Starting from scratch?

((hugs))

I would call your trainer. It seems like Ellie is really testing you--especially when you have treats and you can't reinforce. I'm sorry. Hang in there!
 
I am so sorry too, I know it has to be incrediblyfrustrating for you :no:. My Megan will be 9 months on May 25th and we're STILL working on obedience and training :o.

Then there are those here who I stick my tongue out to when they say there 8 month, 9 month or whatever is now CGC certified :razz:. OR, haha, they have the perfect recall, perfect sit/stay already, again, I stick my tongue out at them!! :lol:..

Hang in there kiddo!
 
Lahree, I'm so sorry for the anguish you are going through. I would be in tears as well. You got Ellie as a pup, right? Could something have happened to her prior to your getting her that causes this type of behavior?

I wish so much that I had some advise that would really help you. I can only offer a place for you to vent your frustration. I'm truly feel badly for you.
 
Megansmom said:
...
Then there are those here who I stick my tongue out to when they say there 8 month, 9 month or whatever is now CGC certified :razz:. OR, haha, they have the perfect recall, perfect sit/stay already, again, I stick my tongue out at them!! :lol:..

Hang in there kiddo!
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This may make you feel better. Phebe earned her CGC at 9 months, but we still experienced a profound setback in obedience when she hit a year, and I'm still working on her 'you're not the boss of me' attitude. All I can recommend is to remain calm and keep going back to the basics.
 
Phebe*DD said:
This may make you feel better. Phebe earned her CGC at 9 months, but we still experienced a profound setback in obedience when she hit a year, and I'm still working on her 'you're not the boss of me' attitude. All I can recommend is to remain calm and keep going back to the basics.
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I admit it, I haven't worked and worked and worked with Megan every day, even though I do have the time usually..We do little bits here and there and she seems to get it and retain it MOST of the time..:smile2:
 
Thank you everyone for your comments and encouragement.

Guess what? I took her on her walk this evening and before we left I let Ellie see that I was putting treats in my pocket. Her little ears perked up. I put the leash on and off we went. SHE WAS PERFECT. She was prancing along and we both saw a car coming towards us in the far distance. She immediately went on "alert." Her neck arched slightly and her ears perked up and her shoulders raised just slightly. I said, "watch me" and low and behold she turned her head completely up to look at me! She got a "cookie" for that! All sorts of distractions tonight (as usual) and she never did anything slightly wrong. Each time I said "watch me" I only had to ask once and she looked. I rewarded her about every third time she watched me when she was supposed to. If it's "cheating" to give her a treat during the walk, then someone will have to take a gold star away from me. :razz:

It gets even better--when we got home I asked DH if he could do the "drill" part of our training with Ellie. Ellie always is perfect with me during the drill, but still thinks that DH is a big toy to play with and shows only a little respect for him. Ellie was show ring quality with DH. No treats, she had to do everything she was asked without a reward other than physical and voice praise. She got a treat at the very end because she was sooooooooooo good.

This is THE weirest dog I have EVER encountered! :no:
 
Lahree said:
Thank you everyone for your comments and encouragement.

Guess what? I took her on her walk this evening and before we left I let Ellie see that I was putting treats in my pocket. Her little ears perked up. I put the leash on and off we went. SHE WAS PERFECT. She was prancing along and we both saw a car coming towards us in the far distance. She immediately went on "alert." Her neck arched slightly and her ears perked up and her shoulders raised just slightly. I said, "watch me" and low and behold she turned her head completely up to look at me! She got a "cookie" for that! All sorts of distractions tonight (as usual) and she never did anything slightly wrong. Each time I said "watch me" I only had to ask once and she looked. I rewarded her about every third time she watched me when she was supposed to. If it's "cheating" to give her a treat during the walk, then someone will have to take a gold star away from me. :razz:

It gets even better--when we got home I asked DH if he could do the "drill" part of our training with Ellie. Ellie always is perfect with me during the drill, but still thinks that DH is a big toy to play with and shows only a little respect for him. Ellie was show ring quality with DH. No treats, she had to do everything she was asked without a reward other than physical and voice praise. She got a treat at the very end because she was sooooooooooo good.

This is THE weirest dog I have EVER encountered! :no:
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That is so odd--but wonderful! I wonder if she is too smart for her own good? She seems to just work when you have treats--or am I way off? I am so happy to hear she behaved perfectly.
 
corbinam said:
That is so odd--but wonderful! I wonder if she is too smart for her own good? She seems to just work when you have treats--or am I way off? I am so happy to hear she behaved perfectly.
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No, you're not way off. Your exactly right. She knew I had them with me and that evidently was enough for her. The funny thing is that she does the drills absolutely fine without any treats--just praise and physical loving. However, the drills are a lot easier for her. They are done in the backyard and there are very few distrations. On the walk she does really, really well with distractions except for cars and the cars are a very dangerous issue. She is a very manipulative dog and way, way, way smart.
 
She is still an adolescent so will still get brain freeze days (think of a 16yr old human). But at least you are getting as many good days as bad, and maybe the treats just help to keep her focused on you. I do think treats are often a signal for training/working time for the dogs so they do behave a bit better with them around. I am going to try to attach a word to when I want mine to focus to see if that can replace the treats. I know a few people who say 'working' to their dogs so they know its not play time anymore.

The good news is they do start settling down a bit from now on so things can only get better!
 
Lahree, I was away for the weekend and just read of your setback with Ellie. I'm glad that she was back to behaving in shortly. I had many random days of testing along the way with Ember. One day testing ,the next day perfect. Just keep work and the nutty days will be less and less, just make sure you are staying constant the expections. Ember is so good in public most people would never guess what she was like. But I can never give her an inch in her behavior. But for compliance I give her the moon.
 
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