refuses to train not food or toy motivated
My Corgi is about 10 months old now and is extremely dificult. He always has been and I've worked with a trainer but I just don't know how to get through to him. He knows his basic commands but if you want to train him and he KNOWS it he decides not to participate. He'll sit and go down along with stay but if you do it more than once he gets the idea and speeds off. If I put him on a leash it is a million times worse. He will growl and pull and be a huge butthead about listening to me. I've tried ignoring him for 15 minutes at a time and trying again, putting him in the cage for 15 minutes and trying again... Am I just not doing this enough?
Sometimes I will go up to him and just want to pet him and he'll run away... but this isn't all the time so I know he isn't scared of me.
He's a great dog and I'd never give him up but I just don't know how to get through to him.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Tomahawk and Fences on
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Between 7 to 10 months, Tomahawk was a big pain in the butt. He wouldn't listen, grab his leash and shake it ,and even snubbed our trainer more than a few times. Then at around 11 months, he became my little sweetheart all over again. All dogs go through adolescence and become giant jerks. It sounds like it's right around the time for your dog to go through this stage! I would say that as long as he is listening to you on all other aspects of your day to day life with him, don't worry too much and continue the training but maybe do it in a new area or switch up the commands he does know so it isn't always in the same order. Good luck to you, hopefully he doesn't drive you too crazy!
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Permalink Reply by Bev Levy on
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Ahhh the teenage years! I think the very smart and independant thinkers are more trying during these times. When I went through it with my Sparty (RIP) I just very calmly and without drama made sure he complied. If we were walking and he sat down I continued walking, if he was supposed to lay down and did not, I got on my knees and held him down. If he was supposed to do something for a treat (ex- sit for dinner) and he did not, no treat and the training stopped. He turned out to be one of the best mannered dogs I ever had, a real star in classes. He grew up loving to learn new things even if it was inadvertent! Remain patient you will get through this :)
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Permalink Reply by Jane on
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Have you tried really good treats? Like tiny pieces of chicken or steak maybe? My pem definitely has the "what's in it for me" attitude when it comes to training, so the reward really has to be something he values highly. And he does not like to repeat commands over and over - he gets bored quite easily. I know you said you worked with a trainer, but have you taken any actual obedience classes?
What I personally would do for now is leave the leash on him in the house until he gets more used to it. Does he growl when you take him for a walk too? Or just when you use the leash inside? I'd also stick some treats in my pocket and praise/treat when he comes near you - don't ask for anything else until he is more reliable. If the treats are good enough he may offer a behavior - definitely praise and treat if you see that.
I'm not sure sticking him in the crate when he won't work is really the best option...it seems like he is really viewing training as a negative experience and the crate probably really adds to that. You ALWAYS want to end training on a happy note, even if they were being brats. I'd also implement NILF (nothing in life is free) if you haven't tried it yet.
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Permalink Reply by Jessica Hunter on
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He had a real liking to bologna which I only used during training but if he realizes we are training and I offer him a piece he will turn his head. I'm trying to get him to listen to me at this point so we aren't trying anything new but even if it's a new thing he doesn't want to do it. I had training sessions with him for 5 weeks when he was younger and go monthly to what are supposed to be classes but I am the only person that ever shows up.
He doesn't mind the leash and loves going to walks. I think he hates training too... always has. I try to end it on a good note but he will literally go for 30 seconds of listening, figure out what I'm doing and pretty much give me a middle finger. I guess I'm having a hard time figuring out how to make it a good experience for him. So just treat him when he comes to me? I do try to make sure he always does some kind of command before petting, playing, eating, whatever too.
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Yep I would do like Beth says a few comments down. Treat him for coming to you without running away, for a single sit, a single down. Try not to make it a "session", just a command here or there, and praise anything he does of his own accord (sitting before going outside, or whatever). I know some serious dog people will even leash their dog to them in the house for quite a long time, so the dog basically learns that his person is the center of his universe.
But I think at this point I would just work on rebuilding his trust - he seems to have decided that training is not fun, so why would he want to do it? Keep everything super short and happy, and don't use the crate for punishment IMO.
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Alright, I won't crate him anymore. I didn't totally like doing it but I felt like I was at such a loss of what to do with him. I'll try your suggestions for sure!
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Permalink Reply by Yuki & Ellie on
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What sorts of treats are you using for training? It is highly recommended that you use high value treats, such as real meat, as a reward. The type of treat you use will depend on what he is the most willing to work for. For example, Ellie will not work long for standard dog treats. The moment you wave a piece of banana in front of her (or a piece of meat, for that matter), then she's practically tripping over her own paws trying to please me and get her tasty little tidbit of a reward.
As others have said, you're also in the middle of those teenage years. You'll find that he's more stubborn and has figured out that he doesn't have to do what you say, necessarily. It's a tough time, but just hang in there and keep working through it!
With the leash, I would recommend starting slowly. First work on just putting the leash on him and standing there. If he behaves himself, give a verbal cue (my trainer taught us to use something quick and simple, so I use "Yes!") and then treat. The verbal cue is just a replacement for a clicker. Once he's reliably allowing you to put the leash on, then you can start working on getting him to walk or follow commands using the same method.
You could also start to implement NILF (Nothing In Life is Free), where he has to work for everything that he gets. This includes food, attention, walks, etc. Both of mine have certain spots that they have to sit in (and wait) before they are fed. If they get too excited and break the stay, then they are sent back and have to wait again.
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I've used meat (which he never gets) and he will still turn his head. He's such a stinker.
One thing that frustrated me a little more is that is sister is a show-dog so it's just like... I KNOW he's smart and comes from a good line where he can learn this. I understand it has no impact upon the situation though.
When working with him on the leash you recommend if say, he DOESN'T act like a total drama queen that I reward him? Kind of just to get him to stop hating the session?
I definitely make him work for everything from me but I'm going to have to make sure my parents are too... maybe that is making him defiant as well.
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Permalink Reply by Beth on
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Better treats, shorter sessions. :-) Seriously, if he sits once, then give him several really good treats (liver, cheese) and end it. Ask him to sit before you throw a toy to change it up. And no repetition; Corgis are notorious for hating that.
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He has definitely shown me how much he hates repetition. I will try this, thanks!
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Permalink Reply by Bogart the Cardigan on
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Bogart was not motivated by treats, I bought many different kinds until a staff member at PetSmart suggested freeze dried liver... That tasts good to him. Good luck! Maybe try some different activities, agility, herding, frisbee - ?
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