Does Your Sheltie Ever Bark in Protest when Training?

Justicemom said:
Ember is a protest screamer/whiner. She woundn't scream if she thought you were going to make her do something. You wouldn't even have to touch her and she would scream. So embarassing, I was afraid people would think I was killing her.

I remember one day, I was working with her in the front yard on leash doing figure 8s. Ember lunged away from me and hit the end of the leash, she scream drove back inside and bounce off my leg, then screamed and lunged against the leash, scream and repeat that cycle 2 more times. I just kept walking, didn't move my hands and completed the firgue 8 and stopped. Ember sat there panting and looking around wildly. :rolleyes2: I stood there for a few seconds and she relaxed. I asked her if she was done and did one more cycle and the figure 8. She did it perfectly BTW. I then praised her released her and put her up and got Justice. My nerves were shot.:lol: She is the ultimate drama queen. i just ignore her. I know I'm not hurting her.

Diva barks at me occasionly in protests or grunts. I just tell her get it done. My breeders dog Sunday has been known to tell off her off if my friend makes what Sunday sees as a mistake during obedience or agility(especialy agility training). Sunday has a huge ego.:lol:

Youngest dog I have seen with a true low thyroid(diagnosed with panel) was a 11 month Golden.
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I am relieved to hear that someone else has a drama queen. I have to confess, when Paula was running her through her paces, my heart was in my throat. I had never heard Ellie do the screaming before, but Paula was saying, "You'll see when you work with her, I am NOT hurting her. She's MAD!" I could see she was on a loose leash. There could be no way she was hurting her, but that screaming was making me totally come unhinged. I got teary eyed. But when I was working her, sure enough, she did a few drills perfectly and then she decided it was enough. Down she went, on her back, flailing around like someone hit her, screaming. Full-blown temper tantrum. It will be very, very, VERY difficult for me to work her when she's doing that, but I know that's what she is counting on. Lord help me. :no:
 
Lahree said:
I am relieved to hear that someone else has a drama queen. I have to confess, when Paula was running her through her paces, my heart was in my throat. I had never heard Ellie do the screaming before, but Paula was saying, "You'll see when you work with her, I am NOT hurting her. She's MAD!" I could see she was on a loose leash. There could be no way she was hurting her, but that screaming was making me totally come unhinged. I got teary eyed. But when I was working her, sure enough, she did a few drills perfectly and then she decided it was enough. Down she went, on her back, flailing around like someone hit her, screaming. Full-blown temper tantrum. It will be very, very, VERY difficult for me to work her when she's doing that, but I know that's what she is counting on. Lord help me. :no:
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Oh my Ellie sounds just like Ember. Ember was a tough dog and I have trained tons of tough dogs. I can assure you Ember rarely does that anymore. She knows it does no good. I never let her decide when to quit. I never react to it and I praise the heck out of her when she is compliant. I used to think Ember would never be able to get any obedience titles but she is only 1 leg away from her UDX one of the highest title in AKC obedience. Hang in there it will get better.:smile2: Just think of what a better dog trainer you will be in the end.
 
Justicemom said:
Oh my Ellie sounds just like Ember. Ember was a tough dog and I have trained tons of tough dogs. I can assure you Ember rarely does that anymore. She knows it does no good. I never let her decide when to quit. I never react to it and I praise the heck out of her when she is compliant. I used to think Ember would never be able to get any obedience titles but she is only 1 leg away from her UDX one of the highest title in AKC obedience. Hang in there it will get better.:smile2: Just think of what a better dog trainer you will be in the end.
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You don't know how comforting it is to hear from someone who has a dog like Ellie. One of the huge reasons I love this forum!

I can tell the problem with me is that I don't want mad at her or become frustrated and give up. She really sounds like I am hurting her and I am afraid to take her out into public like that until I can work her in the back yard without the screaming. The nieghbors will think I am hurting her. It makes my stomach queasy. Richard didn't even react to it and I thought I was going to cry, lol.
 
Hurhur! Romeo used to protest alot too! It was quite annoying coz what I kept hearing from him was "I already did it! SEE! SEE! Now where's my treat!" LOL! But I just ignored that, and rewarded only when he wasn't barking. He doesn't bark quite as much now! In fact next to Juliet, he's positively a mute! She's way more vocal than he is, and she always barks during training and well, makes alot of funny noises when not. I'm just doing the same I did with Romeo. Really hope it works with her! :lol:
 
Just to add to those who have had similar experiences, I have a friend who has an aussie that protests a lot. She does it on the agility field, she does it waiting to run, she does it just doing a trick. It seems as if she is throwing a tantrum or saying "I DON'T WANNA!" Although she still is very vocal, she does do what she is asked, and she is incredibly smart. Despite her protests she is a great agility dog and knows a lot of tricks. Everyone is right, don't give in to it.

Think of it as a kid kicking and screaming in a toy store. If you buy her a toy every time she does it, she'll learn that it works, and do it more. Stand firm, and know that it's for her own good.
 
Bailey is a biggg back talker. She always was. I remember when she was 10 Weeks old and playing in my yard. She picked a rock, so I took it away and told her "no". As soon as I said no, she barked at me with an angry face. If she could talk, she would've said "hey! That's my rock!". She sill talks back if you take something away she wants or don't give her a treat.
 
I am sorry to hear other people have similar problems, but, man, am I ever RELIEVED at the same time! Ellie actually yelps just like she's hurt over and over again when you ask her to do something--while she is doing it! Ask her to walk on a loose leash and she does it and then sit when you stop. She'll do it with no problems let's say, like 5 times and then on the 6th it's "YOU"RE KILLNG ME! YOU'RE KILLING ME! YOU'RE KILLLLLLLLLIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGG MEEEEEEEEEE!" If you couldn't see her and could only hear her, you would think I was beating her, that's how bad it sounds. And then the rolling over on the back thing and screaming is quite the earsplitting too. It makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck. It makes my stomach all funny.

I have never had a Sheltie like this. Lord give me strength and I mean that literally and sincerely. :yes:
 
You're doing the right thing, honest! Have you considered doing the drill twice, then break. A day later, add another repetition? Just an idea -- build up. Ignoring is the quickest way to extinguish the behavior.
 
Chris said:
You're doing the right thing, honest! Have you considered doing the drill twice, then break. A day later, add another repetition? Just an idea -- build up. Ignoring is the quickest way to extinguish the behavior.
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That's a very good idea. :)

Since this is her first day back, and she seems disoriented and stressed, I think we will do small bits today with something fun. We are going to take her for a ride--which she loves--but she will have to practice sitting and waiting while the door is opened and sitting and waiting again while the truck door is opened, etc. There will be a lot of obedience wrapped into a fun thing. Wish us luck!
 
You mean someone has a Sheltie that doesn't bark :lol:

Mine crack me up, because they know that in Obedience, we do not talk until the end, except for the VERY few vocal commands. Hence....they are quiet. Rally and Agility FORGET IT. Since we are using our happy voices the whole time, it creates such enthusiasm out of my girls that they just chat up a storm during their entire lesson. It is really funny to watch.
 
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