Tonight was our first night at obedience class. All the other dogs were no older than 9 months. My Edie is 3 1/2, our resuce of 3 weeks, and she was just physco. She has only had a little practice walking on a leash with her foster mom, and very little socialization, although in foster she lived with two other boxer boys. All the while the instructor was talking, she was barking, jumping, trying to play with the other dogs. They were all sitting pretty nicely. Some of the other parents were looking over at us like I hope they don't come back next week, it was hard to hear the instructor. Within the first five minutes we were there, the instructor came over to let me know it was ok, not to be nervous. After 15 minutes, he came back with a free pass for day care, so she could go there and play during the day and get used to the place. She didn't learn anything I thought, but we we got home she could do the look at me and stay. When they did the leave alone the treats on the floor, she wasn't even interested in the treats, all she wanted to do was play with the other dogs. She was a distraction to them, and they were trying so hard. The instructor was recommended by the rescue we got Edie through, so he was extremely nice. Should be interesting next week!
OMG, I have the dog that everyone hates!
- Thread starter leslieann
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Don't you worry about it!! Just think of it this way - you are doing her (and you) the BIGGEST favour EVER by taking her there!! And guess what? She's LEARNING!!
It sounds like the trainer is good - I like him just from how you described him in your post! I bet you Edie is going to be his star pupil by the end of this!!
Keep your chin up, and just remember - you have to start somewhere!!
It sounds like the trainer is good - I like him just from how you described him in your post! I bet you Edie is going to be his star pupil by the end of this!!
Keep your chin up, and just remember - you have to start somewhere!!
Dempseysmama
Boxer Insane
Just stick with it. Every class there will be a different dog that stands out, don't worry.
I strongly advise bringing MANY different rewards. Boil some chicken, cut up some cheese, get some jerky treats, her favorite squeek toy, favorite fluff toy, favorite ball, hot dogs, anything. Bring them all with you and change up what you use to get her attention and reward with each time. It will keep her guessing. The better she starts to respond, the more you can start to switch up when you reward or not. If you sporadically reward, she will preform thinking "maybe I will get something this time." (like a slot machine).
Stay consistent and correct her EVERYTIME she acts rudely, BUT make sure you are rewarding anytime she is just sitting there politely. (lavishly, but calmly).
Good luck and hooray for you for not getting discouraged after just one class.
I strongly advise bringing MANY different rewards. Boil some chicken, cut up some cheese, get some jerky treats, her favorite squeek toy, favorite fluff toy, favorite ball, hot dogs, anything. Bring them all with you and change up what you use to get her attention and reward with each time. It will keep her guessing. The better she starts to respond, the more you can start to switch up when you reward or not. If you sporadically reward, she will preform thinking "maybe I will get something this time." (like a slot machine).
Stay consistent and correct her EVERYTIME she acts rudely, BUT make sure you are rewarding anytime she is just sitting there politely. (lavishly, but calmly).
Good luck and hooray for you for not getting discouraged after just one class.
morrissey11
Super Boxer
I know how you feel!!
When we took Morrissey to class, (we adopted him at 18 months) he acted the exact same way, he jumped all over the place, I spent the whole time trying to get him under control while everyone else's dog was behaved. I felt sooooooooo embarassed, I wanted the ground to swallow me up!!
Hang in there though and see how it goes. We eventually went to a one on one trainer for one hour and it turned out to be the best thing to do for us, Morrissey listened so well for him, little devil...but he had no other dogs for distraction, good luck with everything! Kate.
Reilly, 12 months, adopted Jan 2007
Morrissey, our angel
02/1995 - 04/2006 x
When we took Morrissey to class, (we adopted him at 18 months) he acted the exact same way, he jumped all over the place, I spent the whole time trying to get him under control while everyone else's dog was behaved. I felt sooooooooo embarassed, I wanted the ground to swallow me up!!
Hang in there though and see how it goes. We eventually went to a one on one trainer for one hour and it turned out to be the best thing to do for us, Morrissey listened so well for him, little devil...but he had no other dogs for distraction, good luck with everything! Kate.
Reilly, 12 months, adopted Jan 2007
Morrissey, our angel
02/1995 - 04/2006 x
SandyHG55654
Banned
Diesel is having some behavioral problems and He just started class mostly for socialization. He will not take treats in public but I cooked up a couple pieces of bacon and crumbled them and he was loving it. Hang in there you have just as much right to be there as any other. Good luck!
tianthai
Completely Boxer Crazy
I think you are doing the right thing. Don't worry about other people. Dogs who are not naughty, playful, out of control (sometimes) are quite boring to have as dogs. As long as she does not bite or hurt anybody, a bit of annoying other dogs and owners do no harm, really.
good luck
good luck
Thanks for the encouragement. I am by no means giving up! The different treats recommendation is a great idea. I think the day-care thing will do good. I think alot of the problem is pent up energy. Without being able to go for walks, she is strong and I am small, going to play maybe twice a week will do her good. Even playing outside in the backyard is not working, it's -6 here this morning. I also realize that rescues have baggage that we don't even know about, and she has only been with us 3 weeks, probably not quite sure yet if this is her forever home. I see a great deal of potential in Edie and I plan to stick by her. I know there is a very great dog in her!
ELubas
Boxer Insane
Edie will be fine-she is just figuring stuff out and finally enjoying life I always bring a special treat to class that they do not get at any other time (I use boiled beef hearts cut up small-easy to digest and they love them). Give her a little time to get used to "working" and she will be a star-all boxers are!
I always bring a special treat to class that they do not get at any other time (I use boiled beef hearts cut up small-easy to digest and they love them). Give her a little time to get used to "working" and she will be a star-all boxers are! 
nswain
Completely Boxer Crazy
Grumpy was "the dog everyone hates" in her puppy class - so I know how you feel. We stuck with it though and she was the star student in intermediate, and we start advanced (prep for the big scary CGC test) in 2 weeks.
Day care is a great idea - Grumpy goes just one day a week and it is a huge help. We always take her to class early too so she can play with our trainer's dog for an hour and tire herself out before class.
Hang in there - Edie just needs practice I bet, and you are doing a wonderful thing both by rescuing and by getting her the training she needs! Good luck!!!
Day care is a great idea - Grumpy goes just one day a week and it is a huge help. We always take her to class early too so she can play with our trainer's dog for an hour and tire herself out before class.
Hang in there - Edie just needs practice I bet, and you are doing a wonderful thing both by rescuing and by getting her the training she needs! Good luck!!!
bayleighmom
Boxer Insane
Bayleigh was the juvenile delinquint of her puppy class. She would bark at the other puppies constantly. There was an older couple there that hated Bayleigh and would sit on the other side of the room. Of course, Bayleigh loved their puppy. The trainer was wonderful, loved boxers and often used Bayleigh as a training example. Possibly a worst case example!
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