Why is Morse a mini hurricane of destruction one day and then behaves like a little furry angel on Monday night at Obedience? He can heel for ages in the scout hall but needs reminding outside on walks.....and we do practice believe me! He's the youngest dog there and a visiting trainer marveled at him being 10 months and toddling round with the big boys etc. Half my "problems" with Morse aren't problems at all its just him being young - how long can a young dog keep a stay or to heel ? Hes a wee love really

He's still very much a puppy at 10 months old - it will come, but likewise don't 10 months is young for walking to heel, etc type of training. At my puppies training class they were all about 4 - 6 months old, except the old boy who was 10 months.

It's a matter of practise and helping concentrate through the distractions that there are outside - he's still only a baby, so patience, and short sessions are the key, so you don't give him the chance to get it wrong.....

Hi Lorelei

Dogs learn to associate behaviour with certain situations so many do behave perfectly in the training setting but don't on a walk.

When they're going out on a walk they are really going on a 'hunt' so they are very excited by all the smells they encounter on the way. We enjoy walks for what we see - dogs do for what they can smell. And they do, of course, just need to be dogs sometimes and being excited about going out is part of the package. they do need to appreciate they can't pull arms out of sockets though!!

Persevere, they all grow up eventually.

Elaine

thanks everyone! My wee Morse is a delight to watch leaping about after butterflies and tonight bats! They grow up so quickly that I shall enjoy his playfulness for as long as we can, and be THRILLED about everything he gets right - keeping it short and lots of fun - kids dont work 9-5 and neither should my baby. Tonight he played happily with his Weim chums and came to sit by me at the end and walked at heel there and back. I love watching them all being dogs.:)