7 month old dog acts like it doesn't know me on a walk??
Discussion
This is really frustrating,and a little bit dangerous for the dog.We have a 7 month old Northern Inuit(husky/malamute/alsation thingy from a rescue centre)sometime's when we're out with her everything is fine,we let her off the lead,she plays with dogs no problem,we shout on her,she returns,job done.
Today however i let her off the lead in a large park,nobody else there.I just walked on and eventually turned around to see her just standing there looking at me,a look i had seen before,she just doesn't have a clue who i am!!!I shout on her,no response,i walk away from her to see if she follows,she stays put.I walk towards her calling her name she turns and runs a certain distance away from me then stops,looking around lost at the same time?
It got really dangerous today as previously on the walk we had to cross a busy road,and in order to get back home we'd have to go back the same way over this road,not easy with a dog running around ignoring you and heading away from you all the time!After much shouting of 'biscuit,biscuit'(the usual failsafe way of getting her attention )she for whatever reason just sat and i got her on the lead just as she was approaching this busy road,pure luck more than anything!!
I was wearing my usual clothing,nothing out of the ordinary,no clown shoes,big red curly wigs or anything,anyone any ideas?Thanks.
Today however i let her off the lead in a large park,nobody else there.I just walked on and eventually turned around to see her just standing there looking at me,a look i had seen before,she just doesn't have a clue who i am!!!I shout on her,no response,i walk away from her to see if she follows,she stays put.I walk towards her calling her name she turns and runs a certain distance away from me then stops,looking around lost at the same time?
It got really dangerous today as previously on the walk we had to cross a busy road,and in order to get back home we'd have to go back the same way over this road,not easy with a dog running around ignoring you and heading away from you all the time!After much shouting of 'biscuit,biscuit'(the usual failsafe way of getting her attention )she for whatever reason just sat and i got her on the lead just as she was approaching this busy road,pure luck more than anything!!
I was wearing my usual clothing,nothing out of the ordinary,no clown shoes,big red curly wigs or anything,anyone any ideas?Thanks.
Agree, she's a teenager trying it on and seeing what she can get away with. Go back to basics and do recall training again with her in every time you start the walk (look up dried liver as the reward if you havent already come across it). Preferably in an area she can't get into too much trouble/danger.
Avoid at all costs, chasing her around or it'll become her favorite game. Be sure to remember to give your recall command (lots' of owners run around shouting the dogs name but forget to tell it what they want it to do). Walking away or hiding might call her bluff and will, in the long term, teach her it's her job to keep track of where you are. Don't panic most pups go through the phase and come out the other end (mostly) OK.
Avoid at all costs, chasing her around or it'll become her favorite game. Be sure to remember to give your recall command (lots' of owners run around shouting the dogs name but forget to tell it what they want it to do). Walking away or hiding might call her bluff and will, in the long term, teach her it's her job to keep track of where you are. Don't panic most pups go through the phase and come out the other end (mostly) OK.
Taken from wiki, and its exactly what I thought when you mentioned the breed and the problem, you did read up before you got your dog, didn't you?
Temperament and Health
The Northern Inuit dog is known to have a friendly demeanor and rarely shows aggression. They are the most versatile of dogs, but they are not for the novice owner as they can be very stubborn and are very quick-witted. The owner of an Northern Inuit must show themselves to be the Alpha member of the pack or be prepared to be the underdog, and be taken advantage of. A firm hand is most definitely needed.
They are intelligent, independent dogs, which can make them more difficult to train than other, more biddable breed. They are not recommended for inexperienced owners. They are good with children, but as with all dogs should not be left alone with them. They are very loyal and pack-oriented, forming close bonds with their owner and family. Separation anxiety may arise when they are left alone and unsupervised too long, leading to destructive and sometimes self-mutilating behaviours. Training from the onset is a must for this breed. Often, they will do better with another dog for company. Socialization should begin early.
Temperament and Health
The Northern Inuit dog is known to have a friendly demeanor and rarely shows aggression. They are the most versatile of dogs, but they are not for the novice owner as they can be very stubborn and are very quick-witted. The owner of an Northern Inuit must show themselves to be the Alpha member of the pack or be prepared to be the underdog, and be taken advantage of. A firm hand is most definitely needed.
They are intelligent, independent dogs, which can make them more difficult to train than other, more biddable breed. They are not recommended for inexperienced owners. They are good with children, but as with all dogs should not be left alone with them. They are very loyal and pack-oriented, forming close bonds with their owner and family. Separation anxiety may arise when they are left alone and unsupervised too long, leading to destructive and sometimes self-mutilating behaviours. Training from the onset is a must for this breed. Often, they will do better with another dog for company. Socialization should begin early.
If you know what you're doing with it, you could perhaps introduce whistle-training for walk commands? Start at the beginning, obviously, but could be a good way of reinforcing owner/dog relationship and positive engagement whilst on walks.
Good advice from Adi, though. No chasing; liver cake; clear commands; back to basics.
Good advice from Adi, though. No chasing; liver cake; clear commands; back to basics.
It's a dog that's learned bad habits or no habits. Whistle training is great if you know what your doing. You have a working dog that thinks so needs to have its brain exercised.
Get yourself along to lessons or buy a gun dog traing DVD or book. All you need in those books and DVDs to get you on the right path.
Your first thing is as from now your the boss and do not repeat calls for your dog to work to. All it does is train the dog to come on the third, fourth or fifth call.
Use three whistle peeps as a recall and use it close and with praise until it gets the idea.
Check your dog is not deaf!!!!
Get yourself along to lessons or buy a gun dog traing DVD or book. All you need in those books and DVDs to get you on the right path.
Your first thing is as from now your the boss and do not repeat calls for your dog to work to. All it does is train the dog to come on the third, fourth or fifth call.
Use three whistle peeps as a recall and use it close and with praise until it gets the idea.
Check your dog is not deaf!!!!
C3BER said:
Get yourself along to lessons or buy a gun dog traing DVD or book. All you need in those books and DVDs to get you on the right path.
I can't agree with this - independent minded dogs do not act like gun dogs (at least in my experience controlling gun dogs). There is a different style needed however you also may find there are limits to exactly how obedient your dog may end up.Jasandjules said:
there are limits to exactly how obedient your dog may end up.
Truth!Although, OP, you do have quite a headstrong, independent breed mix there so reinforcing your boundaries and reigning in any disobediant behaviours at this rebellious stage is key to an obedient(ish!) mature dog.
If you can do it in a positive way (new training techniques, higher engagement levels on walks (toys? carrying dummies? seeking? new walk commands (left/right/stop/down etc.?)) it will remain fun for both of you. Definitely back on a training lead, though, until recall is back to where it should be. And try not to get frustrated. One command, wait until it's actioned, then praise and reward.
Um... I'm not doing very well at imagining what your cute little (well, large!) bundle of rebelliousness looks like, though! :P
Jasandjules said:
I can't agree with this - independent minded dogs do not act like gun dogs (at least in my experience controlling gun dogs). There is a different style needed however you also may find there are limits to exactly how obedient your dog may end up.
Your not teaching it to be a Gundog as it will have different genes but your teaching all the good basics of recall and retrieve. Any working dog needs a brain work out or they become bored and self willed. Ryn36 said:
Truth!Although, OP, you do have quite a headstrong, independent breed mix there so reinforcing your boundaries and reigning in any disobediant behaviours at this rebellious stage is key to an obedient(ish!) mature dog.
If you can do it in a positive way (new training techniques, higher engagement levels on walks (toys? carrying dummies? seeking? new walk commands (left/right/stop/down etc.?)) it will remain fun for both of you. Definitely back on a training lead, though, until recall is back to where it should be. And try not to get frustrated. One command, wait until it's actioned, then praise and reward.
Um... I'm not doing very well at imagining what your cute little (well, large!) bundle of rebelliousness looks like, though! :P
And here she is in 'butter wouldn't melt' mode.
You could train any to be a gun dog, they all retrieve, they all sniff stuff its just that some breeds have a better disposition for it. As with all dogs you just need to make sure it knows where it stands in the "pack"/family. If a dog starts thinking its head of the family then it simply isn't going to take any notice of you. It should know that if you issue a command it has no option but to do as its told. Say something and make it happen. How you do that is down to you.
Agreed with what a few others have said about keeping it occupied. Just a walk will not be enough to keep your dog interested. Play games, get it to quarter the ground, chuck a ball/Frisbee or something all good fun stuff and keeps a dog interested. Also a good sneaky way to build in some control training as well. Make the dog learn without it knowing it
Take no notice of me though, our spaniel seems to take 2 steps forward and 1 step back with its training. Hard work just to get it to sit and not move!
Agreed with what a few others have said about keeping it occupied. Just a walk will not be enough to keep your dog interested. Play games, get it to quarter the ground, chuck a ball/Frisbee or something all good fun stuff and keeps a dog interested. Also a good sneaky way to build in some control training as well. Make the dog learn without it knowing it
Take no notice of me though, our spaniel seems to take 2 steps forward and 1 step back with its training. Hard work just to get it to sit and not move!
Edited by Sexual Chocolate on Wednesday 24th July 16:18
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