Too OLD to train?????

[Charlies Mamma]

Charlie turned 4 in January, he is not trained and I would like for him to learn to sit and stay and come when called. is he to old to learn and if not should I take him to classes to learn these things

[KazzyK810]

He's not too old. I don't know that dogs are ever too old to learn. They seem to thrive on learning and love being praised and rewarded when they do well. Basic commands like sit, stay, come are easy to train. There are lots of videos on youtube about training, some better than others. I use voice commands along with hand signals. Decide what words/signals you want to use ahead of time & be consistent, and praise, praise, praise & a treat

[Sammy Mommy]

I don't think that Charlie is too old to train. Try using his very favorite treats as a training tool and reward. Have lots of fun training!! Good luck!

[Charlies Mamma]

And now........ the rest of the story...
Charlie may be a bit on the spoiled side ..................
He uhhhh gets to do what he wants when he wants as much as he wants not matter what he wants (sheeeeew) oh yeah and those favorite treats you spoke of.... well lets just say, he gets them by the handful

Soooooooo maybe my question should be is Charlie to SPOILED to be trained

Dont get me wrong he is a very good baby, he pottys outside and lets me know when he needs to go out, he doesnt tear or chew things up..well (except tissue, but uhhhh i give it to him to shred I think its cute it sticks to his face) anyway anyway hes not a biter he is not a yappy barky dog he is soooooo lovable, and sooooooooo loved.

I just would like him to have some basic commands and know them but Im afraid I am to weak to do it on my own which is why I was thinking a training class.

Ok................... Im ready............ let it rip

oh yeah and the praise praise praise, I got that covered!!!!!!!!

( I love this place)

[kjc]

No, you are not too old to be trained... I think Charlie has trained you perfectly!

Haha...JK.... Training classes can be great fun too... and will help build your confidence in working with him. After not making him work for treats for so long... he may refuse... I'm sure he'll figure out what you are up to.

[capt_noonie]

Originally Posted by Charlies Mamma

And now........ the rest of the story...
Charlie may be a bit on the spoiled side ..................
He uhhhh gets to do what he wants when he wants as much as he wants not matter what he wants (sheeeeew) oh yeah and those favorite treats you spoke of.... well lets just say, he gets them by the handful

Soooooooo maybe my question should be is Charlie to SPOILED to be trained

Dont get me wrong he is a very good baby, he pottys outside and lets me know when he needs to go out, he doesnt tear or chew things up..well (except tissue, but uhhhh i give it to him to shred I think its cute it sticks to his face) anyway anyway hes not a biter he is not a yappy barky dog he is soooooo lovable, and sooooooooo loved.

I just would like him to have some basic commands and know them but Im afraid I am to weak to do it on my own which is why I was thinking a training class.

Ok................... Im ready............ let it rip

oh yeah and the praise praise praise, I got that covered!!!!!!!!

( I love this place)

Oh... ok I see how this could be a problem! Firstly, Charlie can most definitely be trained. Second, YOU need to be strict with YOURSELF. I know, we ALL know it's hard, almost impossible to say no to those big brown eyes. But if you want an obedient well trained dog, you will have to learn when to say no to him.

Now, if you do decide to pay for classes, keep in mind that no matter how good he does in class with the trainer, if you don't keep it up yourself at home, along with whoever else lives in your home, or who Charlie encounters daily, his paid training will do him no good.

You say you are too weak to train him yourself, do you mean like you don't feel comfortable getting down on the floor on your knees and stuff? I feel a lot of training you need to get down on the floor with them. Or putting them up on the bed or a big sofa seems to help sometimes too.

Well, I think start cutting back on the treats. Make him sit before you put his food down. Make him sit or wait before you open the door for him to go outside. Always go through doorways first and he follows. You have to be very repeatative all the time, everyday.

If he dosn't know sit yet, put him up on the bed or chair, and get a [SMALL!] piece of treat and put it in front of his face. Slowly pull it up from his nose up over the top of his head. If you do it close enough to his face and slowly enough, he will automatically go into a sit. Treat pieces should be no bigger than a pencil eraser.

You can do it!

[Charlies Mamma]

Originally Posted by capt_noonie

Oh... ok I see how this could be a problem! Firstly, Charlie can most definitely be trained. Second, YOU need to be strict with YOURSELF. I know, we ALL know it's hard, almost impossible to say no to those big brown eyes. But if you want an obedient well trained dog, you will have to learn when to say no to him.

Say NO?????? OMG!!! this is horrible LOL

Now, if you do decide to pay for classes, keep in mind that no matter how good he does in class with the trainer, if you don't keep it up yourself at home, along with whoever else lives in your home, or who Charlie encounters daily, his paid training will do him no good.

well if I learn how to do it then I think I can keep it up at home

You say you are too weak to train him yourself, do you mean like you don't feel comfortable getting down on the floor on your knees and stuff? I feel a lot of training you need to get down on the floor with them. Or putting them up on the bed or a big sofa seems to help sometimes too.

No Imean Im weak in that I simply want him to have and do whatever he wants cause he is so adorably cute

Well, I think start cutting back on the treats. Make him sit before you put his food down. Make him sit or wait before you open the door for him to go outside. Always go through doorways first and he follows. You have to be very repeatative all the time, everyday.

Cut back on treat??? that will not go over well now he does wait to eat, he even sits in the bedroom door while I fix his bowl and he doesnt come to the bowl until I walk away. and I always go to the door with the leash and then he will come and stand while I put it on him.

If he dosn't know sit yet, put him up on the bed or chair, and get a [SMALL!] piece of treat and put it in front of his face. Slowly pull it up from his nose up over the top of his head. If you do it close enough to his face and slowly enough, he will automatically go into a sit. Treat pieces should be no bigger than a pencil eraser.

ok his treats are those milkbone bone marrow treats they are the size of a bottle cap and they are hard so they are not easily made SMALL but I will try

You can do it!

and yes............................. Charlie HAS trained ME very well

[stanziog]

Funny, Rocco is using the same techniques to train me!!!! Good luck!

[Lorraine]

It would be a great experience for you both just be sure you fine a good and gentle technique trainer. Believe it or not there are alleged dog trainers out there that do not like toy dogs, belittle both dog and owner, and are so rough they have a bad reputation and they believe instilling fear is the way to train. What nonsense!. Check it out and one way is to find out if any complaints have been logged by the local spca or animal control against a trainer. Yes, that does happen. Or google the name of the trainer and/or city you are in.

[Charlies Mamma]

Originally Posted by Lorraine

It would be a great experience for you both just be sure you fine a good and gentle technique trainer. Believe it or not there are alleged dog trainers out there that do not like toy dogs, belittle both dog and owner, and are so rough they have a bad reputation and they believe instilling fear is the way to train. What nonsense!. Check it out and one way is to find out if any complaints have been logged by the local spca or animal control against a trainer. Yes, that does happen. Or google the name of the trainer and/or city you are in.

Is it better to train one on one or within a group of dogs??

[capt_noonie]

Originally Posted by Lorraine

It would be a great experience for you both just be sure you fine a good and gentle technique trainer. Believe it or not there are alleged dog trainers out there that do not like toy dogs, belittle both dog and owner, and are so rough they have a bad reputation and they believe instilling fear is the way to train. What nonsense!. Check it out and one way is to find out if any complaints have been logged by the local spca or animal control against a trainer. Yes, that does happen. Or google the name of the trainer and/or city you are in.

You mean like that "in the dog house" jerkface trainer guy? I hate him!

[capt_noonie]

Originally Posted by Charlies Mamma

Say NO?????? OMG!!! this is horrible LOL

well if I learn how to do it then I think I can keep it up at home

No Imean Im weak in that I simply want him to have and do whatever he wants cause he is so adorably cute

Cut back on treat??? that will not go over well now he does wait to eat, he even sits in the bedroom door while I fix his bowl and he doesnt come to the bowl until I walk away. and I always go to the door with the leash and then he will come and stand while I put it on him.

ok his treats are those milkbone bone marrow treats they are the size of a bottle cap and they are hard so they are not easily made SMALL but I will try

and yes............................. Charlie HAS trained ME very well

Ok, now I know that you are trying to be funny and cute, but are you really serious about wanting to get Charlie trained? It's going to require you to completely change your way of thinking towards him and your behavior with him.

All dogs are adorably cute, that does not mean they should be able to get whatever they want, whenever they want. You are right, Charlie has YOU trained. And I'm not gonna lie, he's used to life being a certain way, the training is not gonna come easy. But ask yourself, do you want your dog to look at you as his leader? Or do you want him to think he is YOUR leader? I believe in the nothing-in-life-is-free, Charlie needs to do something to get something, and by doing something I don't mean whine and look cute. If he wants a treat, make him sit, beg, high five, etc.

BTW, Milk Bone treats are one of the worse on the market. Avoid anything they sell at supermarkets. Try Zukes mini's, they are the size of a pencil eraser, they have really good ingredients. Let me ask you this, is Charlie overweight? (I'm sure you think no) When you look at him from the top while he is standing, can you see a definite waist narrowing in? If he's too fluffy, can yo see the waist when he is wet like during bathtime? If he's overweight, then the training will come easier. Dieting and training makes it SO much easier. Train during mealtime when he's super hungry. Lead with the food by his nose, the body will follow.

[AprilLove]

Your little guy, Charlie is never too old to train! Classes are a good idea if you feel you would like guidance with his training. Its a good idea to fully research the trainer and get references and talk to other owners with small dogs that have used the particular class you might like to join.

I highly recommend Clicker Training if you have not heard of it. I went to it after training my first two dogs using traditional methods, its the only way I train now.
It is a very efficient training method and one I swear by and many members here have posted positive results with it. (If you do a search here, you will find many posts) It is very important to fully understand the methodology with it though, as a lot of people mistakenly think they just click and that makes the furbaby do things, .

Here is a link, they provide a training video, and a very nice little kit with flash cards and small book to get you going.
I think it was 19.99 when I got it a few years ago.
Karen Pryor Clickertraining

Another key is finding that one great training treat that they LOVE! We use Charlie Bears, very small, lightweight and they love them.
Charlee Bear Dog Treats | Products | Dogs love the taste, the crunch and the aroma of our treats

[Charlies Mamma]

Originally Posted by capt_noonie

Ok, now I know that you are trying to be funny and cute, but are you really serious about wanting to get Charlie trained? It's going to require you to completely change your way of thinking towards him and your behavior with him.

All dogs are adorably cute, that does not mean they should be able to get whatever they want, whenever they want. You are right, Charlie has YOU trained. And I'm not gonna lie, he's used to life being a certain way, the training is not gonna come easy. But ask yourself, do you want your dog to look at you as his leader? Or do you want him to think he is YOUR leader? I believe in the nothing-in-life-is-free, Charlie needs to do something to get something, and by doing something I don't mean whine and look cute. If he wants a treat, make him sit, beg, high five, etc.

BTW, Milk Bone treats are one of the worse on the market. Avoid anything they sell at supermarkets. Try Zukes mini's, they are the size of a pencil eraser, they have really good ingredients. Let me ask you this, is Charlie overweight? (I'm sure you think no) When you look at him from the top while he is standing, can you see a definite waist narrowing in? If he's too fluffy, can yo see the waist when he is wet like during bathtime? If he's overweight, then the training will come easier. Dieting and training makes it SO much easier. Train during mealtime when he's super hungry. Lead with the food by his nose, the body will follow.

no, I really would like him to learn some things not because he is a disobedient dog but just so he can learn. Charlie weighs 13 pounds he does have a slim waist but it is not as slim as it was last year. His vet says his weight is fine but they do not want him to gain anymore, We are walking again since the weather is nice again

[Lorraine]

Originally Posted by Charlies Mamma

Is it better to train one on one or within a group of dogs??

Either would work as long as it is a smaller group and the group is smaller dogs. You don't need large breed out of control puppies in the group when you have a small breed of dog. Some have gone with groups then did one on one with the trainer for issues that were a problem that group training didn't really address.