increased Brodie's car reactivity - the neighbor didn't HAVE to, he could drive up the road on the opposite side of the hill, I really think he did it to push buttons. He has since stopped, he's a prev divorced older man who is now dating a women who has a dog who is far, far more reactive than Brodie could ever been - he behaves better now.. lol!

I had been working with my husband for months during walks. Making the boys, not hubby - haha, sit and 'watch' as cars went by and then rewarding them if they did. But after months, nothing was really working, and my husband - who always had Brodie - just doesn't get how attentive he needs to be. It's our responsibility to see the action as it starts and redirect it before it becomes an issue. In the course I bought, the lady starts by having a reactive dog at its 'safe' distance from something it reacts to, then rewarding - alot - to keep the dogs attention on food instead of what it reacts to. She says that if done slowly, you should eventually be able to walk the dog past what it reacts to and have it focused on the treats instead of the reactive thing.

I switched up my walks; purposely walking without my husband so I had both dogs on my own. For a month and a half, I kept a ton of treats in my left pocket and always walked with treats in my hand for the times a car would drive by or a neighbors dog would bark. On my own, I was uber successful with Brodie. Now when we walk together, we've switched up the dogs - I take Brodie and he takes Deacon. I can now get Brodie to not give a hoot if the Fed Ex truck whizzes by us, we've even been able to walk by a dog in our neighborhood that Brodie ALWAYS reacts to. The dog is passive aggressive and the owner doesn't clue in on it - the dog is nice, but stares down other dogs, not just my own, and I think they are scared of him cuz the owner doesn't break his stare. I've been working with both dogs in my classes; Deacon is timid around dogs so classmates are encouraging him to come near and then treating him. Bodie is reactive so the trick has been to keep him so focused on a treat that another dog can come up. Wednesday, Brodie actually let a big Golden Retriever come up behind him and take a treat over Brodie's head - it was so cool to see. Brodie even snuck a sniff when Thor walked away - amazing progress!

Of course, there are a few downsides to our new walking routine... yesterday while out for a walk it was Deacon, with hubby, who barked at a different dog. The real trick in success, for me, has been being uber, uber intent on my dogs. I am constantly talking to and in particular watching them. A prick of an ear, the head going up, tail coming up, a prance style walking on tip toes starts - I watch for signs and then start tossing treats. A side benefit has been that Deacon is getting better at catching tiny treats tossed for him. It's really been being consistent and observant more than anything and redirecting his focus. And Brodie is learning... he's catching on that cars and trucks mean treats afterward IF he just continues walking. I use homemade treats that are maybe a 1/2 calorie each and I did take him to the vet to be weighed and he's not gaining weight but I did have to cut back on one of his meals to account for the extra food he is getting. Sorry for the very long reply...