Uh Oh... Is this defiance or just puppy playfulness?
Our only problem started when the weather got cooler. When we let him out in the back yard he doesn't want to come back inside. We will call the dogs in and Ru runs to the back door and excitedly comes in. Leonard will stay outside for up to half an hour by himself before we will worry and go grab him. He will come to the door, lay down at the door so I will go to let him in and he will jump up and bound away from the door excitedly like this is a game. If you go outside he bounds around and then if you say inside he will happily follow you right in. Why does he need me to go outside in order for him to come back in? We are thinking it has to do with the weather because he really likes the cold, he would rather lay on the back step in the cold than inside. I worry about leaving him out because we have had people come into our yard before (despite the 6 1/2 foot fence and seemingly secure neighbourhood) and I wouldn't want him to go missing. I only let the dogs out to play if I can be there to watch them from the window, they are not left outside unattended for any length of time. Is this the beginning of a defiance issue? A puppy's misinterpretation of what I am asking him? (is he thinking I want to come outside and play as we did a lot when it was not freezing out). Or maybe a matter of a dog who just enjoys the cold? Has anybody had this issue with a heavy coated dog? Any suggestions on how to train him to come inside on command without having to bundle up and go outside each time? He is quite smart and picks up on most obedience training almost instantly. I am thinking this is something I could fix with the right strategy, obviously I am not using the right one yet. Playing in the snow... for hours if he had his way.  When he finally comes inside he seems happy to be in, he doesn't seem stressed or overheated inside. (Love the look Ru is giving him)  |
|
|
| What you've described is all three of our Sheepies. Zoey will stand outside the door and I'll tell her several times to COME as in to come in the house and she just stands there ans stares at me. If I take one step towards her, she takes one step back. and it goes on... I usually have to go down onto the lower of our double decks and play a game of chase to get them to come in. In the back yard on the deck is the only time they do this so I play along, most of the time. They know if I close the door without coming out to get them that I'm not playing the game and the readily come in the next time the door is opened. Vance |
some sheepies would be fine with, "put my food outside, i'll see ya in the spring wimp."   |
| my boys are the same now remember i live in fl so when it is 50 out at nite dreamer will lay down i put a leash on him and have to drag he im i sort of feel bad since they are stuck in the a.c 9 months a year |
Aww... we used to live in the middle east and had a sheepie and she used to sprawl out on the marble patio in the shade on rare cool days and didn't so much as lift her head for hours.  She LOVED the A.C. I have started doing training in the front yard. I put Ru out there as a distraction off leash and have sheepie on leash and do sit stays and different obedience practice. I am trying to get him to see that outside isn't just for playing as his indoor self is mostly a follow me around lazy laid back boy. (Having Ru off leash isn't a bad thing, he is one of those rare super submissive, ridiculously obedient dogs who has an "invisible leash" (is never farther than 10 feet away from his people) and we have a large front yard on a quiet bay-don't worry Sheepie will never be off leash in the front yard as I heard sheepies have a habit of chasing cars). We will keep working on establishing that even outside in the yard he has to listen. I also think I figured out a strategy for the back yard problem. I open the door and call the dogs, when Ru comes in I walk away form the door and praise him while leaving the door open. Leonard seemed to figure out that we weren't playing his game and happily bounded in through the door. I gave him a treat and told him how smart he was. I'm going to continue with this and see if it helps. Any other ideas are always welcome though because he may figure out my ploy... Glad to hear this is common, I really don't think it is defiance, he is a playful guy with LOTS of hair so I am guessing being outside with lots of space and cool temperatures is something he likes. (He is currently stretched out on the cool ceramic tile in the kitchen using my foot as a pillow). |
| I was having that problem with Simon...just a little bit. Call him in, he looks at me and says (insert snotty voice here) "NO" I would go back in and get a treat and show him I have it then walk back in the house. He came bounding in and we would have a celebration. Really excited...gooooooo dog  Right now its working. Hopefully it keeps up. |
| Archie still loves being outside in the cold. The down side to that is that he does like to have the door open while he is outside, so he can do his duty and keep an eye on us!!! Which at this time of year is turning a little chilly, and all the dry leaves he drags in on his coat! Don't forget these dogs were originally bred to guard against wolves not so much herding but being out with the flock in all weathers ready to see the woluf off! The denser cooler air does turbo charge them ..... zoomies are more intense with the colder weather. Oh and if it's cold and very windy, I can forget about calling the daft hound in, he'll lie there all day blowin' in the wind. |
| Thay is Sprocket to a "T" including the door open and leaves. Come to think of it our other 3 sheepies were the same as well,one got slight frost bitten dangles as he wouldn't lay on the nice blanket but just next to it with his head on it!! Do other folks sheepies like "pillows",be it a foot,toolbox lump of wood?x |
| We have been using the leave the door open, call the dogs and make a big deal when Ru comes in. Leonard seems to get the idea and bounces into the kitchen and we have another celebration and treats to show him how smart he is. I think he genuinely wants to play with us when we come to the door. The open door thing works so well because it is his choice to come in and what is inside is more fun than outside. Still working like crazy on the puppy training and he is almost 6 months old Today we went to a local tourist spot called "the forks" that is super busy with snow clearing equipment, trains, boats people, buses, dogs, cars, bikes, skateboards, bikes, wheelchairs, a museum, a theatre centre restaurants cafes etc. Tons going on; we practiced "stay" commands and leash/greeting people manners as we walked around the area experiencing all of the sights, sounds and smells. He did really well with the "stay" and we got up to 4 minutes sitting in the middle of it all with me as far away from him as I could be without dropping the leash; watching a big group of dog walkers and kids playing (his two favourite things). Will keep working on the obedience and manners His big thing is greeting strangers, he gets very excited and although he only tried to jump up once today that is one time too many. Any tips? He doesn't do this at home anymore but it happened today in public, I did tell people that wanted to meet him (so many people want to meet a baby sheepie!) that he was learning how to meet people properly so at least they reacted appropriately to him (I asked them to turn away and ignore him if he got excited and jumped). Was doing a sit settle to meet people after the jumping incident but that isn't teaching him anything as I am holding onto him....And yes, my sheepie LOVES using my foot (or a contractor, electrician or other visitor's foot) as a pillow. He also likes to use my couch pillows as pillows and will drag them off of the couch to his favourite spot on the floor. |
| Both of mine WILL NOT come inside when it's cool out. SNOWING, forget it, they would prefer to live out there if they could, and when I do bring them in, they stand there at the door waiting to go back out. Treats work, I will call them in and hold their treat bag up when I REALLY must have them come inside. They know if they don't come in when I hold that treat bag up the first time, they will get nothing. |
Didn't find exactly what you're looking for? Search again here:
Custom Search
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|