He is still a baby. 6 months is so young. You have so much time to proof these things! Take everything in stride and try not to get frustrated with him. Keep training fun and consistent

Personally 6 months is far too young for a prong collar in our home. We focused on what he did right and not what he did wrong. No corrections were given until about a year old.

Lower your expectations is my suggestion. We took a novice competitive obidience class at 7 months old and he was keeping up (mostly, we did shorter stays and more tug time breaks) with the 2+ year old dogs! He was the youngest one there by at least 14 months. It was at that moment I realized we were doing just fine

 

I'm often puzzled by why people expect puppies to 'heel'?
We have worked a lot on loose leash walking.
Puppies need to be free to sniff and smell and pounce on leaves. We do heel in class although I've only recently named it (I'm a huge proponent of not naming the action till the dog has it).
Our sits and downs are reliable and we're slowly extending the time she needs to hold her position. We work with a lot of food, on a simple flat collar.

The biggest mistake people make is expecting too much, then they reach for 'quick fix methods' instead of stepping back in training.

My advice is to get yourself your gf and the dog into training classes that use positive methods. Your trainer will help you set realistic goals for you and the dog and teach you how to expand on them. Training classes help teach you, yet the dog still has to learn to work with distractions all around.

 

I agree with what the others said - it sounds like he is doing just fine. He is still a baby with a short attention span, which will get better as he gets older. It takes a while for them to develop the presence of mind and self-control for rock solid recall and loose leash walking. Just keep working at it but don't get frustrated when things don't go perfectly! It's important to keep training fun and relaxed so he continues to enjoy working and engaging with you.

 

Thanks guys. He definitely tests me at times but I am trying to be patient and understand hes still so young I always try to think of it as I would a toddler.

I try to always use positive encouragement for the acts I am taking. The prong collar isn't really a short cut as much as an extra tool to help but I understand the concerns and I too myself have them. When I am correcting him with it it is always within his power whether it effects him or not. I don't jerk on in or use it myself to correct him I keep it consistent and at my side loose when he walks too far off or isn't paying attention to my movement with him he puts the pressure on and can correct it himself etc. And believe me he gets plenty of room for wandering and sniffing grabbing up sticks etc on our walks I dont make him walk on heel I just am trying to make him aware of the command.

I definitely want to take another level of training for him but in the mean time this is reassuring that I am on track with basic training. I just wanted to make sure I am not behind the curve before I got too far along and needed major behavioral corrections.

 

I wanted to add this with the fetch. I play this with my boy and as soon as I can tell the game isn't keeping his interest. Like when he will bring the ball back but that less eager come back to me. I praise and end the game.

I always make a point to end the game or training on a good note BEFORE he gets tired and fizzes out. So we always end on a the highest positive.



And for the heeling, what I do and you may have learned this in class. I keep changing it up, from circles to halts so he keeps his focus on me. I am sure we look goofy going down the sidewalk but I don't even care. And it really does help, and when we get to a corner my boy just stops and sits and waits till I say "ok" and we cross.

Just keep it up, you guys are doing great! PS. Your boy is so handsome!

 

. . . I always make a point to end the game or training on a good note BEFORE he gets tired and fizzes out. So we always end on a the highest note. . .

Couldn't agree more. Soooo important at all ages, but especially with a puppy.

 

. At times when he starts to get distracted and wonder off I'll call him to come - sometimes he'll look at me and acknowledge(if not a more forceful "COME NOW" typically gets the job done and he happily returns but other times hes just entranced, he just keeps his head down sniffing trying to advance ignoring my call.

In general I think what you are doing with the training is OK but, as others have said, you are probably expecting too much, too soon for a puppy his age.

However when I read the above I had a flash of one of my early obedience instructors saying to a class member..."You are shooting yourself in the foot when it comes to reliability every time you repeat a command."

That instructor always, always reminded handlers in her classes to 1) not issue a command unless you had a way to enforce it. Since you are using a long line--use it instead of a second command to get the puppy moving. 2) If you are in a situation where you can't enforce a command don't issue the command again--walk the puppy down (go to him--ignore the fact that he didn't come when called--put him back on leash or long line and practice some recalls with jackpot treats for coming the first time and quickly when called.)

All this stuff should be self evident but I forget as often as anyone even though I know that repeating command will only result in slow and pokey returns to me or ignoring me entirely.

Good luck--cute puppy!

 

Thanks guys. I appreciate the help

 

How long are you working with him at a time ? 10 -15 minutes in the am & pm every day is fine working with him too much he will get bored out of his mind. It is a good idea to get a trick book incorporate a trick in with the obedience when he get it fairly down pat start a new trick. Dogs love to help around the house some trick books add tricks that will be helpful have him learn to pick up his toys and put them in a box.
Teach drop it teach leave it both come in handy at times, Teach wait at door ways,car doors until you give a go ahead command might save his life one day.Remeber no forced running until 18 months old until his growth plates are closed. Let him be a puppy most of all only puppies once. Good Luck

 

We play fetch, run around explore etc for around 30 minutes every day at the park and I'll incorporate a few simple commands into the play time, sit stay shake etc in between tosses and about 45 minutes of walking trails/bike paths afterwards. No running.

This doesn't include the time I spend playing with him at the house or tug in the back yard along with some simple scent training(really I just hide tasty things in the backyard after giving him a sniff then say "find it"). I've recently taught "place" when I want him to go to a certain spot and sit, play dead and he knows "get your toy" when hes playing and drop/leave it. Putting them away is great though cause he loves taking out every toy as you can see, so I'll try to work on that. I really want to teach him to hold or carry things on command.