Hi, Buster is a 1 year old Staffie [as some of you will know], who I've trained as best as I can, basically out of the Gwen Bailey book and doing a 12 week Clicker course with a behaviourist. Everything has gone relatively smoothly with a few hiccups along the way, however the last week or so Buster has turned into a very defiant dog - do dogs "do" defiant? He now needs to be told two or three times to do anything, sit, down, come here ... I read on here not to say it more than once, so what I've tended to do is say I've told him to sit for his dinner and he won't do it, I've walked away with his dinner and then called him back ten minutes later, which in general has done the trick for that particular thing, but his overall obedience has gone completely down the pan. Even today, I was walking him this morning and a man stopped and asked for directions, up until a week ago Buster would sit at my feet ... well he was jumping up at this man, I was so embarrassed, couldn't concentrate on what I was saying, and the lsat few walks have been pretty horrendous too, I've put him back on a line anyway as he kept running off, but he's been pulling on the lead, he nearly pulled me off my feet yesterday when he saw a squirrel, and as he's getting strong now, I almost feel like I've lost control of him. My husband takes him out in the evenings and he has four good walks to one bad one, and can let him off the lead, but as I say his general demenaour if you like is like "why should I?". No signs of dominance or anything like that, for want of a better word being a little sod. I find myself this week becoming a little despondent, I'm a fairly positive person, I suppose I just want a bit of reassurance perhaps that he is being adolescent and I have to weather my way through it, rather than I have been a complete failure in all the training that I've done. Hope to hear from somebody, A Very Depressed Nicki ...

Hi Depressed Nicki,

Just so you know, ive only just got my first dog so im not speaking from experience, but maybe thats the 'bull' in him! they are stubborn dogs at times! If that were me and my dog i would take him to an advanced training class to further his obedience, maybe a top up will refresh his memory and he will grow out of what hes doing now a little quicker! Hopefully its just a phase, even people go through phases. Dont feel so down, hes still very young.

Hope i helped,

Sharon

Hi Nicki, dont despair, its not all in vain, hell come around again - honest! Has he been to the vet recently for a check up to rule out any physical reason for his attitude? If your satisfied he is in rude health then its likely to be Kevinpupsyndrome. Morse does exactly the same sort of thing. Hes obedience on 4 paws for ages then gets tude and I could cheerfully turn him into a handbag with matching gloves. Remember the Akita/Guide dog incident? No experience of staffs, but we find staying calm and laughing helps rather than taking it personally. Morse shows off to his pals and regularly does time on a long line as a consequence. Theyre young dogs still exploring and pushing it. I work on being the most fascinating fun being on the planet and constantly look ahead for trouble so I can ensure no commands are issued that cant be enforced. What about taking out his favourite toys for games outside to keep him busy with you? Fortunately dogs are Kevins for less time than kids, so we only have a year or less left! :)

Hi Nicki,

Yes he is going through an adolesent phase, now that he is 12 months old, gained a bit of confidence, when you tell him to do something he knows exactly what you mean but is really really trying it on with you - typical staff behaviour I think - no matter how well trained they are they are very clever in testing you and seeing how far they can push it....

Mine is now 2 1/2 and I work hard training him constantly, he knows everything that I say to him and is quite good most of the time, but still has his moments where he does the opposite to what i say. I dont think they really mature until they are at least 3 - mind I dont think my last one ever matured!!! Just keep on doing what you are doing ie be firm and persistant and most importantly consistant in everything you do.

Thanks everyone, feel much better to know that they do come out of it at the end, I need to work on being "the best person on the planet", Lorelei, this dog was bought for me as a "surprise" [considerate husband], like some people say they're not natural mothers, I don't feel I'm a natural doggie person, and tho I've worked really hard this past year [and am prepared to keep it up!], I do wonder if I'll ever get that bond with him that other pepole talk about on here ... I sometimes feel I'm not interesting enough to him. Wow, reading this back I am feeling sorry for myself this afternoon aren't I?! I'm going to open a bottle of wine I think tonight and start again tomorrow feeling a bit more positive! Once again, thanks for your kind words everyone. Nicki PS - Nothing wrong with him physically, recently been to the vets about something else and he was given the all clear.

Well, if you're not a natural "doggy person", then I admire your determination - Staffies are not the easiest dogs in the world, but my heart is won over by them...should be I have 3 of the hooligans now!

You sound like you've done brilliantly with his training and he's a credit to you but, yes, they can have teenage moments. My bitch is 2 and a perfect angel (99% of the time!) but boy when she decides she's going to be naughty, she does it with bells on!

I've got all this to come yet with my other 2, they're both 10 wks old - oh help!

Keep up the good work; we all go through down patches but Buster sounds great and you should be very proud of your achievements.

Thanks Juliette, everyone's kind of words have really put a smile on your face - and at the end of the day, he is a lovely dog, tellling myself that he is just being a "Kevin" has definitely made me feel better! Nicki

Nikki

I dont think anyone is a natural doggy person/horsey person/mother it all has to be practiced, and being the most fun person on his planet will come. I had trouble doing the high excited voice thing as I have a deeper voice than some and dont like making a fool of myself. Thanks to Morse, looking a fool is now my natural state. :D The fat woman wiggling a tug ball about and chirping " Whassissen? Seeit ? Seeit?" as a black and white dog stalks after birds is me - and I chose my dog! I think you should give yourself a pat on the back for your commitment to Buster, hes a lucky dog. :)

Nikki,

you have my sympathy- have been i your shoes.
I know the little look that they give you out of th ecorner of their eye when you tell them to do something, how you can see them thinking 'shall I or Shan't I', and then decide no they will ignore you completley and carry on reguardless!!!
Taz is my much loved eighteen month old staff. Like you i trained him myself and at 10 weeks he had mastered all the basics sit stay down paw etc etc, and it stayed that way until he was ten months. Wow it was like i got up one morning to a different dog.
No more did he obey the first command, behave like the controlled pet i'd always walked, passers by must have thought look at that lady can't control her own dog!! :) :) lol
i was mezmerised and like you felt as though i'd failed somewhere along the line i couldn't understand why we had taken hundreds of steps back. :( :(
I phoned a training school, described his behaviour to the teacher and she assured me that he was having his adolesent stage ans that it would probably last until he was at least eighteen months!!! she said that she would gladly have him in her classes but it was unlikely to be effective at this stage in his development. She stated that this was normal behaviour and he was trying to tilt the balance to him being in control, Taz the alpha ! :) :) ha ha ha . She advised me to be patient and light hearted with the situation, and be persistant with the commands until he followed them even if i had to tell him three times! to ensure that i remained the alpha and that he had to learn again that what i say goes!

So i did, it was fun once i understood it and i can say that fingers crossed from fifteen months he has settled down again and i am in complete control ALL the time. :) :)

Thanks again all of you, reading your messages of support have really, really made me feel better, much appreciated. Nicki

Hi everyone, just thought I'd let you all know I've just had a wonderful walk with family and Buster this morning in the local park/fields, his recall was 99% and we managed to get him to come to us when there were other distractions - bikes/children/dogs ... it was a real pleasure to take him out so it's come as a bit of a tonic compared to how I was feeling earlier this week. We even showed off a little outside the newsagents, hubby and kids inside, me and Buster outside, did a down stay, sit stay, watch, wait ... a couple stood and watched us and I felt really proud as his whole attention was on me! I'm not saying we're out of the woods by any stretch of the imagination, but it's amazing how one good walk can really turn around how you feel! Nicki

That's brilliant Nicki - a real confidence boost!
:)

Hey, Nicki, great news! You shall be a dog lover/companion whatever :D. Go girl go! Buster keep it up for Mum, good lad. :D

Glad to hear it went well :)

It may not be a bad idea to do a "refresher" course, either, as it may improve him for example where paying attention around other dogs is concerned.

Have fun :D ;)

Lindsay

I think you're right, may look for something in our local area, the clicker training I did before was with a behaviourist and her dogs, the first half was indoors and the second half was outdoors over my local park, she has said if I ever need to go back to her I can, even if it's one offs ... yes, good idea! Nicki