[b]Hello--I have a 4 1/2 month old lab mix (lab / border collie / some bird dog) named Willow. She is exercised with walks twice daily 30 min to 1 hour. Followed by running / fetch / playing with favorite toys for 15 minutes. Then training begins, usually 10-15 min. All activities and training is planned to be diversified, changing and stimulating.
OK -- so, she's tired out and ready to train? I'm not sure. My problem is, she is responding to voice and hand commands with excitement rather than the intended response. For example, sit / stay /come, she'll look at me seemingly perplexed, then she'll bark, play-stance, run around, chew and chase her tail, dig at and eat grass, run away, hackles go up, she won't come. Some progress has been made with treats in hand. However, without treats, it's as if she's had no training at all. If I allow the excitement to continue, I can expect her to pee exactly where she's standing, regardless of where she is.
What am I doing wrong? Thanks for any help.[/b]
Dealing with frustration and nervousness
Moderators: emmabeth, BoardHost
You ask where you are going wrong, and I commend you for your thoughtful approach to owning such a lively, intelligent mix of breeds.
Four and a half months old. Eighteen weeks. You have a baby here.
Baby concentration span, baby mental and physical attributes, baby needs for sleep and relaxaton. While she certainly needs what you describe, she does not need so much of it, just as a toddler couldn't hack a full day at school.
Gentle exercise is good, and socialising with as many different situations as you can find. At that age, I drive mine somewhere, let them play for ten-fifteen minutes and then drive them home. I do this two or three times a day. It is enough for them because it tires them mentally as well as physically.
No more than ten minutes training a day, broken into two sessions of five minutes. That's all a baby mind can take. That's why you are getting the different coping behaviours and then the fear/frustration pee.
Just as young children do not show their best when their days are too structured, so it is with pups. Be there, be her friend, be a safe place for her, but let her be a baby for now.
And enjoy her!
It's a wonderful age.
Four and a half months old. Eighteen weeks. You have a baby here.
Baby concentration span, baby mental and physical attributes, baby needs for sleep and relaxaton. While she certainly needs what you describe, she does not need so much of it, just as a toddler couldn't hack a full day at school.
Gentle exercise is good, and socialising with as many different situations as you can find. At that age, I drive mine somewhere, let them play for ten-fifteen minutes and then drive them home. I do this two or three times a day. It is enough for them because it tires them mentally as well as physically.
No more than ten minutes training a day, broken into two sessions of five minutes. That's all a baby mind can take. That's why you are getting the different coping behaviours and then the fear/frustration pee.
Just as young children do not show their best when their days are too structured, so it is with pups. Be there, be her friend, be a safe place for her, but let her be a baby for now.
And enjoy her!
It's a wonderful age.