Teach your puppy... (things I wish I had done...)

[TomM]

My 'puppy' is almost 14 now. (English Shepherd)
She has always been great. Very trainable and obedient. Smart. Friendly. Compliant.
She learned things easily and quickly.
I could trust her 99.9999999% at all times.
No leash needed ever.. but we used one when appropriate.
Hearing was her absolute best sense... then sight and last was sense of smell.
Now she has lost 99% of her hearing and a good portion of her sight is impaired by cataracts.
So things have changed.
She 'sniffs' everywhere. The vet said this would take place due to loss of other senses.

Wish I had taught her more visual, sight commands. She sees (just not great)...
She can hear a really sharp whistle sound (I bought an orange one that has a sharp sound).
She knows the hand signal for 'stay' and 'sit'.. but nothing for 'come' or 'ok'...
No response to the whistle except it fortunately gets her attention to look up. (sometimes.. aargh, ha.. that sniffing is really a powerful focus when out walking.)

Anyhow.. teach your puppy lots of hand signals and sharp clapping or whistle burst sound commands, so if things change, she is still safe and happy.

[imnofish]

My puppy is nearly 5.  She is my first "inside dog."  She is affectionate, well-behaved, loves kids, never runs away, etc.  However, she will not come when called.  Never has.  I've tried rewards, but she simply doesn't care about them.  Any thoughts on how to remedy this?   

[TomM]

From what I have learned....
At 14 my dog still learns things (so I am trying with the signals etc..)
So, your puppy can probably still learn.
What I learned was to use a 30 foot leash (tether)... (I used a thin 30' rope with a clip attached)
Clip it to dogs collar. Let the dog wander away to enitre length of rope.
Call her name.. gently/firmly pull her back to you and give a great treat (hot dog slivers... something easy to swallow fast)
Repeat this over and over again... (I sat on the door step, for comfort for me)
Let her wander, call her back, pull her back (gently, but directly), treat profusely.
That is one solution.
I have never used a 'shock collar', but that is very tempting with a puppy who is determined not to 'listen' and respond by returning.
My neighbors Golden is 98% compliant, BUT that 2% is when she resists complying with 'come' command. (usually when eating rabbit or deer scat... dang that makes me angry.) But, she is not my dog and my neighbor would rather get angry and scream with no response from the dog, rather than train her to come back.
Hope your puppy responds to the '30 foot leash' plan. :0)

[imnofish]

From what I have learned....
At 14 my dog still learns things (so I am trying with the signals etc..)
So, your puppy can probably still learn.
What I learned was to use a 30 foot leash (tether)... (I used a thin 30' rope with a clip attached)
Clip it to dogs collar. Let the dog wander away to enitre length of rope.
Call her name.. gently/firmly pull her back to you and give a great treat (hot dog slivers... something easy to swallow fast)
Repeat this over and over again... (I sat on the door step, for comfort for me)
Let her wander, call her back, pull her back (gently, but directly), treat profusely.
That is one solution.
I have never used a 'shock collar', but that is very tempting with a puppy who is determined not to 'listen' and respond by returning.
My neighbors Golden is 98% compliant, BUT that 2% is when she resists complying with 'come' command. (usually when eating rabbit or deer scat... dang that makes me angry.) But, she is not my dog and my neighbor would rather get angry and scream with no response from the dog, rather than train her to come back.
Hope your puppy responds to the '30 foot leash' plan. :0)

Thanks, Tom!  This is something I haven't heard of before, but it looks like a good solution. 

[littleguy301]

My puppy will not do a thing for anything. Darn bully breed so subborn!!!!!

I take that back, if I hold a treat in front of him he will sit if I tap is butt, will stick his paw up (name is vinnie so the paw up is a sign of respect) and will stay when I put a treat down 10 feet away but it has to be done in that order. Will not do it singluar!

My old boy learned hand signals. He was very good at them! My favorite was when I would hold out my hands, palms facing each other, and moved my fingers he knew that was the sign of he was getting scratches. He was down with that.

My wife took him to doggie school and passed the first one but was asked to leave the second one. So he was a drop out but seemed to pick up on hand signals very well.

Though I wonder when he lost his hearing how much he really lost. Wouldnt hear a thing until I opened the cheese drawer. Not matter where in gods green earth he was I would just turn around and drop a slice of kraft singles into his mouth with out looking

Dogs,,,not sure what I would do with out the ones I have!

[bigG]

My puppy is nearly 5.  She is my first "inside dog."  She is affectionate, well-behaved, loves kids, never runs away, etc.  However, she will not come when called.  Never has.  I've tried rewards, but she simply doesn't care about them.  Any thoughts on how to remedy this?   

Is this a beagle or other hunting hound? I noticed beagles follow their nose for prey before any rewards.

[imnofish]

My puppy is nearly 5.  She is my first "inside dog."  She is affectionate, well-behaved, loves kids, never runs away, etc.  However, she will not come when called.  Never has.  I've tried rewards, but she simply doesn't care about them.  Any thoughts on how to remedy this?   

Is this a beagle or other hunting hound? I noticed beagles follow their nose for prey before any rewards.

She's a mutt:  Shih Tzu, Schnauzer, Poodle, Yorkie.   She sometimes chases field mice and barks at the squirrels in our yard, but I don't think she qualifies as a hunter.   

[bigG]

Just sayin', beagles have the closed ear tendency when on a scent.

Hmm. Wish I could help you.

I don't kno0w as much about ShihTzschnoodlies

[imnofish]

Just sayin', beagles have the closed ear tendency when on a scent.

Hmm. Wish I could help you.

I don't kno0w as much about ShihTzschnoodlies

I'm going to try the rope technique Tom described, once the snow is gone.  Sounds like a great way to entertain myself when we are at our campsite. 

[imnofish]

Just thought I'd post an update on my dog Sophie's problem.  After we discussed this on here, I talked with my wife about it and how I planned to try Tom's suggestion.  Shortly after that discussion, she just started coming when called.  She as been really great about it ever since (except when she hides under the bed, to avoid taking medicine).  Not sure what flipped that switch for her, unless she actually heard and understood our conversation.  That might seem far-fetched, but she is sure a smart little gal, so it wouldn't surprise me.   

[bigG]

Good to hear it. Nothing better than time spent with a pooch.