katie4469

Our dog is VERY stubborn. It takes a lot of motivation and convincing to get him to do a trick for us, but when a stranger asks him to do something he'll do it without question.... without even using a treat! Tried it with many different people too. It doesn't bother me very much but my boyfriend feels betrayed hahaha. Any explanation? Is this a respect issue? :s

Thanks.

Beaumont67

He probably is just showing off some, and he knows the stranger comes without treats in his pocket...LOL...I think it is that simple.
- Mom & Dad, have all the treats to dish out, he isn't stupid...just not weened off of the tasty bait...he is playing you both, to keep pay him...he-he
In your boys mind - why not, do as he is currently doing ?? (has worked good, thus far)

__________________
------------Kelly & (Amy - RIP @ 11.7 y/o)

Rosamburg

Are you experienced in training dogs? You need to ask yourself 2 very basic questions. 1) what is the payoff/reward to the dog for listening to you? 2) what is the consequence for the dog for not listening to you? In what way does this scenario/equation change when it comes to other people?

katie4469

Well I had no problems with my old dogs but Dobermans are something else haha. The reward is love or treats/toys or whatever I'm using at the time. The consequence is that he does not get the treat or love. Should there be more of a consequence? I don't want to make training time a negative experience.

And the scenario is exactly the same with other people...except he's far more obedient with them then us.

After thinking about this now I think he listens because he wants to get love/attention/praise from them...where as with us, he knows he's always going to get love eventually no matter what lol.

Rosamburg

Yes so there is no real payoff from doing the activity. The biggest issue there, however, is no consequence for not following commands. In other words he has not been trained properly. Witholding reward as the only tool results in an untrained dog. It might work for a non-working breed but not for a Doberman. It is also stressful for the dog in a sense. Dogs need things to be very black and white. They are really much happier when things are very clear to them.

A dog will willingly move from discomfort to comfort but will not willingly move from comfort to discomfort. He is very comfortable where he is at doing exactly what he thinks he wants at that very moment. Why should he listen?

Rosamburg

I want to add that corrections (if they are fair for a command the dog knows) is more negative to the handler than the dog.