Getting anxious as the date gets closer...
I know this would be great for Jasper, but I'm anxious about leaving him for the time it takes to train him. They have to stay with him, and it could take as little as a week up to 6-8 weeks (although I'm sure basic obedience wouldn't take nearly that long). He's just really attached to us, and he follows us around everywhere. I know Russell will take care of him but still...he wouldn't get all the attention he's used to. I can't imagine how he's going to react when we leave him there (although we would go visit him). I had him enrolled in a puppy class, but due to lack of participants, it got cancelled. This is a pretty rural area, so there's not a lot it has to offer. I know sheepies are very much family dogs, so will it hurt him to be away from us that long? He's a pretty smart dog, so I'm thinking he will be out of there in a week. When we first arranged this, it was when he bit my son & my son had to get stitches. That was several weeks ago, and he's doing SO much better now. Right now, he comes when we call him (sometimes...he has selective hearing, lol), sits, lays down, and fetches. The most important thing we're working on him now with is jumping on people (mainly my sons). It would be so much better if it were a day program, adn I just took him every day, but Russell doesn't work that way.  Reassure me it will be okay, or tell me that I'll hurt Jasper more than helping him by separating him from his family that long. He's a 3rd child to me, so I'm worrying over everything like with my other boys.  |
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| Are you sure you want ot send him away to be trained? Why not train him yourself? There are alot of great resources out there to help you. Under the topic of training in the behavior section is website that was posted by someone that actually goes through lesson by lesson from Puppy Kindergarten to Advanced training. I've looked at the lessons briefly and they are really great.
Everyone has to do what works for them and their family but this is a very important time in your pups life wouldn't it be better to do it yourself? His attachment to you will be one of the most helpful things in training him. With support and resources I am sure you could do just as good a job. After all you are raising children aren't you?  |
| My dentist has 2 sheepies and one of them became aggressive and he also sent him away for 2 months of intense training. The alternative was giving him to a shelter or putting him down because he couldn't be trusted. When he came back, he said he was the best dog anyone could ask for and he doesn't regret it at all now. Now he trusts him with his family and he's calm and well-behaved with no signs of aggression. It probably saved his life! I know it's not the same but I thought I'd share since it was a happy ending! |
| I wonder if it would be better for Jasper if you don't visit him? It would be harder on you but may be easier and less confusing for him. Each time you visit he would expect to go home with you and be disappointed when he doesn't . I agree with Taskers Mom, try training yourself and maybe use Russell for advice if needed. There is a wealth of information about training you could look into. Good luck either way. |
| The reason we signed him up was because he bit my youngest son in the face and the bite required stitches. With a 2 yr old and a 3 yr old, he HAS to be obedient. I have been working with him once the boys go to sleep at night, and he picks up on things really quickly. He does sit, come, fetch, stay sometimes...although he CAN'T sit still for more than 5 seconds, lol
Even though I'm a stay at home mom, it's still hard to find time to work with Jasper like I feel like I need to. He gets tons of attention, but it's hard to do the actual training part when my attention is focused mostly on my kids during the day. They may not get to sleep until 8 or 9pm, and then I tidy up my house, and probably spend about 20-30 minutes working with Jasper until I am about to pass out. I need more hours - and for the kids to sleep during those hours so I can spend them working with Jasper.
Jasper is a MUCH better dog than he was then also. He IS doing really good, and I think because of this, I'm talking myself out of the training. Actually, I was talking to my husband about it today, and we are considering putting it off for a few months to see what we can do wtih him. We can always sign him back up later if we feel he does need it and we can't do anything with him. He's no longer biting, and we're working on the jumping with him. If we can get him to come every time we call him and to stay, that's all I really want him to know (along with sit and down that he already knows). Every other trick he learns will just be icing on the cake.
He's still a baby, so I DO expect him to be a puppy for a while longer. I'm sure the jumping will stop with time, and I honsetly don't mind him jumping on me - just not my boys who he already outweighs. They think it's funny when he knocks them down right now, but it won't be funny to them in a couple of months.
I dunno...we'll probably end up cancelling the training. I don't think either of us feel comfortable leaving him. Not leaving him with Russell...he's a great friend and I know Jasper would be in good hands, but Jasper is just so much a family dog. He stays beside one of us constantly, sleeps right by our bed, and is only away from us when we have to leave him at home. He is just always with us, and I just can't imagine how he'd feel if we dropped him off there and left him. That's one reason I'm getting him close to my parents, and that way if we have to go on a trip that Jasper can't go with us on, my parents or little brother can watch hiim. That way, he'd have a family away from his family.
So...wtih that, I think I will call him and cancel it. He's acting better anyway, and he's WANTING to do stuff for us. With a little more time and love, we could probably get him to do anything. See, I keep going back & forth about cancelling it...lol I think that right there should tell me my instinct says cancel it or I wouldn't be questioning it so much.
Thanks everyone! |
| I am sure it is a really tough decision and please don't think any of us are judging you. As I said before, you need to do what is right for you and your family. Have you read The Dog Listener: Learn How to Communicate with Your Dog for Willing Cooperation, by Jan Fennell? I hate to sound like some religious convert but it is an excellent book. Would your friend work with you? Or maybe he wouldn't even have to keep your pup for very long.
It is clear how important your dog and you family are to you and I am sure this is hard. Good Luck. |
Glad to see you are keeping him home and working with him. How frustraiting it must be not to be able to get your puppy into classes though. 
I haven't put Momo in a class yet - but I think the books I've read really saved by butt in the long run. However, I know she still needs more training - and if she came when I called her everytime... wow would that be nice. 
If you do have to put him in through training - don't feel bad about it. I would probably do the same thing. Since Jasper is going to be a big boy you have to have control over him and with the boys he does need to be a gentle. I'm glad he is not nipping anymore - what is your secret? I've gotten Momo to stop a little - but she keeps taking people's pants or hands in her mouth and tries to direct them where she wants them.  She also nips people who wear shorts... I have no idea why! |
| Do you not have the option for regular classroom training? That alone has been great for just sociallizing Clyde. He's great with the other dogs (though I've mentioned how he loves to hump). I do have to say it's our other dog Lucy who helped stop the nipping. After he learned how hard an acceptable bite was, the nipping stopped.
I also stand by that the dog park cleared Clyde of jumping on people. He just learned that he didn't have to get so excited everytime a new person came around. There were so many people, he just didn't have time! Slowly but surely, it seems like most of the annoying habits seem to fading away on their own. He's not perfect by any means but he's shaping into a really good puppy! |
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