Sophie won't even listen to sit

Ellinorianne · Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 9:33 pm Post subject: Sophie won't even listen to sit

I'm on the edge here. She's really pushing us again and it's crazy. She wont sit still out of her crate. I hate keeping her in there all the time but she's out of control, on the couch, jumping, biting. IT's like she's crazy.

I don't mind taking her for walks, playing with her training, but damn, fighting her is hard. I'm so tired when I come home and I'm so tense it's awful.

She just jumps on me, she's trying to HUMP me. She's not listening to my husband. God, tell me this passes. It's awful. I don't even want to come home.

I'm frustrating again.

Trene · Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 9:40 pm Post subject:

oh i'm sorry she's being crazy. do you have yard can you let her run? she probably just has too much energy in her right now. Sky listens more when i put her collar and leash on her.

Ellinorianne · Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 9:41 pm Post subject:

AmyB · Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 11:37 pm Post subject:

Have you considered looking for a new trainer? Aren't you receiving private lessons from someone? I thought you said somewhere that your trainer couldn't handle her one night. I may be wrong, but if that's the case you need to find someone else. Someone that can teach you the proper way to correct Sophie for her negative behaviors.

Some people are too soft on their dogs when they are training them and they get nowhere. In my opinion if she is that out of control in the house she needs to stay on a chain collar and leash when she's not in her crate until she learns the rules of the house. It's hard to correct your dog off leash and on leash you can get much better timing. Timing is everything. You've been having a hard time with her for a while now and she's only 4 months old. You have to nip this in the bud now or imagine how she'll be at 9 months old.

jamie8dc · Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 11:38 pm Post subject:

Does she fetch? That's a good way to wear her out without wearing you out.

anne · Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 12:19 am Post subject:

http://www.chowwelfare.com/cciw/alpha.htm

This is a widely cited article with really great information and tips on how to become alpha.
Please read it.
Then go have a glass of wine, calm down and then try working with her again. They will key off of you when you are frustrated like that.
This is more than her having too much energy, she is out of control and still young. You can turn things around with the right attitude and training. This will NOT pass on its own. You can do it. You just need the right guidance.
I'v offered to help in the past and the offer is still open.

h20fwlkillr · Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 2:32 am Post subject:

As well as what Anne says, NEVER give a command unless you CAN and WILL enforce it.

Cathy · Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 8:07 am Post subject:

That is a great article. Sophie is probably old enough that she needs to be corrected when she doesn't listen. Hopefully your instructor has/will show you the proper way.
Just by you saying you don't want to deal with her is letting her win and be 'alpha'. Marley tried to hump me twice (both times I was sitting on the floor) and she was swiftly corrected both times. Funny thing is she has never tried with the BF or my step-daughter. I honestly think she believes I am the only one that poses any kind of threat.
Hang in there. It is going to take some work, but you'll be fine.

wildlifecr13 · Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 8:19 am Post subject:

I know not everyone agrees with this... but I would rather deal with a nutcase on the run at 2 or 3 months, than at 6 or 8.
I only crate Riley when we are gone at this point - which usually means 9 hours a day, 5 days a week, and 1-3 hours on Sat and/or Sun.
Otherwise, I let her have run of the house, and have done so from day 1.
I have to keep on her butt at all times for a few months, but she is getting better about the rules of the house (despite my offer in the garage sale post... that was just to share that she too is a terror at times... you other puppy owners are not alone).
The way our house works is that our dogs have run of the place except when we leave. We give them that freedom from day one... rather than have them find a new freedom and a new reason to test things after a few months. Riley is faily independent, so if Zoe is sleeping, she will play on her own, or follow me around while I am doing things. Other than the past 48 hours, this has generally worked to wear her out.

Ellinorianne · Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 12:14 pm Post subject:

I want to be clear, I don't think this is Sophie's problem, it's our problem. I know we've created this and I don't blame her.

I told my husband he should keep her on a leash and he put her in the prong collar, I have issues with it. he says she behaves much better with it on. Who the hell wouldn't?

Ellinorianne · Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 12:26 pm Post subject:

sterlingsmom · Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 12:26 pm Post subject:

Aww...why do you have issues with the pinch collar? I think it's been the single thing that has really helped us keep Sterling focused. She has learned so, so much in her training sessions with it. If you use it as a tool, it can be of GREAT assistance. I thought it looked a little barbarac when I first learned of them, but I even tried it on myself, along with the traditional choke collar, and it didn't hurt at all. The choke collar did just that..CHOKED!. I'd feel more cruel if I used a choke or even a regular collar and let the dog yank it's neck off...remember Elbe's story? I've seen a lot of dogs hurt themselves in what most would consider "safe" collars and harnasses (Sterling HATED the Gentle Leader...LOVES the pinch collar.)

sterlingsmom · Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 12:37 pm Post subject:

"She got an hour walk today and I did let her run a bit in the back yard already."

This would never be enough for Sterling. Merely walking doesn't do anything but keep her hyped up to do more. Do you have a dog park or other dogs she can run off lead with?
Sterling gets an HOUR AT LEAST in the morning off lead to run on the beach. If we're lucky, there will be other dogs out in the cold like us needing to play...then she gets another half hour walk around the neighborhood right after that as kind of a training session on her lead.
Another hour on the beach in the afternoon off lead and then a final brisk walk at around 10:00 at night for at least a half an hour.
I realize this sounds like a lot of time to have to spend with your dog, but seriously, it's the ONLY thing that helped calm Sterling down. I think Iposted this on here before, but I was told (and found it to be true) if whatever exersize you're weim is getting now is not tiring them out....TRIPLE it.

Ellinorianne · Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 1:07 pm Post subject:

I am thinking of getting her a pack so that whatever exercise she gets it will make it even more tiring for her. I think this is a good possibility.

As for the prong collar, it's all irrational for me, I know it's safe, it's fine, I just hate how it looks. My issue. Sophie is much better behaved with it.

The best day I've had with her was when we were alone. I come home, take her for a walk, let her hang out with me while I clean the kitchen, she plays I clean. Take her upstairs and crate her, she took a nap, I did my thing and we were both really happy. I think right now because I've been so tired and not home more it makes her cranky, if Gary is not around, it's not that big of a deal. I wish I could be a SAHM, but I can't afford to do this. I even thuoght of working less hours and it's not possible.

Very frustrating. I just want her to be happy, just as I want my child to be happy, my husband, etc.

sterlingsmom · Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 1:32 pm Post subject:

Sterling is also much better behaved when David's not home. I am home baking treats and sewing mostly all day, and she just follows me from room to room and chews on her bones. She gets occasional treats that are 'leftover' and she's happy. I, too, don't like the look of the pinch collar. I ran into someone this weekend at a dog show who trains dogs locally, and he told me about a pinch collar he found that's nylon on the outside, so it takes away from the stigma of how the collars "look." I'll let you know when I get mine what it looks like if you'd like.
The walking with a pack thing...I have heard Ceasar mention this, but I am very reluctant to put even more weight on a young weim...I have issues with the whole OCD disease perhaps coming into play since our baby Hanoverian we just sold to a very good friend was diagnosed with it last week, which he contracted because of his size/growth. I would, however, consider it after she is over a year old...same with forced running and jumping. we don't do that yet either...but this summer, oh, boy...ROLLERBLADING Smile