puppy school blues

ange165 · Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 4:47 pm Post subject: puppy school blues

I am having ALOT of trouble with ruby and puppy pre-school, to the point where I am in almost in tears when we get home. We are in week 4 of five at school.
It's like someone has taken my beautiful well behaved pup and replaced her with satan's little helper!
At home ruby's is great, on walks she is great, she has been around other dogs (not alot of puppies except at school) and we think her training is coming along great - until we go to puppy pre-school.
Once we get there, we lose our connection. She's not even the slightest bit interested in me, our treats (I even took our 'ultimate treat' this week) or the trainers treats. I don't feed her before we go or in the hours leading up and she's starving when we get home. I've also taken her for a bit of a walk to burn off energy.
Last night just felt like I didn't ever want to go back there.
She continuously pulled on her lead and made those awful rasping noises the whole way through. The trainer asked me to pick her up and hold her, I did and she then thrashed around and headbutted me (never does this).
She got so excited and mouthed really bad until my hand bled from her (she has almost stopped mouthing at home)
On the way out she started growling at the other puppies - also never done this.
I have been training her in different environments, and building up distractions, however puppy preschool just seems too much for her.
I really wanted to do obedience training with her, but I am seriously having second thoughts about it, as I am not learning anything from the trainers as I'm too busy trying to get ruby to calm down. I really want Ruby to be able to also benefit from these sessions as well, but I feel like she's just getting too overwhelmed with all the smells and other pups there.
I would appreciate any help here because I am at a loss as to how I can get her to calm down so we can both learn!
Apologies for the long post!!

DoubleTrouble · Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 5:02 pm Post subject:

Have you tried covering her eyes, just with your hands or a handkercheif? Our trainer recommended this for the more rambuctious dogs in our class and I try this with mine when they are too interested in something. That's the only thing I can think of. Let off when she stops whining and settles down.

youhavenoidea · Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 5:35 pm Post subject:

If you can find a trainer that specializes in coming to your home, to start, you'd get some of the education you're looking for, and I'm sure she'd be calmer. Once she was used to that, you could ask your trainer to have his / her dog accompany them (I've never met a dog trainer who didn't have a dog), so that Ruby could start learning to learn with other dogs around. Maybe a room full of dogs is just too much for her all at once?

Claire · Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 6:57 pm Post subject:

Hi,
Is it because Ruby is interested in the other dogs that she doesn't pay any attention to you?
How old is Ruby now?
I found Cooper was a lot like this as well. More interested in everything else when we were around other people and dogs. The more he socalised the better he got, but in the end (after he had left my hands red raw and i was angry and ready to give up) my trainer gave me a halti to try. It was a god send!! From then on he was fantastic - he became one of the best in his class. Unfortunately he hates the halti but it was the only way to control him in class. We are now trying to get him away from the halti but when he isn't on it he isn't as obedient and still pulls. So i suggest if you do try out a halti still do training at home without it.
But don't give up she will get better as she gets older she seems like a very smart dog. She just has that puppy exuberance and probably a good dose of stubbornness all weims have.

That's great you have stopped the mouthing at home, we could never get Cooper to stop mouthing and he still does it now if he can get away with it.

peppernaei · Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 8:03 pm Post subject:

Have you tried feeding her? I started feeding Marvin dinner a bit early against the instructions of my trainers because he was so hungry he couldn't focus. Even when I offered treats he was in lala land and wouldn't take them from me.

Also if your trainers aren't helping the situation maybe it is time to switch schools. Perhaps you could look for somewhere that has weim experience and as youhavenoidea suggested try some lessons at home.

ZaneTheBrain · Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 10:31 pm Post subject:

Zane's first 2 classes (at 5 months) he was an embarrassing freak-spaz. He was so excited to see the other dogs. He was lunging and pulling me across the floor on my stool. When I finally got him to stop that he was rolling all over the floor groaning and talking to everyone. He was also stretching his arm out trying to touch the other dogs with his paw. This went on NON STOP. It was funny for the first 5 minutes of the hour and a half class. Finally his instructor put a gentle leader on him in the second class and when he realized that I had control of things he calmed down. I know some people don't care for the gentle leader, but I would try that. I also started him in doggy day care about the same time and he got less excited over the other dogs once he was more socialized. Maybe you could try that once or twice a week.

ange165 · Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 2:41 am Post subject:

thanks for the replies.. I haven't tried any of those methods however I will definately try some of them, particulary doggy day care. She's back to perfect dog today however Rolling Eyes

I definately want to keep at it with her because I know we will both benefit from it.
Haven't got much choice about our school class as she is the only one who runs it in town, she can also charge as much as she wants Neutral

thanks again and I will let you know if something works with her!

ange165 · Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 2:45 am Post subject:

we got ruby a halti today and we just road tested it with her, we don't generally have too much trouble with her on her normal walks but needless to say this worked really well with her. I'll definately be taking it to school next week!!!! Cool

blueticker17 · Puppy Joined: 15 Feb 2008 Posts: 20

I am also in puppy class with Bow at 3.5 mo right now. He is not as obidient at class as he is at home. He is 75% area. I am not dicouraged though. He is learning some great socialization with dogs that are his age/size. He too is acting really different around these other guys. You will get something out of the class whether you know it or not. YOur dog is getting some dog time. I rember being a young fella and acting like an idiot around my friends. Eventually I have mostly gorwn out of the retard stage of my life. I do have a relapse or 2 now and again. I would finish the class, gotta teach the dog to finish what we started(haha), and take a different class with different instructors.
Hang in there and Good Luck

Cathy · Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 9:05 am Post subject:

Hang in there. Marley was always a handful in class, but the instructors were very understanding, and I could tell they loved her. It sounds like your instructor doesn't want to work with you to help Ruby.
It's unfortunate that she is the only school in town, because I don't think you are having a positive experience, and that's what it should be all about. Even if you have to travel a little, it might be more beneficial to find a more positive learning environment with an instructor that can help.

anne · Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 3:03 pm Post subject:

Don't give up, your post is the whole reason people should go to puppy class and not just train at home. It is very distracting for a young dog and very exciting. Part of what they learn in obedience is to pay attention to you and to remain calm and un-distracted. It takes time and work to get there with your dog. I have 2 adult dogs that I can take to a park and walk the paths offleash while the school kids run that same path during their PE class, running all over the place, crowding my dogs, talking to them, touching them, etc. and they stay in strict heel position and do not go up to anyone. They were not always that way and I recall being very frustrated in obedience class especially with my first when he was a young puppy. There are no shortcuts, unless you work thru it, you won't get to where you want to be. Keep up the good work!

ange165 · Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 6:07 pm Post subject:

last night was graduation night and ruby did so well Very Happy

we had a few moments of pulling but I kept her attention on me quite well.
I think personally I didn't get on with the trainer very much. Last night she repeated the exact same lesson she did the week before Shocked

I have made a few calls around and have enrolled ruby in obedience classes with a different trainer starting in May. Looking forward to this very much!!

dhondt · Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 6:46 pm Post subject:

I always thought it best to experience different trainers now and then. Getting a different perspective can only educate you more.

greydogs · Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 2:02 am Post subject:

i'm glad you had a better experience.

ziggy was my model dog, but taking her to dog training was hell. she did everything perfectly at home, but seeing the trainer (with the hot dogs in her pocket) made her bounce like there was no tomorrow.
i even had the trainer hand her back to me, when she could not demonstrate with her. how embarassing.

vishnu was even worse, the raw hands i remember.

but everything changed. as anne said, be persistent. don't give up.

Helen · Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 11:10 am Post subject:

Hi:) Wonder if you have tried this .......

Go to the class and don't take part. Just sit on the side lines with your pup and praise her for sitting still. Perhaps sit on the floor with her. Do sit exercises etc with her on your own. This will get her to concentrate on you and not the chaos around her

Just go with the intention of making it a calm experience

And don't give up - all will be well

good luck