Temper Tantrums

[Archie]

There are a lot of different opinions about box store dog training - and the quality of trainers varies widely from store to store.

I think that as long as you can pick up some useful tools, they're worth it. But from there, it's up to you to PRACTICE all the time. Make a point of going out in public places often with a bag full of treats and practice what you've learned, don't get discouraged or embarrassed.

Is your guy fully vaccinated now? Does he get to leave your property for some exercise/exploring/socialization?

[doubledip1]

I think it depends most on the individual trainer. Luna never went to any official classes, I did everything myself. She got socialized really well through scheduled playdates with people and dogs I know.

The temper tantrums will end. The most important thing is patience, patience patience! I would look in to Nothing in Life is Free training modality.

[beth101509]

There are a lot of different opinions about box store dog training - and the quality of trainers varies widely from store to store.

I think that as long as you can pick up some useful tools, they're worth it. But from there, it's up to you to PRACTICE all the time. Make a point of going out in public places often with a bag full of treats and practice what you've learned, don't get discouraged or embarrassed.

Is your guy fully vaccinated now? Does he get to leave your property for some exercise/exploring/socialization?

He will be fully vaccinated next week. I used to bring him to work with me for half the day but that proved too hard with the potty training since he would get confused on where he could and could not go. I was going to start bringing him back to work with me once he got a little bit older and I knew for sure we had the potty training down, just because I never know when I am going to get a client to walk through the door and won't be able to stop everything to take him out first. I am the only employee here so I have to focus on my work more than my dog and that gets a little hard when they are wanting to play or go potty on the floor! But he gets out still during neighborhood walks, no PetSmart trips yet, not until fully vaccinated.

[POPTOP]

I really lucked out with Petsmart and had an excellent trainer. When she left, so did I and followed her to another training facility. But, they do teach the basics and with tons of homework, we learned.

[Georgie]

I don't think he is bratty, he is still young and wants to spend time with you. Time out of the crate is still not the same as time out of the crate playing with his owners. The energy they expend with you or other dogs playing is by far greater than when they are playing by themselves. You can tweak the behaviors and make massive changes from small steps. The small steps you can choose,,, eg. When your husband takes him out at 4 am he can do some active 5-10 min rough and tumble play then toilet and then perhaps a very small portion of the morning meal in crate. This means puppy can then go back to sleep for another 1-2 hours until you wake up.

[Woodrow_Woodchuck]

Having a lab pup is kind of like adding a child to your family, your life isn't going to be the same for a while. You will have to make some sacrifices for a while. How long? Depends on the pup. With Sunshine, that meant getting up two hours earlier every day, putting on the headlight and raincoat, and going for off leash run like a nut time. Get home from work, grab a quick bite, headlight/raincoat and outside for 3 to 4 hours of off leash run like a nut time. I did this for a year and a half before I learned how to help her control her energy.

I realize Sunshine is at one extreme end of the energy spectrum! My other labs were satisfied with 20, 30 maybe 45 minutes in the morning. Two half hour to hour sessions in the evening put them down for the count.

It will take time and trial/error to find out how much exercise he needs in the mornings to satisfy him. Find what it is and make it part of your morning routine until he outgrows it, sorry. It was really tough on me, I was beat everyday! All I did was run in the woods or lake with the puppy!!! Well worth the effort in the long run, it is all great bonding time!

I went to the box store puppy classes. I let the instructor know it was more for socialization than actual training but we did do the training also. I feel they are more for teaching owners how to train the pups than the other way around. I would never, ever send my pup off for someone else to train, just personal preference. That is all time to build trust and a relationship with your pup. Someone else trains your dog to do something, they do it because it is what they were trained to do. I teach them something and they learn it pleases me when they do it. I can also modify that activity as I see fit. For example, training to blind retrieve. Someone can teach her to go left or right. I can train her to go 'to your other right' if she goes left instead of repeating RIGHT RIGHT RIGHT.

[CraftHer]

Since we only have PetSmart/PetCo options for training, will those be effective and useful? I know a lot of people frown on those as not real classes.

We took Mocha to PetSmart puppy kindergarten and had a great trainer. The training was more for us than Mocha. Our trainer pointed out some things I didn't realize I was doing. For example, I told him to do something but he did something cute instead and I smiled, inadvertently telling him he didn't have to do what I said. I didn't realize I was sending mixed signals.

[Labradorks]

I had a pup who was not a fan of the crate, but I eventually won him over with stuffed Kongs. Each time he went into the crate, he got a frozen Kong with food. Three times a day. Make the crate a wonderful place. With a small pup like that, you'll want to start small. Just enough of a snack that won't make him have to poop. As he gets older and bigger, you can give him bigger Kongs. I've also done the balls where the kibble falls out or other toys where they have to work for food. If you put him in his kennel without something fun and tasty, he'll associate the crate with negativity.

PetCo/PetSmart trainers are generally better than nothing. You can always watch the trainers you'll have before you sign up and see which one you like best. I'd also look into a dog obedience club in your area and ask them who they recommend. Often there are obedience classes you don't know about or that aren't found easily online. In fact, the best trainers don't need to advertise at all! You can also try calling some of the doggie daycares, veterinarians, and boarding facilities in your area for references.

Training a dog is always a challenge. You don't train them and then call it good. They need training forever. And, they go through lots of phases, especially the first three years. So, even if you found an away trainer, you won't get a perfect dog in the end. It takes lots of time, patience, and consistency.

[Doreen Davis]

We have two young un's and they take over your world. Anthony needs a lot of exercise but no crate issue. He sits and gets a treat and will go in on request. Stella is very vocal if she knows we're around. We use frozen kongs too. They both went to obedience school and it was more about us learning and having someone else observe our interactions. It also helps with bonding, being around other people and dogs. I think it's worth it and the mental stimulation will tire him out.

I am am not a fan of boot camp, it's about the dogs interaction with you. I would check out NILF method too.

[beth101509]

Thank you to every one who commented. I appreciate the advice.

I am doing the NILF thing. He has to sit and wait to be told he can eat at meals. He starts sitting further away and will run to his bowl when you give him the "Ok, go" command to eat. He has to sit outside the kitchen while we cook dinner and eat, after he sits quietly for a bit, I will give him a bone or Kong with peanut butter to entertain himself while we are cooking/eating. I give him a treat and tell him to "kennel" (we call it a kennel and not a crate) and he will run to his kennel and sit before he gets his treat but he will throw a fit after I have left.

He pottied in his kennel sometime during the night or yesterday afternoon (husband lets him out in the afternoon and doesn't check his crate for accidents), not sure when but his blankets were wet (didn't smell like pee though so maybe he just chewed on them?) and he hasn't done that before. He has started howling/throwing a fit about a half hour before we get up in the morning for the last two mornings and he hasn't ever done that either. He is really good 90% of the time....the other 10% of the time, it isn't just a "oops, I didn't hear you" it is a "I see and hear you because I am looking right at you but I am going to completely ignore you and run in the opposite direction" that gets me upset and frustrates me more than anything. He knows to "come" and deliberately chooses not to.

I know it takes lots of patience but some days I feel it is getting worse rather than better and I'm not sure I have the patience to wait until he is 3 before he starts listening to me completely. I will play with him more during lunch and before work and hope that - that improves the situation. I understand that this is all ME and not necessarily him as he is trying to learn what I want from him and he is still young. I also know that even though I just want to relax and catch up on my shows in the morning before work, that may not be an option for the time being and just deal with it.

I need to work on me and not sure if you can tell or not, I have no kids so this is really turning my life upside down. There are days when I am just so frustrated and feel like I am crazy for being upset about a dog not listening so I just need to get it out before I freak out so this is more therapeutic for me more than anything. Thanks again for all the advice and letting me know that I am not necessarily the only person this has happened to and that some day, far, far away, it will get better. Fingers crossed.