Hello, In exactly which types of situations are you wanting to teach her to be patient? Are you shooting an animal and she is breaking a stay to chase after it ahead of your gun? Please include more details and scenarios and I would be happy to help answer your question more thoroughly. If she doesn't know a solid Stand-Stay, Sit-Stay, and Down-Stay, as well as Heel, I would start with those. You can also teach a Wait command, but each of these commands will need to be proofed after they are taught using positive reinforcement with rewards. Good ways to proof are the Premack principle, sometimes working level remote collar training, and using a long training leash in your sessions. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Aug. 25, 2023

Hello, First, if the walks where he is putting on the brakes are happening on sidewalks or roads, then touch the ground and be sure that he isn't being asked to walk somewhere that's too hot and burning his paw paws. Some dogs have more sensitive paw pads and he might have been burned in the past during the summer and has learned to avoid areas like asphalt - and would then put on the breaks during certain crossings and areas. Second, what type of harness or collar are you using to walk him? I would try a front clip harness or possibly have a trainer evaluate him for a correctly fitted prong collar, trying the front clip harness first. A back clip harness will encourage pulling against you, a choke chain can damage his trachea and doesn't tend to be effective when used by most people, and certain no pull devices can chafe under the armpits; make sure he isn't resisting movement due to any of those reasons. A front clip harness gives you more control. Used correctly and without too much force, the prong collar could enforce your commands when he really is simply avoiding following you because he prefers to do something else (make sure that's the case though and there isn't something more going on); however, as with any device, it needs to be paired with something rewarding when he does obey, and used how it's designed. It's extremely important that you carry kibble or tiny treats that he likes in a baggie or or treat pouch hidden on your person, so you can give enthusiastic praise and reward for continuing to walk with you. Most of all, practice building your relationship with him at times when you aren't as set on getting to a destination. Intentionally practice the Turns method or Treat Luring method from the article I have linked below. Don't have a goal of getting anywhere - the point of this training is to help him learn to follow and pay attention to you better. Dogs tend to respect firm but calm best. If you get overly frustrated (which of course is hard not to do in life) or aren't consistent that can undermine your efforts. Keep your attitude confident, calm, and upbeat. Expect him to listen when you teach, and you will see that your body language will help him to engage with you better too. https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-poodle-to-heel Finally, if there has ever been any form of aggression toward you or you aren't seeing progress or things get worse, or you are unsure how to train, I recommend hiring a professional trainer with experience with similar breeds and training needs, who comes well recommended by their previous clients and can help train in person. I would also desensitize him to wearing a basket muzzle ahead of time if there is aggression present, so training can be done carefully, and hire help to adapt methods and body language to ensure everyone is safe. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Aug. 3, 2023

Hello, I would see if there is a G.R.O.W.L class in your area you can attend with her. A G.R.O.W.L. class is a class dog dog reactive/aggressive dogs where all the dogs where basket muzzles for safety and are gradually desensitized to each other in a structured environment under the instruction of the class teacher. I would work on desensitizing Mimi to the appropriate size basket muzzle first, since that's best begun a couple of weeks ahead of time so pup doesn't mind wearing a muzzle by the time its needed. Check out this video for one example of a trainer starting the desensitizing process with a dog aggressive dog. Sometimes this process is done without treats, sometimes the treats add too much stimulation at first. As you will see in the video the training is often adjusted and the variables like distance, location, and level of excitement increased or decreased based on the dog and how they are responding when working with aggression and reactivity. As pup improves distance is very gradually decreased between pup and the other dog or decoy, different environments worked up to - starting with the environment pup does the best in first, level of excitement increased (like a fake dog standing perfectly still versus a calm real dog, then a dog who moves more but is still on the calm side, then a dog who is more vocal or bouncy, and an excited faster moving dog - like a young teenage dog...Working up to more excitement slowly, rather than starting with the really excited dog as a helper). A dog redirecting aggression toward whoever is closest, even if not normally aggressive toward you, other people or other household pets, is always a risk when pup gets really aroused around what triggers the aggression - a strange dog, so a basket muzzle can be a good safety tool to allow you to train safely, even though the muzzle itself will not train pup and improve the underlying behavior - the training practice is needed for that. Muzzle desensitizing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqM2_vLcQ2Y Fitting and choosing a muzzle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XzwUmSHyIc If you can't find a G.R.O.W.L. class and end up hiring a trainer, make sure you choose a trainer who has access to lots of other well trained dogs, so the training can be practiced around a lot of different dogs, unless you know you can recruit a lot of different friends with trained dogs often for practice. Also make sure the trainer is very experienced with aggression and reactivity, understands desensitization and understands counter conditioning. You will want to practice this in your own neighborhood as well as other locations too, not just a training facility ideally. The training can be started at a training facility but you will want to transition to your own location later, if you don't start in your location. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

July 28, 2022