Training puppy

[suz]

I’m the puppy’s grandma. I live with my daughter and my son in law, and puppy sit two days a week plus plenty of time when we’re all working on projects around ther house.
Rodhe is 13 or 14 weeks old, a Rottweiler/Shepherd cross.
He learned to sit in one 5 minute training session, learned not to jump on me yesterday after 2 times being kneed in the chest when he jumped, and now sits quietly when I enter the room. I am stunned—are all puppies this easy?!! Iirc the Weims required constant supervision and intense puppy proofing. This guy? He picks up a slipper, I give him a stern ‘leave it’ and he drops it!
This morning I gave him a chewy stick and he’s spent a lot of time burying it in the throw rugs, and then he came over and lay down by me and is now taking a nap. We’ve already gone for a walk and he is learning to stay close and on my left side.
He really wants to engage with the cats, they are pretty tolerant so no chasing so far, though plenty of enthusiastic barking at them.
No problem taking anything from him, he willingly gives up food and chewies and food.

So am i mis remembering puppies or have we lucked into a really smart boy?!!

Puppy class starts next Sunday, we cannot wait!! ( a real family affair lol)!!!

[chestnutmarebeware]

Sounds like a good, smart boy! Both those breeds (especially the GSD) are known for their intelligence.

However, the real puppy headaches usually come when you’re out of direct line-of-sight. The smart ones absolutely know when they can eat a book or a shoe, or knock over the trash can and you won’t see it.

My corgis were both very smart and picked up training quickly, but the second I left the room chaos would ensue. I’d return and they looked like angels, and then I’d notice the shredded magazine, or teeth marks on the table leg, or…

In fact, Snaffles, my female, gaslighted me for weeks by pretending that she couldn’t learn to sit or lie down or walk properly on a leash on a regular basis, so in desperation I took her to a free training class to see if I liked it, with the goal of signing us up. In front of the trainer, other participants and the audience on the sidelines, she performed picture-perfect sits, stays, etc over and over again. I could practically see her smirking at me as she did it.

The instructor was completely confused and didn’t really believe me when I told her that she never did this at home. Clearly she needed an audience!

[moonlitoaksranch]

Sounds like a lovely puppy trying hard to understand what’s being asked. Expect setbacks, but keep up the consistent corrections and praises. He’s like a little kid now. Eager to please. He will go through “preteen” and “teen” months where he’ll test you. That’s normal. There’s a reason so many dogs are dropped off at pounds in the 18 month to 3 year old range. They’re maturing and finding their role in their family. By the time they’re 4, dogs have just about reached sainthood, lol. Then, you have years to forget all the rotten puppy antics. That’s why we get another puppy and start all over when our beloved old timer dies…cause we forgot what a pain those early years were, lol! Enjoy the process! Raising a puppy is lots of work, but very rewarding, too.

[S1969]

@moonlitoaksranch

He will go through “preteen” and “teen” months where he’ll test you. That’s normal.

Haha yes indeed. I’m living through it now.

All dogs are unique. Training is not just about intelligence, but temperament/biddability. Lots of less smart dogs are “pleasers” and will learn easily. Lots of smart dogs are strong-willed or independent and it’s not a lack of intelligence that is the challenge.

I’ve had just about all of the spectrum in only one breed. Different personalities, so different types of training works. Have fun!

[Mosey_2003]

@suz

No problem taking anything from him, he willingly gives up food and chewies and food.

So am i mis remembering puppies or have we lucked into a really smart boy?!!

I would suggest not taking his food and chewies, but rather teaching him to “trade.” This is where you offer him something of higher value than what he has, letting him have that, and then giving him what he originally had back. This sets up an understanding of letting you have what he has as a positive, rewarding experience, rather than opening up the possibility of resource-guarding.

He DOES sound like a lovely, smart boy

[suz]

Excellent tip–thanks!!

[Mara]

He sounds delightful!

I need to teach mine “leave it”, sigh. There are precious few places to walk them around here, so we often go across the street to the high school. It’s a minefield of dropped/discarded food items. Fortunately neither dog has learned to operate on stealth mode; I know when they start getting excited and pulling that they’ve spotted something they shouldn’t eat.

They do know what “trade” means, though.

[candyappy]

@suz

So am i mis remembering puppies or have we lucked into a really smart boy?!!

No mis remembering, you just got a good one!

They can be extremely easy.

[Live_Wire]

We have four german shepherds and they have all been lovely since they were pups. We get compliments on their behavior all the time. I do work consistently with them, but they make it pretty easy on me.

Now the chinese crested… she’s a different story (but we love her all the same!)