Training a Destracted dog.

**Aspen and Misty** · 05-09-2003, 11:23 PM

Nova is a very easly destracted dog. If someone even moves she will compltly walk away and go see whats up. I can't really do many training things with her unless we are home alone and Misty is locked up. I would like to train her every day and we need to work on heel. But I dont' have time after school to train her becasue I clean up after Julian and spend quility time with him and then do my homework which takes me till about 5:30 or so and then my dad is home. So I never have time to train her. When you put her on a leash she thinks that she is going for a walk and gets super hyper and refuses to even listen, she just does her happy dance by the door. Is there any way to help her keep her focas????

Ash

**Demigodess** · 05-09-2003, 11:30 PM

How old is Nova? Often puppies just need time to gain focus. If she is older (or even if she is a puppy), try teaching her a focus work (I use "look" - but people use "watch" or "focus"). You teach this by getting a primo treat - I use people food for this. Then, you hold the food and say the focus word. When they look at you, you give them the treat.

Pretty soon, the focus word will cause them to look at you even without a treat. You can increase the amount of time that they have to look at you before they get the treat. Eventually, you can use the focus word when they are distracted to help them focus.

My puppy Atlas (14 mos) still struggles with "look". It takes some time, but it is worth it.

Also, if your dog isn't food motivated (I have a foster who isn't) you can do the same thing with a toy or anything that will get the dogs attention.

**Aspen and Misty** · 05-09-2003, 11:40 PM

Thanx! Nova is about 2 years old. We have had her for 3 months so, I mean its not that long. I've treid teachign her look, but when I hold the treat infront of me and tell her to look she will look and then look away. I think it is impossible to teach her look, or anything that involves more then 2 seconds of training. This is the first time out of the 2 years of her life that she has been trained so I kinda understand why she has the puppy attitude. But, I need to teach her stuff like heel and things but she can't stand more then 2 seconds of seeing a treat and not being able to have it.

Ash

**Demigodess** · 05-09-2003, 11:45 PM

Keep working on look, but maybe try something that will keep her attention more than a treat. Try a favorite toy or something like that. Get her excited and use a happy voice so you are really interesting.

It takes time and if she hasn't had training, it is hard. But find something that really interests her and use it. You also might try moving it back in forth in front of your face - whatever it takes toi get her attention and then reward her like crazy!

**binka_nugget** · 05-10-2003, 01:49 AM

would a squeeky toy work? I tried whistling for kai but soon, he just thought that it was another sound...so I have to keep coming up with new sounds...sometimes I listen to myself and wonder what the heck i'm doing... :S

**lovemyshiba** · 05-10-2003, 08:54 AM

She is part Shiba right?? She'll never listen to you

I would work on the look thing, hopefully that will work.
And when summer is here, you will probably have more time to spend on training her

Try to keep her training sessions short--she will probably get bored easily--just a few minutes every day, and give her an awesome reward when she listens!!!!

**Aspen and Misty** · 05-10-2003, 05:33 PM

Originally posted by lovemyshiba
She is part Shiba right?? She'll never listen to you

LOL

Well, We have been looking on look and she is ok at it. Nova really loves training. She just loves to learn and get food and please you and get food and spend time with you. When I tell people we train every day they say that your only suppoesed to train twice a day (this is what local trainers say) and then when they come over and see us train they are like I see why you train everyday. She just loves it. She gets exited and wages her tail and can't wait for the next trick!

I hope she learns look as soon as she learned Stay (5 mins). i will work with her today to see how well she does.

Another prbolem I'm having is how to train her Heel. Any ideas?

Ash