It appears my darling puppy is the naughtiest, loudest and slowest progressing dog in her class.

This evening the teachers commented that she is calming down quicker than she was and i was so pleased!

I am absolutely going to crack this with Isla! I'm exceptionally competive - this may or may not be a good thing - but I do not like Isla being bottom on the class. I am determined I am going to have the best dog in there.
Isla on the other hand doesn't agree!

I really need to get her to calm down, and we've been given tips on how to do this (my new teacher is waaaay better than the previous one).

How do you get your puppy to stay calm amoungst distractions - mainly other dogs and other people?

We're going to get this - im determined!

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I don't have any advice on this subject unfortunately...because I have the same problem. can't wait to hear what people have to say!

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"Nothing can bring more happiness than a Golden Retriever"

With a face as cute as hers, she probably feels she can get away with anything...

The only advice I have is for you to "be" the way you want her to be and to keep her focus on you at all times. By this I mean, don't get excited or raise your voice (very hard to do!), keep yourself calm and matter of fact. Train with her continually on focusing on you. She has to look at you to get anything--food, treat, the ball, out the door, out of the car, etc. No focus on you, then she doesn't get what she wants. Hang in there. Just keep saying "I'm gonna have a great dog! I'm gonna have a great dog!"

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Kathleen, mom to one human, age 17, three canines, and a bunch of fish.

We also were the bottom of the class...but I just think it wasn't for us. Buzz has excellent recall, works off lead, good house manners but just lagged behind when we did class work. He wouldn't focus on me yet when we are walking in the woods, he doesn't take his eyes off me. I gave up...I realized I have an excellent golden. It wasn't enjoyable for him.

Work really hard on an excellent sit and down. That includes STAYING there. I don't use the word stay with my dogs... sit means sit, down means down. If you can get a solid 'stay' in either of those positions, you'll be able to get her attention easier. Also, find something she works for... for Remy, it's the ball.

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Remington Byrd's Golden Shot - "REMY" - CGC, Therapy Dog, Service Dog
Collier's Freedom's Avenger - "Caira"

Hangin there! I admire your determination. I try "watch me" with a treat to get Mercy focused on me. If there is a cat running nearby, she will not listen!

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Birthdate: February 5th 2012

Gotcha Day: March 30th 2012

I take Mav to the dog park everyday I can, even on days where he has class. He's never been one to be too distracted, but one day we couldn't make it to the park and he was quite playful that class.

A good long walk about two hours before class and a short one about 20min before class seemed to do the trick. But if anything, Mav gets bored in class and ends up laying down and trying to sleep if we don't do anything for more than 5 min LOL

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I dont do too much to calm my dog down in training, instead I work to focus all that energy into the training.

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Jodie

AJ's Maiden By the Sea CDX RE (Annabel - retired)
Mud E Paws UDX OM2 RE OBHF (Conner - retired with 28 OTCH points)
Sunfire's Flying Head Over Heels UD BN RA (Flip)
And the odd one of the family - Colby Jack Teeter Smack CDX GO RA (Colby - Lhasa Apso)

I was telling a friend yesterday how I wanted one of those goldens with a lightning fast recall and a flip finish. I think I have one of those now. But - that recall ends when he slams into me and that finish sometimes includes snatching the treat on the way!

But to answer the original question, waiting a year and neutering did the trick. Not sure exactly which one. He's excited, but paying attention.

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Our girl Kye is like this, as a puppy all energy, VERY smart, but was the worst in her class because of boredom. First I started taking her early to the field and walking her, playing with a small stuffed toy, just getting some of the energy out. In class, made sure we were at the end of the line or the first one behind the trainer. Kye is always looking for the next thing to do and her attention span was that of a nat. As maturity came, so did her attention span. Our puppy class was a disaster, the second class she was one of the top. The third she excelled and blew all the other dogs away. After this class, she was about a year old, we move to more challenging classes that incorporated obedience with pre agility, then a class that was more long distance work and hand signals. Each class she is still the goofy, sometimes over-excited girl she always was, but now looks to me to see "Whats Next"?? and we are always proud of the steps we have made.

Don't worry about your first class, keep working on the basics at home and sign up for the next one. Each class gets progressively more complex and you learn much more about what "keyes" your particular dog to want to do what is right.

Our male is 100% opposite. He studies everything and is content to be put on a down stay...forever! He was always the top of his class, but always steady and calm, would much rather crawl into your lap and stare at a bug than be bothered with walking around sitting and going to down stay. He is great for class demonstrating, but wish he had more kick, more energy. He is just a big lovebug.

So,,,love your crazy pups as they are telling you that they have soooo much brains, and just need training to know what to do. Love those more high energy ones! Classes will improve, just keep working and learn to laugh a lot.

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