Dutch Shepherd Forum

So while we all love Nico he's a big pain in the ass to train. He recently went to the vet for a tail injury (got a swollen area... was taken care of with Novox) and my vet doesn't think he's shepherd at all. He said he looked mostly hound to him and named a couple of brindled hound dogs. Now I'm a little salty because the pictures I saw of him from rescue (out of state) he looked like a DS to me and had his very DS looking sister next to him in the photos. (I think maybe there may be more than 1 baby daddy in this situation )

It's cool though we rescued a dog who needed a home and he's the perfect companion for Stella. They are complete opposite she couldn't have been around another reactive dog and she seriously seems to enjoy the little guy. She was very whiney and anxious the day he was gone at the vet and so happy to see him when he came home that night.

I can't seem to get him to learn a recall.... Stella was our first dog and like most Dutch Shepherds is a very intelligent easy to train dog who just flipping "gets it" is Nico just young still? Or is he just a moron (which is fine too as long as I can figure out a way to get him to come when he's called) training a dog who has little to no drive is tough. Stella models the commands beautifully for him and he will follow her wherever she goes but if he's outside to go potty by himself I have to go and get him he just stares at me when I call him. To me a recall is a big safety thing. I live on a busy street and if he were to every get out the front door I'd be terrified of him getting hit by a car.

P.S. I am apparently a complete "shepherd snob" according to my husband lol... Stella has made me fall in love with the breed.... Nico is SO lucky he's cute

have you tried a full array of treats? maybe there are some you don't have that might be worth a try. find one he wants and then have him follow it into the house or wherever. [ ideas if you have not tried them already: pro-treat chicken liver, lamb lung, dried strips of chicken breast- i forget the brand but i am sure you know it, dry-roasted venison liver, dobs of plain, pure peanut butter [ in a wrapping of roast beef!] ] there must be something he wants! just need to go EXTREME a la the last suggestion to get things rolling.
sounds like Stella has it all now. it all sounds very good. now just have to find his at-attention switch.

Johnny I haven't! I've been doing cheese because that's Stella's fave! I think I'll try some meat! We don't eat a lot of meat (we only eat grass fed/free range and its not always available or affordable) but I think I could splurge on a nice roast and cook a chunk for the dogs to have as training treats!

Stella is one of those one in a million dogs (I know we all have had one lol) and I love her so much and am so happy with where she is at and her amazing obedience and loyalty it's hard to get used to something else!

I will say his little hound dog howl is pretty adorable.... I need to get more versatile and make some adjustments instead of waiting for Nico to adjust to the same methods that worked for Stella!

Thanks for the great advice!

I have quite a bit of experience with hounds, raising them for hunting when i was growing up. If your new guy is a hound that might explain the slow learning compared to Stella. I loved my hounds but there is no comparison. I suppose patience and persistence is in order and realize the difference in the ability of the breed. I'm sure eventually he will figure it out. Have you tried tying a long rope to him, have someone hold him, you call and gently tug on rope? Praise the heck out of him when he does it right.

i hope he doesn't tip over!
i am starting to laugh about this with you. i think he is a refreshing addition to the DSf family. and as you implied, it is a good thing you AND Stella like him so much.

at what point should I expect him to come to the door for the meat? I have to walk all the way out to the backyard and lure him to the door with it..... he honestly seems okay with this method lol..... this requires me to put pants and shoes on way too early in the morning... if I stand at the door with the treat and call him he seriously looks at me and just cocks his head side to side like he's trying to understand.... Nico sure is a "special" little guy

katm4110 wrote:at what point should I expect him to come to the door for the meat? I have to walk all the way out to the backyard and lure him to the door with it..... he honestly seems okay with this method lol..... this requires me to put pants and shoes on way too early in the morning... if I stand at the door with the treat and call him he seriously looks at me and just cocks his head side to side like he's trying to understand.... Nico sure is a "special" little guy

Go get yourself a super long training lead. Hook it to his collar before you let him out to potty, hold on to the handle from your doorway. When you give him your recall command, show him what you mean by gently pulling on it to get him to come to you. He does sound "special" LOL and one who really needs it s-p-e-l-l-e-d o-u-t for him...LOL. Hang in there.

I agree, get a long lead for when he's out. I know its frustrating...the intelligence of a DS sure spoils you!

Sounds like a hound to me. My first ever competition dog was a Beagle and about as stubborn as they come. I was 10 when I first started training her, started trialing at 12 and didn't get a UCD on her for at least a year and a half. She was very set in her ways. She did everything almost right, but on her time and at her speed.

Our first agility show we got DQ'd for going over the time limit. Most of those time limits are set so someone can safely walk the course and we exceeded it by at least double. There wasn't a single obstacle fault though.

Her favorite things for motivation were cat treats and real rabbit fur cat toys. Well, dirty underwear and bathroom trash were her favorites as well, but I didn't have room for them in my training bag .

Just continually extend the length of freedom Nico gets. You always want him close enough to not fail the recall. A long line would be great for outdoors, and adding a dragline in the house will help too. If he's not coming when called and you don't have a means to get him back without chasing or luring him, he's too far away, so his boundaries need to be tightened.

Nobody should have to put pants on early in the morning.

Possible technique: have him attached to a short lead; issue the command you use for 'come' and coax him toward with a gentle pull and happy face/voice--when he does it, big party, happy dance, high-value treat. Rest. Few minutes later, repeat. Several minutes later, repeat. On/off, keep doing this. NO DISTRACTIONS (other dogs, kids, sounds, etc.) and in a place he is comfortable.

Start small and work toward a longer lead, but always with huge rewards. Don't dilute the command by expecting him to comply until you KNOW he gets it or by using the word loosely or freely or casually. Especially now, try not to use the command if you are stressed, angry, upset, etc.

Eventually, once he becomes reliable, incrementally add minor distractions but keep up the happy-happy and high-value rewards (whatever that ends up being for him).

Small, consistent steps. Don't be quick to take him off-lead. Then when he's pretty solid on-lead, try off-lead, but at a small distance between the two of you. Happy-happy. Then build from there.

The other successful obedience work you do with him will capture his focus...he'll get it...like a snowball effect. But what you do (or have done) with him in regard to timing, what you expect, what you let him get away with, etc, will translate as well to this new endeavor. Consistency is everything.

Best wishes.