Monty was a nightmare at training class yesterday evening

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angieh
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Monty was a nightmare at training class yesterday evening

Post by angieh »

He was the worst he's ever been ..... he barked and screamed and growled; he would not focus on either me or hubby and was a completely disruptive influence in the class. I wonder anyone could hear what the trainer was saying. He was so bad I wouldn't have been surprised if we'd been told to take Monty out for time out. General thoughts from the trainer were that he is becoming adolescent [he's 18 weeks old] or that he's started teething or that he was over-tired. Trainer was reassuring and said all dogs have bad days.

Generally, he does get over-excited and is a barky dog and I really have no idea how to calm him when he gets in that state.

Any help gratefully received. (bark)
Tulip

Re: Monty was a nightmare at training class yesterday evening

Post by Tulip »

Hiya Angie.

We've all had those days, when the pup won't perform as you'd like, and you become frustrated and upset, the pup picks up on it, and in general you both feed off each other. This is even worse when you feel expected to perform in an environment such as a puppy class.

Here are my own personal top five puppy class tips, I found them saving in all situations (including when I took Freddy to one class, came on my period, and ended up leaving INCREDIBLY embarassed with a red patch on my grey trousers! I fear people thought I had piles, I pulled my hoody so far down my arse...!)

1) If possible, take Monty for a long walk before class. This helps him tire out gradually, especially if you add some training in to the mix at a quiet spot.
2) Make sure he's been fed at his normal time. I know a lot of people disagree with this, as they like the pup to be hungry so he'll pay attention, and that's fine, but I've found that when I've done that, I've ended up with a dog that can't concentrate at all and becomes so focussed on food that he learns nothing as he's just concentrating on the dinner in my hands.
3) Get to class early; even just fifteen minutes to mingle and meet the other dogs coming in, it can really settle and help you gradually ease in with Monty to the class with him greeting every dog as it comes in and then you refocussing him. This way he isn't plonked into a large group of excitable puppies and then told to concentrate; he can adjust to each one as it comes.
4) Sit beside a quiet puppy. It sounds a little mean, but you'll end up more relaxed sat to Miss Perfect who has their dog under control and is a steadier temper as oppose to panicking about whether the Dalmatian pup beside you is going to launch any moment. I would ask the trainer taking the class which they advise is the quietest temper in the class.
5) If Monty isn't focussed, and you feel the class is going down hill, just take a deep breath and go outside. It's perfectly understandable to take five and just calm down with him and go inside with a better head to it. Better to miss five minutes than spend an hour stressing out about it. There's no shame in it, and the trainer will understand!

I would also take with you a blanket and a Kong for him to settle with.
Jo&Jodie
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Re: Monty was a nightmare at training class yesterday evening

Post by Jo&Jodie »

Some good advice from Tulip there.
Coby is the model student at class and never puts a paw wrong even in highly distracting environments such as dog shows.
However...I had a monster in the past and learnt from my mistakes. lol Coby is walked for about 15mins before to do his business and we stand and wait for all the other dogs to arrive. I allow him to say hello but if he starts trying to play we walk away. When the previous class leaves I get him to sit and try and keep his focus then I try and be first in the room. Inbetween performing tasks we practice leave and sit/downs to keep his focus and improve his patience. He also gets a nice slow deep massage. I don't feed him before hand and use a variety of treats with varying levels of smell...cheese, liver and beef seem to get the best response. As Tulip say's if you feel yourself getting very frustrated then just take a 5 min breather and march back in like your on a mission and try not to feel defeated!
I used to get embarrassed when my old dog wouldn't perform but then I soon realised people weren't judging me and it was actually quite funny when I stopped taking it so seriously.
You'll get there, just perservere! :)
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Little Bear
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Re: Monty was a nightmare at training class yesterday evening

Post by Little Bear »

Some great advice here. We've all been in that situation so you're not alone.

What's the class like by the way? Does it use fun, positive methods? I'm only asking because the one I took Little Bear too was awful (I was so clueless at the time) and even though I wouldn't put a half-check chain on him and 'correct' him, he saw other pups suffer this punishment and probably became stressed because of it. I didn't recognise the signs of stress at the time so believed the trainer when she said he was just 'naughty.'

If it is a nice, positive class, then it might just be a case of taking regular time outs and focussing on making him enjoy the experience. If that means laying there munching on his Kong with a super nice treat in it and then having a play once he's calm then that's fine. LB had such a bad time puppy class he hates even going into a village hall now so strong is the association. Learning should be fun and enjoyable for both of you. :-)

If it's not a super positive class and if the teacher isn't nice to you too, then I'd walk away and find somewhere else. I persevered thinking I was being a responsible dog owner, but the trainer was horrible and regularly shouted at the owners making us nervous wrecks which the pups picked up on. With hindsight I should have told her where to go.

Just another thought, but a little squirt of Rescue Remedy for you both might help.

Good luck with him. x
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henrys mum
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Re: Monty was a nightmare at training class yesterday evening

Post by henrys mum »

Excellent advice!! Whatever you do DON'T stop going to class, the trainer will understand and when he does settle he'll be a star! Sometimes you feel as though you're going four steps backwards not two but keep persevering and he'll be a dog to be proud of! Schnauzers soon learn which buttons to press and your hardest task is to stay two steps ahead of him mentally.
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Little Bear
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Re: Monty was a nightmare at training class yesterday evening

Post by Little Bear »

P.S Some signs of stress in dogs http://www.action4dogs.co.uk/stress_in_dogs.htm
What it doesn't say is that some dogs exhibit 'positive stress' reactions. Terminology is confusing as it doesn't mean it's good for them, it just means that they go into clown mode and may appear to be 'mucking around' when in actual fact they're just stressed out.
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Little Bear
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Re: Monty was a nightmare at training class yesterday evening

Post by Little Bear »

HenryandCassis wrote:Excellent advice!! Whatever you do DON'T stop going to class, the trainer will understand and when he does settle he'll be a star! Sometimes you feel as though you're going four steps backwards not two but keep persevering and he'll be a dog to be proud of! Schnauzers soon learn which buttons to press and your hardest task is to stay two steps ahead of him mentally.
Agree, going to class is great, but it's got to be the right class right?

:-)
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angieh
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Re: Monty was a nightmare at training class yesterday evening

Post by angieh »

I don't think there's much wrong with the class .... it is a continuation of the puppy socialisation class that we went to and so Monty knows the trainers who are all very positive and have never shouted at anyone or any dog in a class I've been to yet. The pups and owners are the same too, with only one "newbie". I suppose the only negative thing I could say is that the training starts at the beginning and goes on until the end, it only lasts 45 mins so there is time at the end for people to ask questions if they have a particular problem. But at the puppy class, the pups were let out the back to have a good old chase around, which was always good natured and thoroughly enjoyed by pups and owners alike. I felt that it may have released any tensions for the puppies, but I may be totally misunderstandings things.

I shall go through all your advice and suggestions with my OH - the article on stress in dogs sounds very interesting. Jo&Jodie - Very interested in the massage idea, do you have a link you could share with techniques? Rescue Remedy is a good idea too Little Bear. Really anything that will calm him down so that he can concentrate better - you don't suppose he could have the canine equivalent of ADHD do you?
Tulip

Re: Monty was a nightmare at training class yesterday evening

Post by Tulip »

Exercise! ;)

Seriously though, you already sound more positive! Keep it up - you're doing fine!
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angieh
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Re: Monty was a nightmare at training class yesterday evening

Post by angieh »

I am being given different views about exercise and have got confused about it ................ not sure if it should go in another thread though.
Tulip

Re: Monty was a nightmare at training class yesterday evening

Post by Tulip »

At 18 weeks, I would say half an hour each walk should be fine. :) Twice a day or so wouldn't hurt, just so long as it isn't intense exercise. I would say half an hour off lead, and then later in the day, on lead.
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Re: Monty was a nightmare at training class yesterday evening

Post by Darwinsmum »

Some really good advice there, re the difference between puppy socialisation and follow on training, we don't let the follow on classes play as they need to understand that they are there to train and often all they remember is the playing so that's all they want to do. I always give a smaller portion of food at meal time as like Tulip I've found if they are too hungry they get obsessed with the treats. Not too long a walk before hand as over tiredness can exhibit with similar behaviours. I had a 5 month lab come into class and was so hyper and over the top and the owner said I can't understand why she is like this, we've been on a hour walk and then played ball games when we got home, so we gave the dog a filled kong and allowed her to chill for a while and then she was able to concentrate.

Also it can depend on whether the class before was calm or hyper, dogs can smell if another dog has been anxious or stressed and if this happens in the first class, the rest of the classes that evening go the same way. That's the difficulty with puppy parties at vets because they can smell that anxious dogs have been in the surgery that day.

Keep up the good work and don't worry about the other owners as they will be busy with their own dogs and taking no notice of you.
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Re: Monty was a nightmare at training class yesterday evening

Post by henrys mum »

Little Bear wrote:
HenryandCassis wrote:Excellent advice!! Whatever you do DON'T stop going to class, the trainer will understand and when he does settle he'll be a star! Sometimes you feel as though you're going four steps backwards not two but keep persevering and he'll be a dog to be proud of! Schnauzers soon learn which buttons to press and your hardest task is to stay two steps ahead of him mentally.
Agree, going to class is great, but it's got to be the right class right?

:-)
That's right, but it sounded as though the trainer was understanding of the situation.
We've been lucky with our classes and still take our two even though Henry is nearly 9yrs now. It keeps the owner in the right frame of mind and stops you getting complacent, letting bad habits form! Plus we're off to the beach tomorrow with the rest of the club class members, I wonder how many will come? We had 60 dogs at a fun fund raising agility thing the other week.
Me (Cathy), O.H., Kids (x2) Cassis and Odin (mad giants in disguise as fur babies)
R.I.P. Henry xx
Jo&Jodie
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Re: Monty was a nightmare at training class yesterday evening

Post by Jo&Jodie »

The massage thing is just something my last trainer said. I just really slowly make circles around his muscles in the neck area and down the back. When I'm doing it I'm almost falling asleep myself so it kinda relaxes you as well. Try different things out when he's tired at night and see what makes him go all floppy. Sorry I can't be much more help :(
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Little Bear
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Re: Monty was a nightmare at training class yesterday evening

Post by Little Bear »

HenryandCassis wrote:
Little Bear wrote:
HenryandCassis wrote:Excellent advice!! Whatever you do DON'T stop going to class, the trainer will understand and when he does settle he'll be a star! Sometimes you feel as though you're going four steps backwards not two but keep persevering and he'll be a dog to be proud of! Schnauzers soon learn which buttons to press and your hardest task is to stay two steps ahead of him mentally.
Agree, going to class is great, but it's got to be the right class right?

:-)
That's right, but it sounded as though the trainer was understanding of the situation.
We've been lucky with our classes and still take our two even though Henry is nearly 9yrs now. It keeps the owner in the right frame of mind and stops you getting complacent, letting bad habits form! Plus we're off to the beach tomorrow with the rest of the club class members, I wonder how many will come? We had 60 dogs at a fun fund raising agility thing the other week.
Wow, that sounds like a fantastic class! I'm so jealous! I totally agree with the focus thing - well done you too on going for so long.

I'd love to take LB back to classes. I tried last year at a really good improvers class run by a really lovely trainer and they were so patient with us but the whole village hall setting sent him into a complete tail spin and it just wasn't fair on him bless him (or the other owners who nearly went deaf!)
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