Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I posted this over at the APBT forum, but it seems dead so decided to post over here as well.

I've trained many dogs and several APBT's, Staffies, and SBT's. I'm on my 5th APBT rescue this year and have a couple of questions. Do you have any suggestions on getting their attention besides for the leash tug, touch with the shoe, etc (while out on walks I have an issue). He doesn't do anything really wrong, heels nicely, but on an occassion starts to pull and without having an angry tone he doesn't pay attention at all. Once I have his attention everything is smooth again.

Also, when I meet other dogs in public he's generally very well behaved, but on an occassion will start barking and bouncing around like the big playful puppy he is (9 months). Again, getting his attention is difficult, and people seem to think he's out to eat their dogs when he just wants to play (although I can understand where they're coming from). I'm trying to break these habits as our goals are to get him CGC certified, TTS, and eventually become a therapy dog.

Any ideas? I know I'll probably get the "GET TO A TRAINER" response, but he knows everything as far as obedience goes, and I've done all of my training myself up until this point (and have had all of my rescues CGC certified and 3 are now therapy dogs). I just need advice on how to get his attention.

Just a thought on the walks, have you tried using a Gentle Leader or Halti with him? I think there is also a harness available, it might be called the EasyWalker or something like that. It attaches to the leash from the front near the dogs chest rather than up on the shoulders. The idea behind these are to stop the dog from pulling since they are designed to turn the dog back towards you and away from the direction they want to go and redirecting his attention back to you.
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If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.

>>I posted this over at the APBT forum, but it seems dead so decided to post over here as well.
>>
>>I've trained many dogs and several APBT's, Staffies, and SBT's. I'm on my 5th APBT rescue this year and have a couple of questions. Do you have any suggestions on getting their attention besides for the leash tug, touch with the shoe, etc (while out on walks I have an issue). He doesn't do anything really wrong, heels nicely, but on an occassion starts to pull and without having an angry tone he doesn't pay attention at all. Once I have his attention everything is smooth again.
>>
>>Also, when I meet other dogs in public he's generally very well behaved, but on an occassion will start barking and bouncing around like the big playful puppy he is (9 months). Again, getting his attention is difficult, and people seem to think he's out to eat their dogs when he just wants to play (although I can understand where they're coming from). I'm trying to break these habits as our goals are to get him CGC certified, TTS, and eventually become a therapy dog.
>>
>>Any ideas? I know I'll probably get the "GET TO A TRAINER" response, but he knows everything as far as obedience goes, and I've done all of my training myself up until this point (and have had all of my rescues CGC certified and 3 are now therapy dogs). I just need advice on how to get his attention.
>>

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I have an article on Attention, Please! at the link below my name that explains a method that really works. For a couple of weeks until you and he have mastered the exercise, you might want to use a head halter.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

He's young. A dog of that age is not going to pay attention 100% of the time. You are lucky you are getting what you are getting from him. Praise that wonderful attention you are getting lavishly in order to keep it when you need it. Understand that attention training takes time and builds on success. If he pays attention to you for even a monent under a high distraction situation, praise, reward with treats, play, etc. You got what you want. Now, ask for more attention for longer periods of time the next time. Your goals are admirable. Yet, I don't know any dog who can reliable do what you are asking before they are 18 months old. He just needs to grow up a bit. Keep up the good work.
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Chelle and the rest of the crew including, but not limited to Kita and Taiko (the shiba inu wrestle maniacs), Adi (reserved and dignified tabby cat), and all 28 reptiles

It sounds like your dog is doing well for his age. The harnesses that Bob recommends do work, though I find my dog gets tangled in the lead with them, so I only use that harness in classes. Walking with treats in your pocket and giving them out when your dog is paying attention can also help.

Hey everybody,

Thanks for your suggestions! I noticed that I worded things wrong in the beginning of my post as far as pulling goes, and was curious about all of the head halter suggestions until I reread my own post. He very RARELY pulls, it's almost nonexistant (I was typing fast in the post and didn't realize how I worded it). The most he usually does on a normal walk is step ahead of me which I try to break him of as I'm a firm believer of the dog being beside or slightly behind as a sign of respect, and holding the handler as an alpha figure. Even when he goes into his fits of playful hysteria he usually will bark and bounce along with me and not tug either direction. I have tried to stay away from treat training until this point as he gets over excited with food (because he's starved to death apparantly lol), and have been working on him realizing that he doesn't get food when he's being "psycho" over it. But I will try it just while we're on our walks and other outings. I understand that he's still young and I can't expect 100% of ANYTHING at all times, and he's been amazingly wonderful to work with since I've had him. He takes a little more patients than my last puppy I worked with (who is now 2yo), but I blame that on ADHD *wink*. He does seem to be getting better with everything everyday, but I figured it couldn't hurt to ask some other opinions. I just don't want to be doing a diservice to the breed with him acting obnoxious while in public when I'm trying to do the opposite. I always try to explain he's just a puppy and wants to play..some understand while others roll their eyes in a "yea right" type of way. I just keep telling myself that he has many more years of good behavior of head of him to make up for the short amount of puppy drama!