Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly  Here's my opinion - take it or leave it for what it's worth and if I'm wrong, I apologize for the misread but on a forum, there's not much information to work with. But here's what it seems like is going on to me after reading your posts:
Your dog hasn't been learning because you've obviously been rushing her, expecting far too much too soon, getting frustrated with her because you don't understand the basic concepts of dog training - short, easy, repetitive steps over and over until the dog makes simple associations in her mind that are drummed in there with many, many, many repetitions. Patience in dog training is an absolute requirement. Unbelievable patience as you repeat, repeat, repeat the same thing over and over endlessly, all the while keeping it fun and encouraging! From reading your past posts, I rather doubt you commit to every single short training session - the second or even third - every single day do you, for the whole two weeks, do you? Don't feel bad, most don't and that's why we've so many untrained dogs.
You've got to commit yourself to the whole program if you really want a trained dog. But the episodes are so short and easy, it's not hard to do! And further, it seems like you think the problem is with your dog. It's not - it's with you. In a normal, healthy dog, it's always up to the trainer when a dog doesn't learn. Trust me, we've all been there.
So, here's the thing, if you let her meal be two or three hours late the first two or three days of training, so that she's really hungry, and you prepare a boiled chicken breast in the kitchen with all those smells wafting through the house so that your hungry dog smells them the whole time its cooking, cool the chicken, tear it into pieces, 10 or so of which you put in your treat pouch and take into a quiet room with no distractions, she will follow you with an intensity that is anything but bored. The, 10 "comes" with 10 instant treats and you're done. Praise her in a high, squeaky voice, release her and go about your business until the next session later that day. My first few days of training a new command, I always have 3 very short training episodes and then cut it to 2 a day.
But know this - when you sit down and place her in front of you and say "Come" and stick a piece of meat instantly in her mouth - SHE WILL BE LISTENING and focusing on YOU. Why? Because she wants the food. Guarantee it. And for the next "Come" you speak and instant treat and on and on for the next 10 bites, she will be raptly listening especially as she begins to understand that when you say that word, she gets food! But here's the thing, you need to repeat that same training episode in another 6 - 10 hours that day. And the next day and the next and on and on for the whole two weeks - at least two training episodes twice each day. Now, feed her the rest of her late meal that she was late getting these first two or three days of training and refrigerate the rest of the chicken breast for the next training session.
By Day 3 or 4, she will absolutely come to understand that as soon as you say "come", that meat instantly is stuck in her mouth and she will begin to LEARN in her brain that "come" equals instant food reward. She'll come to love hearing the word "come". That's all you two need to do for two weeks - let her LEARN by simple repetition and association that "come" means instant food reward and that this is a fun thing to do.
If she's hungry enough the first two or three days of this teaching sessions and you are in a quiet room without other distractions and you actually keep the training up for up 2 or 3 sessions a day for two whole weeks - that's at least 48 training sessions in two weeks(this is where most dog trainers fail - the endless, CONSISTENT, repetitious training sessions), she will LEARN to associate the two things in her brain - "come" with the food reward. And, she will LEARN it well - but not if you rush her.
Dogs don't learn by us just speaking a command and showing them what to do a few times and they somehow just know what to do because we've showed them five or ten times. No, they learn by steps, step-by-step, using endless repetition and association of doing something for a reward and doing that one step over and over and over and over and over for days or weeks, beginning with the easiest part first and then as they LEARN that step very, very, very well, only then do you go to the next step of the command you want them to ultimately do.
And another thing - if you don't show a positive, "can-do" leadership side of yourself to your dog but start out thinking she can't learn, she will sense your defeatism and fail to apply herself. Dogs only work hard for amped up, fun trainers who believe in them and are 101% invested in their training and speak their commands in happy, upbeat voices that make them want to learn what it is that you are trying to communicate to them because you make it seem exciting and like a fun game. No barking out commands, speak them with a big smile in your voice and engage that dog in the fun.
You may not have been a skilled dog trainer in the past but you can absolutely learn how to be a good one now - a trainer your dog loves to work for. So boost yourself up, go into teacher mode and be ready to learn how smart your dog actually is and sit back and watch things begin to turn around with you two and teaching her obedience. And the thing about it is, as you teach your dog, she begins to respect you more and more, actually listening to things you say, trying hard to interpret what it is you want rather than just ignoring you as a hopeless communicator. You will love how smart your really dog is once you learn how to connect with her, train her properly and corral unreal expectations. |