fazz_1982 Posted May 16, 2009 Report Share Posted May 16, 2009 Hi all, I have a strange problem (probably not too un common id imagine) - basically no matter what i do I cannot get both of my huskies to listen to me when they see another dog, particularly smaller dogs like yorkshire terriers etc. I thought to myself maybe they get so excited because they want to play and interact (as they are still pups 12 months). Sometimes it gets to the point that they refuse to walk forwards and i have to drag them at least 50-100m a drift (practically) out of site before they continue to walk. I attended the first meeting last month and they were not too bad at all (perhaps because they were allowed to "socialise) Has anybody got any tips how they can be trained out of this? They are generally submissive to me with the exception of this scenario.:cool: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah Posted May 16, 2009 Report Share Posted May 16, 2009 Good question (Moved to husky questions) Have you tried training at home - focus training, getting them to focus on you and then rewarding? Doing that might make them more focused on you when you're out? Having said that lol I have this problem as well but it's with ANY dog that we meet lol unless i'm running with them, if i'm running they tend to run right by - oh maybe that's your answer, running past them?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fazz_1982 Posted May 16, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2009 haha maybe a solution but yeah in general traning in the garden and at home they give their full attention (especially) if they know there is a treat involved!! outside though, other dogs appear to take presidence over the treats. Ive been advised to try "hot treats" to eentice theiur attention - not got around to trying that though yet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siberian_wolf Posted May 16, 2009 Report Share Posted May 16, 2009 hmmmm, I would think if its only small dogs they get fixated with then maybe its a prey drive thing. Have you tried to maybe re-direct their attention to you with their fave treat? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fazz_1982 Posted May 16, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2009 could be that - my parents have Shih Tzus and its quite funny to watch - Rocky follows them around EVERYWHERE and cant leave them alone. The funniest thing is, the Shih Tzus dominate the huskys. I have tried to deter them when out with dried treats like gravy bones etc - i may try with dog sausage or even hot liver or chicken to see if that has a positive impact Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bec Posted May 16, 2009 Report Share Posted May 16, 2009 Getting focus in situations like dogs reacting to other dogs is something that has to be done gradually, as the training saying goes, time before distance before distraction. So - get them working solidly in a low distraction environment and then gradually increase more distractions, slowly decreasing the distance to the distractions (i.e other dogs) only when the dogs are working well and focusing consistently on you. Getting them to focus in the backyard and then asking them to focus up close to the distraction is a big leap, so build the level of distraction they can work with gradually. What focus commands do you use? i.e. look, heel, etc? Don't try and bribe them with treats (i.e. rely on the treat to get them to focus onto you), instead I would be teaching them these commands and getting them responding to them solidly and then rewarding with a treat, or toy, whichever they prefer to work with most. If you can't keep their focus in certain situations it is because they see the distraction as of more value than what you have to offer so I would also work on making myself the most exciting thing ever, more exciting then whatever is 'over there' that the dog is interested in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siberian_wolf Posted May 16, 2009 Report Share Posted May 16, 2009 good advice Bec - Sorry cant add to rep. Thinking on that, on walks with Marley I used to find treats as the best way to get his attention on me over another dog, person, another animal etc and the past week or so (mainly due to us not having any treats left) I have been going out without any treat and if I just say Marley's name, even in noisy situations like going through the street or walking by the main road, Marley looks staright at me and comes over to me I will admit not every time depends how focused/fixed on the other thing he gets. I have to make sure that I get the timing just right though otherwise I dont get much of a reaction from him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fazz_1982 Posted May 16, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2009 good advice thanks - most of my work with them are to command and perhaps i am guilty of not rearding with treats but with fuiss only - im goign to introduce more rewards and see if it makes a difference. I think the idea of creating another more exciting distraction may be a good call though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siberian_wolf Posted May 16, 2009 Report Share Posted May 16, 2009 perhaps i am guilty of not rearding with treats but with fuiss only I wouldnt say that. I think if you can get your sibes to do the commands you give without using treats but another form of reward such as play with a special toy or attention, etc is much better because I feel it is easier to have dog get used to not expecting attention when treats/food are not used every time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bec Posted May 17, 2009 Report Share Posted May 17, 2009 good advice thanks - most of my work with them are to command and perhaps i am guilty of not rearding with treats but with fuiss only - im goign to introduce more rewards and see if it makes a difference. I think the idea of creating another more exciting distraction may be a good call though Treats (if the dogs are food driven) are a great way to start building their value for you. You have to work with what motivates your dogs the best, if they are more prey driven than food driven use a toy as a motivator/reward, if they are more pack driven than prey or food driven use praise. I have two dogs here who would give me the equivalent of the doggy rude finger if I asked them to solely work for praise, I know food or a squeaky toy (in Micha's case) is the best and most effective way to get them working for me. I will never phase out food, I will just increase the amount of time the dogs can go without a treat - i.e., when I start trialling my bitch in obedience competitions she will have to work solidly for 10 minutes plus without a treat but there will always be a food reward once we've finished the exercises. It would be silly of me to remove food altogether because her strongest drive is food and it's the way I ensure I will get the best out of her. If the dogs see something like another dog as higher value than me then I know I have to put some work in to motivate them to obey and focus on me and to increase their value for me. What motivator you use to do this entirely depends on what your dog is most driven by Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammie Posted May 17, 2009 Report Share Posted May 17, 2009 Suka is quite prey driven too, he blankly refuses to go anywhere if a pigeon is in sight, he lunges for it and if we try and walk on he will park his butt firmly on the tarmac and refuse to leave... I have been working with him and realised sometimes all you need to do is make yourself the most exciting thing your dog has ever seen, yeah ya may feel a bit stupid but it works, dogs respond better to high pitched voices and sometimes that small adjustment to your tone of voice can make a huge difference. I would find out what games or toys get your beautiful rocky excited and use that to your advantage, if running gets him going, start running away from the 'prey'! lol... I also have noticed Suka looks up at me when walking on the lead, each time he does this i praise him, that is exactly what i want, i want his full attention, i want him waiting for further instructions...If Rocks looks up at you whilst walking praise him, he will soon do it automatically and this makes getting his attention a hell of a lot easier. Rocky didn't seem too bad at the meet, are you planning on attending the next one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bec Posted May 17, 2009 Report Share Posted May 17, 2009 Hey Sammie, have you ever considered taking a squeaky toy on walks with you? Sometimes I bring Micha's cuz toy with us on walks as he goes nuts for anything with a squeaker in it, all it takes is one squeak and I have full attention on me! I reward his focus by bouncing it on the ground and getting him to catch it, he LOVES it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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