Power struggle with my 10 mo. old Pry

by Helen January
(Cut-N-Shoot, TX 77306)

I have had my pup since she was 6 weeks old.

We have had the basic obedience training, even walking with the prong collar. She does well with this activity. :-}

In the evenings, she has a lot of energy, and wants to play.
She has started grabbing my wrist....leaving marks sometimes. :-{

She is able to be free in the country place, and runs and swims in the creek. She always stays in touch with me when we are walking in the piney woods.
When she comes up from the creek, sometimes she is so excited that she knocks my body with hers. If I keep my hands out of reach, she jumps on me with her front feet. I turn away, and it usually stops.

Is there a command I need to know to teach her when she is testing my authority?

Another situation is that when she greets another dog-walker, she is trained to sit and then down....which she does without a command.

Sometimes, when the person comes to pet her, she wants to jump up on them. I think she just wants to get closer to them, but I don't want her to accidentally hurt anyone,
me included!

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Aug 31, 2015
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starstarstarstarstar 		Training
by: Donna

She came away from her mom at a young age. It should be at least 8 weeks.

She isn't testing your authority. She is being a puppy who needs to have some consistent positive-reinforcement training. You should be partners with your dog and not an authoritarian.

First, get rid of the prong collar and teach her how to walk without it. When she pulls, you stop until she stops pulling. When she stops pulling, the reward is to continue the walk.

When she grabs you, yelp loudly. Someone else had this problem with their dog. Here is a link to some help:
https://www.great-pyrenees-club-of-southern-ontario.com/puppy-manners.html

It sounds like you need a positive-reinforcement trainer to come in and help you. This means, treat and clicker training.

Things don't happen overnight. You are doing the right think by turning away from her when she jumps up. Be consistent with this. If she keeps doing it, yelp loudly. Only turn back when she has stopped jumping.

First, sitting is fine. She doesn't need to lie down. Another person should only approach with your permission. They should have treats to give her at her level so she doesn't jump up. This should be done with everyone she meets. Eventually, she'll naturally stop jumping, but, again, this takes time, consistency and patience. Carry a bag of small treats around your waist to give to people to give to her before she can jump.

They shouldn't talk excitedly to her, either.

Have people who will work with you on this. A puppy class would be ideal. Positive-reinforcement only.

Make sure she gets playtime in her fenced backyard (no tieouts).

Again, don't know her age but as she gets older (a year or so), she will start to wander away from you on walks.

Best of luck.
Aug 31, 2015
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starstarstarstarstar 		the exsuberance of youth
by: Anonymous

Yes a ten month old Pyr can be a handful. Honestly you're off to a bit of a late start as these issues need to be addressed at a very early age because they get big fast. Non the less pyres are nocturnal because that is when the breed guard. My favorite command is leave it because it covers so much. I think if you are consistent with her she will calm down and respond. When I have tried all else and nothing works a semi loud noise breaks their concentration and gives then a slight scare. I use a shake can (any soda can rinsed out the put in a few marbles or pennies. When he misbehaves a working command and if he don't respond a solid shake. Try and do your best to curb these bad habits now . But I promise pyres, like wine, do mellow with age.
Aug 31, 2015
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starstarstarstarstar 		Window of opportunity at this stage
by: Anonymous

Our experience is to continue positive reinforcement throughout the trials of Pyr puberty! To deflect jumping, lift a knee to block your large pup and say a firm "no". Praise her as soon as she backs down. Our latest young Pyr is noticeably exuberant at night too, must come with their nocturnal instincts! Best of luck.
Sep 07, 2015
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starstarstarstarstar 		How to Address Jumping and "Grabbing"
by: Anonymous

When your Pyr jumps or grabs at you, a sharp yelp and then ignoring will likely work wonders (as any other attention will reward/reinforce the behaviour.) Be patient and consistent, and be sure that visitors and family members know to do the same...
I did this with my Pyr/Collie mix (who was quite the jumper when we got her as a stray, mannerless 6ish month old) as well as foster pups (3 month old Pyr/heelers)and it worked beautifully.

For manners when greeting others, give the "sit" command, and be prepared to reward instantly when your pup cooperates... for the first little while, to reinforce the sitting, you might want to hold a treat at or below the dog's eye level, and let it occupy their attention for a moment, to break the habit of jumping (I just held onto the treat for a bit and let my girl lick it before I handed it over)... give verbal and social rewards at the same time as the treat...

Don't worry if things aren't perfect... it might actually be helpful if the dog is not always compliant (since not getting the treat/praise/ rewards sends a clear message that they will NOT get those good things unless they comply)...if they jump, repeat the "sit" command and wait, then reward immediately when the dog complies.

And then...PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE...set things up for frequent greetings, if possible, so your dog gets a lot of practice (and rewards)at the beginning...

After a few weeks, when you feel the 'sit' is definitely the dog's "new" behaviour (he sits consistently EVERY time you greet people) start phasing out the food treats (give them less and less often)

The idea, of course, is for your dog to sit consistently when greeting others, and to be satisfied with the social reward of attention and petting...

If the unwanted behaviour returns, go back to a regular food reward schedule and through the whole process again...

If you are patient and consistent, you will see success...

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