How to get a Puppy To Focus?

Hopefully, Smudge will be starting obedience classes of some sort after the first of the year. I have a class already paid for, but the kennel club never let me know when the next set is going to be. I read on their site that it will be in January and March. Wasn't that nice of them to let me know? :rolleyes2:

Since I don't have any more paid days off until May I doubt I will be able to attend those. So what I am thinking of doing is hiring the lady that grooms Smudge. She breeds, handles, and trains. Since she has 4 shelties and 2 collies Smudge would also get his socialization in. :yes:

I'll try the hand feeding with part of his kibble. I had watched on TV where Victoria Stilwell did the same thing. Only she used that technique to help a dog not be afraid of a certain person.
 
Do you give Smudge treats for no reason or does he always have to do something to get a treat?

If you give him treats for no reason , then like someone else said it might be that he doesn't think he has to work for a treat.

I have never given Bailey a treat unless she does something good like sit, down, paw, etc. If I'm holding her toy and she starts jumping because she wants it, I always make her sit and then I give it to her. Sometimes she just automatically sits without me telling her to.

I also taught her the wait command. When I put down her food bowl, I tell her "wait". She is not allowed to eat her food until I say "take it". She'll just stare at me until I release her.

I think the "nothing in life is free" training really helps a dog to focus on you.
 
When Smudge was younger he never got any treats at all. My first sheltie, Gizmo, was very overweight. I can feed Smudge all day long and he won't gain anything. Most the time he does work for his treats. Even if it's just "look".

I think I'll try the hand feeding some of his food and training him inside on the leash.
 
take4roll10 said:
Do you give Smudge treats for no reason or does he always have to do something to get a treat?

If you give him treats for no reason , then like someone else said it might be that he doesn't think he has to work for a treat.

I have never given Bailey a treat unless she does something good like sit, down, paw, etc. If I'm holding her toy and she starts jumping because she wants it, I always make her sit and then I give it to her. Sometimes she just automatically sits without me telling her to.

I also taught her the wait command. When I put down her food bowl, I tell her "wait". She is not allowed to eat her food until I say "take it". She'll just stare at me until I release her.

I think the "nothing in life is free" training really helps a dog to focus on you.
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I'm glad you brought this up,as all this week,we have been working with Trapp & Earnhardt eating side by side here in the kitchen. Now mind you,Trapp is like many of our babes that sucks in his food like in seconds. Prior to this week,he had been fed from a food dispensing ball. It has worked WONDERFUL!

So this week,we have brought the food dish out,and have done the wait command,and he is doing great. Earnhardt is old hat at this,he just looks at me,I give him a hand signal,and he will approach his bowl & eat.

Now Trapp finishes way before Earnhardt,so I put him in a sit,and I make him wait.If he breaks the sit,I put him back there,and I say "wait". He eventually will lay down,while Earnhardt eats.

Do I trust him alone yet,eating side by side Earnhardt..no..but it will come in time.
I do know for a fact,that Earnhardt will back away from his food dish,and let Trapp eat. He was that way here with 7 dogs in residance here in foster care.All ate on the front porch.He would wait till everyone got done before he ate.
 
I have so much trouble with Bailey trying to eat my other dogs' food. My other dogs take forever to eat their food and I don't want to keep Bailey in a sit and stay for that long. I usually have to crate Bailey, while they take their sweet time. Sometimes my chihuahua even kicks a kibble to Bailey. That chihuahua is a bad influence.
 
take4roll10 said:
I have so much trouble with Bailey trying to eat my other dogs' food. My other dogs take forever to eat their food and I don't want to keep Bailey in a sit and stay for that long. I usually have to crate Bailey, while they take their sweet time. Sometimes my chihuahua even kicks a kibble to Bailey. That chihuahua is a bad influence.
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Well Earnhardt is a fairly quick eater(10 minutes or less),he only is fed once a day,so he's definately hungry.If his food is not fixed by 5pm,he is letting you know its time~

Chihuahua's are funny little creatures. We have two as grand dogs,I'm gonna tell you,they are some thing else. I have to keep telling myself,that I can handle these two chi's,when my son & wife take a trip to California next May, for a week. I may end up in the loonie farm.:eek2:

On the plus side..Trapp will be exhausted after the week is over.
 
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