It is discouraging to realize Brodie is almost six years old. In ~60 days he will be six years old and he is still hasn’t reached the behavior threshold I want for him. He isn’t well behaved…he is handsome and that says his hide most of the time. Case in point this morning, running off leash, he KNOWS that he should stay to the side of the trail that I am on. Instead he dashes across the park to an older gentleman walking a miniature poodle off leash. I start yelling; No, Here, Brodie, Right Now, UGH!!!! – it seemed no matter what command or profanity I yelled to him across the park he was going to do whatever the hell he pleased. In the end, he ran past the man and his unleashed dog…. Just getting close enough to scare the bejeezus out of the man and cause the little dog to go ape-shit crazy.
I finally got close enough to him, still shouting commands, and got him to come to me. He came to me NOT because I was giving him a command, he came when he was ready. When he is close enough to touch…the ultimate question – do you punish him? He finally did come? I’ve read from dog trainers that punishing the dog when they finally come to you will teach them not to come to you EVER. I can’t imagine that, but it frustrates me that he won’t come when he is called. I choose not to punish him; instead I leashed him and didn’t let him off leash again until we were safe in driveway of our own home. Seething the entire remainder of my run.
It isn’t just this morning it is the fact that most command are issued to Brodie two or three times before he complies. I am done with that, I want him to listen and respond on the first command. He doesn’t have a hearing problem, he has a behavior problem and he knows that not listening to me (or Mark) the first few times only gets him more words….not consequences. There are no consequences for not obeying a command.
Earlier on we used the ‘positive reinforcement’ model for Brodie. Treats for doing something well isn’t working around here. He is a harder-headed dog, and enjoys doing as he pleases. You can almost see the glimmer in his eyes knowing he is giving you the middle finger salute as he continues running towards an old man and his poodle. I get the same glimmer and a smile when I tell him “all done” for swimming and he jumps back into the water – splashing water everywhere and getting himself all soaking wet. Oh joy – smelling wet dog for the next hour wasn’t high on my list after I just finished toweling him off.
As bold as it is to say, I’m the problem (& Mark). He needs to learn that not listening until the 2nd or 3rd command isn’t acceptable behavior. It pains me to say this, but the only way I know to deal with this is through the use of his e-collar. Time to charge that up again and begin daily life with the collar and the controller. It’s a pain in the ass to have that controller on you all the time, but that seems like a small price to pay for a well-behaved dog. And if is the thing that starts to issue the consequences that should be suffered for not listening then it will be worth it.
My vow, for myself and my sanity, to have a well-behaved dog in 60 days. It would be nice to enjoy the next 6 years (and hopefully beyond) with a well-behaved AND handsome Labrador.
Living with a Labrador 