My rescued Gracie's aversion to training
 

I never thought I would have to post a training problem but Gracie has me buffalo'd. You might remember that she is my 5-year-old rescue that we got just about a year ago.

I have tried every method I can think of to teach her to sit and every attempt ends with her running away from me. She acts as if she is afraid of me.

I know she doesn't trust me very much because I am the nasty person that cleans her eyes and she HATES having her face touched. She doesn't nestle down when I hold her either. Not like she does with my dh. I know I am the villain that picks her up for training, baths and eye swabs. when I am seated on the couch (and Daddy isn't around) she is quite comfortable coming to sit in my lap or lay on my side. She enjoys my petting her at that time but let me act like I am going to do anything else she is off like she's shot out of a cannon. Gracie has also been really slow learning to play. Whenever she has pounced on a toy and we have tried to interact with her she stops playing and never picks up that particular toy again. Sounds like an abused dog doesn't it. She was used as a breeding dog and her breeder kept her dogs in the house with her so abuse could very well be an issue.

Anyway, does anyone have any gentle techniques for overly sensitive canines?

I don't know if she actually sounds abused, but she really sounds like a kennel dog to me. Not like a dog who has lived day in and day out interacting with people in a home. A lot of times, if a dog isn't played with as a puppy or given toys when a puppy, they don't know how to play with you or toys.
Have you checked out clicker training? It does work best with a food motivated dog and if Gracie likes treats, she might enjoy it. It might take her a little longer to realize how to earn a click, but once she does, learning new things should come pretty fast.
One of the first dogs I ever clickered trained was eight years old. My timing was off one time when I told him to sit and he sat, barked and I clicked. From then on, he sat and barked everytime I told him to sit. I found it amusing. Oz was very food motivated and he took to clicker training like a duck to water!

I agree with clicker training. Be sure to "charge" the clicker first. That means you click, treat, click, treat. Do this about 15-20 times in a row so she knows that when she hears that sound, she's going to get something really good. Make sure the treats you use are of high value to her. This way you're not touching her or giving verbal commands.

If she prefers your husband, maybe he can at least get the ball rolling with the training, and then you can take turns? Make sure you are always calm and have a happy demeanor. If you get frustrated, leave the training alone and start again later when you are in a good frame of mind. Good luck!

That is just it...She is NOT motivated by food. She will take the first bite then when she realizes what she has to do for another one she runs away. Praise doesn't work either and I can't think of anything to associate with the clicker. I make sure she sees the other dogs obeying commands and she is a smart little thing so I am hoping she will figure out that it is a good thing. I am thinking about letting a professional take over but I don't want her traumatized by being subjected to a stranger. It has taken our wonderful sweet groomer this whole past year to get Gracie to even look at her.

What do you think about me putting her harness so she can't run away? I hesitate to do that though since she loves to go for walks and rides in the care. She gets so excited when she sees the harnesses coming out. I don't want her to start shying away from that too!

I am certainly no expert...but if she really likes the harness, is it possible to lure her into a sit...bridge with a "yes", the put the harness on her and take her out? I mean it might take a little longer to catch on because your repetitions would be less often, but if she learned to sit every time she was going to go out??? The reward then becomes "life based", if there are other activities she really likes you could use them as rewards as well when possible.

Have you ever looked at the Sticky for training a Puppymill rescue? There are a lot of really good tips in the article on how to deal with Gracie's issues.

My suggestion would be to get down on the ground with her. Use really good treats and just keep working with her. When she is by you and on your lap treats then as well. If you are worried about weight gain either cut back on her food and/or use Cheerios. ;)

It is hard when they did not learn these skills as a puppy. Bogey is just like Gracie but he had Dbug's who is a well adjusted puppy to teach him all of the ropes once he came to us. He still does not play with toys the way the Dbug's does but he will interact with him, run and romping around the house and yard.

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/tra...nt-advice.html

Good idea! And one I never thought of. Thanks

Thanks Jodi, Stupid me didn't even think about looking there.
Gracie is going to the vet tomorrow. She has started yelping once in a great while but we can't catch what she is doing when she yelps. Last night she started to shiver when I got to her shoulder as I did her nightly massage. She isn't limping and showing no other signs but I don't like it. Wish I could get her in sooner.