Obedience/Personal Trainer - Doberman Forum : Doberman Breed Dog Forums

Sharly · 12-05-2012, 04:19 PM

Aloha everyone

I just wanted to share something with you that I honestly must admit, am extremely prideful about. I always trained my family dogs on my own, with no help from any obedience classes. And each of my dogs ALWAYS turned out to be wonderfully socialized and behaved adults. It was such a great sense of accomplishment for me to know that people were always so impressed at how behaved they were and to know I could leave and trust that they wouldn't get into anything or even think to destroy something.

I thought that I could do the same with Toorc and for the most part, I did. He knows all his basic commands and even a few fun tricks thrown into the mix and at almost 12 weeks old, he is pretty much where I expected him to be with one exception...He is by far, one of the most high-strung and stubborn puppies I have yet to deal with. I am not sure if it is because he is young, or just a phase that he will grow out of or if he just has a more dominant attitude, but it’s like one minute he’s perfectly happy doing what I tell him to do and the next he won’t do it for the life of him. Now he isn’t a monster by any means, I just feel like there is something about his training that I am overlooking or missing completely.

I keep going through my head about what it is I am doing wrong but it in the end, I know that I just don’t have the time to invest like I used to. I am a full-time Active Duty member in the USAF now. My husband is deployed and Toorc is definitely left alone more than the other puppies were. And even though, I spend literally, ALL my free time devoted to training and loving him, I can honestly admit that I can’t give him exactly what I gave to the others.

Which brings me to this post

I have decided to put Toorc and myself through some personal training with Sabrina Clark, Owner of Balanced Obedience on Oahu. I decided that I would be part of this process with Toorc because I kinda have something against the package that allows you to drop your dog off for three weeks so she can do the work and train you later. LOL I just feel like it would be great to experience the training with my boy. Part of me feels like a failure for not being able to do this myself… but the other side of me knows that by getting her help, Toorc will live up to be the perfect Doberman role model I want him to be as well as have a long happy life being accepted by people instead of feared. As a dobe owner, I feel incredibly obligated to ensure he is trained to the T because of their unfortunate reputation

I just want what’s best for my boy and I know that given my current situation, I cannot do it alone. And I am terrified that by keeping him to myself thinking that I can do it, will turn him into some wild uncontrollable dog that I have to rehome or something… I feel kind of stupid trying to explain what I am feeling because I don’t know if anyone else has felt the same way or anything. But anyway, wish us luck

and I will definitely keep you all informed about his progress.

Thanks DT <3

lestat1978 · 12-05-2012, 04:30 PM

I think it's a good idea. Inevitably something comes up that is useful to know. I've been to a few different facilities now with different instructors and always come away with something. It could be a new trick. A different approach to a trick. A different perspective on why something is done a certain way.

Sharly · 12-05-2012, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lestat1978

I think it's a good idea. Inevitably something comes up that is useful to know. I've been to a few different facilities now with different instructors and always come away with something. It could be a new trick. A different approach to a trick. A different perspective on why something is done a certain way.

Yeah I'm really excited. I've been so frustrated lately with Toorc's dismissive attitude lately. But I know it's not his fault. I just don't have the knowledge to train a super stubborn puppy lol

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Adara · 12-06-2012, 03:49 PM

I don't know how to word this and I don't mean to be blunt so my apologies in advance. Communication isn't always my strong point. But how is a 12 week old "dismissive" - I'm literal too so apologize if I'm reading it wrong

I think getting help is always good. We tend to often learn new things along the way. And for me class makes me practice!

Sharly · 12-07-2012, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adara

I don't know how to word this and I don't mean to be blunt so my apologies in advance. Communication isn't always my strong point. But how is a 12 week old "dismissive" - I'm literal too so apologize if I'm reading it wrong

I think getting help is always good. We tend to often learn new things along the way. And for me class makes me practice!

I guess it's that one second he will do what he's told and then suddenly he acts as though he knows he doesn't have to do it. It's not that he's "conveniently forgotten" he knows what he is supposed to do, he just won't. And he likes to test me to see exactly what he can get away with.

Like, If I tell him to go to his bed and stay, he'll stay there for however long until I tell him he can move. And then if I need him to go back to his bed again later, he'll ignore the command and go about a whole different direction and do whatever he feels like. It gets frustrating because I KNOW he knows better.

Sharly · 12-10-2012, 02:41 PM

So Toorc and I had our first session with the trainer yesterday and he already acts like a completely different dog. I'm so glad I decided to do this because even the trainer saw what I was talking about. Toorc is pushy and testy and is incredibly dominant. For the next five days, he is my ball an chain. Unless it's bedtime, playtime or he's in his crate, he will be on a leash at all times. Within minutes he was sitting, laying and staying with only one command and absolutely zero hesitation.

I am so happy

Adara · 12-10-2012, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sharly

I guess it's that one second he will do what he's told and then suddenly he acts as though he knows he doesn't have to do it. It's not that he's "conveniently forgotten" he knows what he is supposed to do, he just won't. And he likes to test me to see exactly what he can get away with.

Like, If I tell him to go to his bed and stay, he'll stay there for however long until I tell him he can move. And then if I need him to go back to his bed again later, he'll ignore the command and go about a whole different direction and do whatever he feels like. It gets frustrating because I KNOW he knows better.

Is he still 12 weeks? If so, I'd completely disagree with this. If he's older maybe not. He sounds like a typical puppy to me who doesn't really KNOW what's fully expected of him.

Either way, glad your session worked out. Why does she think he is dominant? Did she explain? I ask because that word has so many "meanings"

Sharly · 12-10-2012, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adara

Is he still 12 weeks? If so, I'd completely disagree with this. If he's older maybe not. He sounds like a typical puppy to me who doesn't really KNOW what's fully expected of him.

Either way, glad your session worked out. Why does she think he is dominant? Did she explain? I ask because that word has so many "meanings"

I truly understand where you are coming from because I thought he was being an ordinary puppy too... but then there were just things (Hard to explain) that he would do that really confused me. It had me thinking there was just more to it than that.

When I say dominating I mean: He is very pushy, bossy barks when he has to do something he doesn't want to or isn't allowed to do something he wants to. He does things on his own time and if he feels like it. 12 weeks or not, he had sit, lay down, go to your bed/room and stay learned after the second week I had him. he DOES know better.

Dnice143 · 12-20-2012, 09:26 AM

I have a Doberman puppy on Oahu too. Let me know how your training works out. My pup is pretty stubborn, and I'm looking for some good quality help.

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Rosamburg · 12-20-2012, 03:07 PM

Stubborn is good at this age. Keep it positive. I wait a long time before I require good manners. My dog is 3 and still does not really have them, LOL.