How to Train Your Dog to Be Patient

Hello Lacey, Often dog parks require an off-leash level of training, where pup has been specifically taught to obey even in high distraction environments. The level of arousal while at a dog park is often high, making it harder for pup to engage with the thinking part of her brain to obey known training. What pup probably needs is to avoid the dog park for a while and instead pursue environments with other dogs around where there is structure and obedience practiced within that environment, so pup is learning better impulse control even around dogs. A few ways to work toward this are: join structured heeling walking and hiking dog groups, join an off-leash obedience class where this is specifically practiced, recruit friends with other dogs to practice things like Stay while other dogs are being called to Come and running past, and utilizing a long training leash, work up to off-leash around those dogs with all the commands you are practicing together, if the dog park is fenced, go to the nearby green space where pup can see the fenced dogs but isn't in the fence themselves and practice all pup's obedience commands with the other dogs in sight with the safety of the fence between, using a long training leash. Check out the Come article I have linked below, and specifically the sections on using a long leash and the Premack principle. https://www.petful.com/behaviors/train-dog-to-come-when-called/ These types of training shouldn't be practiced while in the dog park though for safety reasons. You will need to set up your own training practices with a friend in a private fenced area or join a class where that's facilitated for you. You also don't want pup practicing ignoring your commands at the dog park while still working on this, so I would avoid the dog park for a while until pup's obedience around other dogs is reliable consistently also, practicing in the other situations mentioned to gain that reliability in the meantime. https://www.youtube.com/c/JamiePenrithDogTraining Also, be aware that if aggression is an issue at the dog park specifically, that there are some dogs who simply shouldn't go to the dog park period. Dog parks tend to be highly arousing environments for a dog. The high level of arousal can be hard for certain dogs with certain inherit characteristics to calm themselves back down to. Once their arousal gets too high is often turns to aggression, and the more they practice that cycle or arousal and aggression the worse the aggression often gets. These dogs instead, often need to avoid those environments and pursue the more structured environments like heeling hikes and walks long term instead. Some dogs can build impulse control enough through the other training that this improves, but for some dogs this is hard wired in their genetic make-up and you need to train accordingly to give them the best outcome for who they are. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Hello Prativa, At this age pup lacks impulse control. Their level of patience will increase gradually as they mature but also as you teach them other manners and commands that should help their level of focus and ability to learn in general increase gradually too. Often very young puppies need to be rewarded for very small amounts of progress while learning something new, like rewarding a dog when they lift a paw an inch off the ground when learning to shake paws - you reward the small steps that lead to the correct action, until they can do the entire command or trick. It can also help to have multiple 10-15 minute training sessions, instead of less frequent longer ones, since puppies this age tend to loose focus quickly. For the chewing: https://www.petful.com/behaviors/train-dog-not-to-chew/ Potty training - crate training and/or tethering methods: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-german-shepherd-puppy-to-poop-outside For the biting, check out the article linked below. Starting today, use the "Bite Inhibition" method. BUT at the same time, begin teaching "Leave It" from the "Leave It" method. As soon as pup is good as the Leave It game, start telling pup to "Leave It" when he attempts to bite or is tempted to bite. Reward pup if he makes a good choice. If he disobeys your leave it command, use the Pressure method to gently discipline pup for biting when you told him not to. The order or all of this is very important - the Bite Inhibition method can be used for the next couple of weeks while pup is learning leave it, but leave it will teach pup to stop the biting entirely. The pressure method teaches pup that you mean what you say without being overly harsh - but because you have taught pup to leave it first, pup clearly understands that you are not just roughhousing (which is what pup probably thinks most of the time right now), so it is more effective. https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-shih-tzu-puppy-to-not-bite . When pup gets especially wound up, he probably needs a nap too. At this age puppies will sometimes get really hyper when they are overtired or haven't had any mental stimulation through something like training. When you spot that and think pup could be tired, place pup in their crate or an exercise pen with a food stuffed Kong for a bit to help him calm down and rest. Finally, check out the PDF e-book downloads found on this website, written by one of the founders of the association of professional dog trainers, and a pioneer in starting puppy kindergarten classes in the USA. Click on the pictures of the puppies to download the PDF books: https://www.lifedogtraining.com/freedownloads/ Know that mouthiness at this age is completely normal. It's not fun but it is normal for it to take some time for a puppy to learn self-control well enough to stop. Try not to get discouraged if you don't see instant progress, any progress and moving in the right direction in this area is good, so keep working at it. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Hello Charina, It sounds like pup has a lot of defensiveness and anxiety related to food. When you are holding her food bowl while she is eating, I highly recommend making that a pleasant experience for her instead of a stressful one. Since she doesn't seem to like touch while eating, I would periodically give her a piece of something that's even better than her food throughout the meal, since pup isn't associating the touch as something positive but as something stressful. You want pup to associate your presence with something good and not stressful. The stress will increase defensiveness. When you go to give pup their kibble in your hand, practice a couple of things. Work on teaching Wait, feed it to pup flat palmed normally, and when pup goes in for the food roughly, pull your hand back and put it behind your back until pup is waiting again, then repeat. When pup goes for it more gently allow pup to have it. Keep your attitude calm while practicing. Reacting excitedly or loudly can get pup even more excited, even though it can be hard to stay calm when pup is being rough. Wait: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsDy2a2YefE Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Hello! Your dog needs to learn new behaviors to quell her fear. First we reduce her fear around new dogs/people, and then we begin adding cues such as “watch me” or “sit.” Research tells us that most leash reactivity is caused by fear, not by aggression. Dogs bark and lunge at other dogs to warn, “Go away! Go away!” Dogs fear other dogs because of genetic reasons, lack of socialization, fights when they were puppies, or any scary (to the dog) interaction with other dogs. Sometimes having low thyroid levels contributes to unwanted canine behavior. During this time, avoid any punishment for reactivity. Doing so will make her concerns even bigger. Dogs learn by making associations, and you want your dog to associate other dogs with pleasant things — never punishment. The first step is to reframe what an oncoming dog means to your dog. From a safe distance — your dog determines the distance, not you — have your leashed dog view another dog. As the new dog comes into view, drop a lot of enticing meat treats just in front of your dog’s nose. Ignore any hysterics for now, but back up and create more space if your dog is unwilling to eat. This part is hard for humans — I understand. It helps to see your dog’s behavior for what it most likely is: fear vs. disobedience. The training reinforcer MUST be a great one, such as real meat. It is critical that the appearance of the new dog causes meat to fall from the sky. When the other dog is out of your dog’s view, all treats stop. We want your dog to predict that other dogs near him means that YUMMY FOOD will appear! As you are reframing your dog’s opinion of seeing other leashed dogs, be careful where you take your dog, and be protective of what she is exposed to. One fight can create a reactive dog. Consider not walking your dog for 30 days as you reprogram her opinions of other dogs. Instead, sit on your front porch or in your garage (or somewhere out of the way if those two options aren't possible) with your dog on leash, and practice treating every time another dog comes into your dog’s line of sight. During this time, engage your dog’s mind with mind puzzles, obedience work, and fun stuff like games in the house or yard. You know you have made great progress when your dog sees another dog, and he turns his head away from the once-threatening dog and looks into your eyes, expecting a treat. Once your dog is looking at her (former) trigger and then looking expectantly up at you for a treat, you can begin to put this skill on cue. Tell your dog "watch me" every time you see another dog approaching. Your end goal is for your dog to see another dog, and remain calm, looking at you for guidance. And this will be either continuing your walk, or being allowed to interact with the other dog. Please let me know if you have additional questions. Thanks for writing in!

Hello Savannah, I recommend working on some commands that help build self-control, and the article I have linked below for the jumping. Jumping - leash method when there are guests to keep them from getting jumped on in the process. https://wagwalking.com/training/train-australian-shepherds-to-not-jump Building self-control commands: Leave It method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-shih-tzu-puppy-to-not-bite Quiet method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-shih-tzu-puppy-to-not-bark Place command: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O75dyWITP1s Down-Stay: https://www.thelabradorsite.com/train-your-labrador-to-lie-down-and-stay/ Heel- Turns method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-poodle-to-heel Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden