Hi

We have a 5 month old GR. He is very well socialised and we attend training classses three times a week. The problem we have with him is that at classes and also when we have finished our walks he throws himself on the floor (i.e. when we get to the gate and he realises he has to walk home) - seriously you would think he had been shot :-D he literally hits the decks commando style and is immovable and he just lays there on his back with his legs akimbo. Of course it was amusing to begin with but now is a bit of a problem.

I do ringcraft and he is great till we have to move up and down and then I fight with him to stop him throwing himself on the ground. We have tried  gentle coaxing, ignoring it and also physically moving him but he still does it. The only thing to do is hold his lead high so that he can't get his head down to the ground but that means we get told off for holding the lead too tight :-)Whilst he is on the floor he tries to grab the lead so clearly is a game for him. He can be in the middle of obedience training and down he goes - very frustrating! One of the classes we attend is quite strict and they just tell us to get him up (with not to much advice on how I might add) the other is much frendlier and they seem to think he will grow out of it - which he may well do.
Just thought you may be able to offer some advice?
Thanks in advance
Rx

We have a GR as well - and they can be real clowns :) GR's are usually very quick learners and it sounds to me, although I am no expert at all, that he has learnt that the gate means that his walk and fun time has ended. You could try taking him somewhere else to walk for a change or, if that is not possible, change the way that you end that part of his walk. Once you have got to the gate and got him back up off the floor :) you could try going back into the field again rather than just going home. Perhaps get him a few yards out of the gate and then turn round again and go back to the walk you have  just finished. Maybe walk him half way home and then turn round and go back to the field again .That way he won't be able to predict when the "fun" has ended. You could also do this at the beginning of the walk as well. Go in and out of the gate several times before actually setting off on the main walk - it will keep him guessing and not make your intentions so predictable.

As for actually getting him off the ground I would suggest that you try and pre-empt him from going down to begin with - easier said than done:) Does he know a "watch me" command or is he toy or treat orientated? If you can distract him with one of these before he throws himself to the ground you can use that distraction to get him past the problem area. Once past the gate and back on his feet does he then walk home ok or does he still do his hearth rug impression? You could use the same form of distraction at your classes - I don't show but would imagine nobody at ringcraft would object to you also using that method there as well.

Our rescue terrierX was a devil for grabbing his lead when we first had him and hadn't been taught anything at all so we had to resort to using a lead which was made of chain - he didn't like holding it in his mouth so gave up trying to grab it.

Hee Hee, sorry that made me laugh. There is a young Tibetan Spaniel who does this in the ring and this makes us all laugh, but she has done a fair amount of winning and I think that her owner is hoping that she will grow out of it. Sorry cant offer any constructive advice, just to say that you are not alone.

My 5 month old GR is exactly the same lol! As I don't see loads of fully grown GRs on their backs at the park gates I assume they'll grow out of it! :) Now he is nearly 25 kilos though it is no mean feat to get him up again!

LOL There was a red setter at my old puppy training class who used to do this whenever we were doing anything boring! One week my puppy decided to go on strike too, it was quite funny...I think the answer is to make yourself more exciting, with special treats for that moment, bright, exciting voice, and generally "jolly" them out of it. I think it's a bit like getting toddlers past the sweets at the supermarket, you've got to be a bit brisk. HTH

As I don't see loads of fully grown GRs on their backs at the park gates I assume they'll grow out of it!

You've missed mine LOL -they've never grown out of it! Even my 12 year old still does -although he will get up when told. :) My 4 year old spends more time on his back than on his legs. Typical Goldens!!

What is your ringcraft class like, would it be safe to drop his lead and walk away. I know you said you tried ignoring it but I suspect you were still with him. I also suspect that if you started heading for the door and left him he might be quite surprised. If there's no chance of him or another dog getting harmed I'd talk to the ringcraft teacher and ask if you can set him up, then leave him behind. I'm afraid that even though I have two of the little dears my goldens never pulled that particular trick so no tried and true methods.

I have no advice i am afraid but i have a similar experience with my dog. Everytime i get the lead out to take my dog for a walk he runs away then lays on the floor with his legs in the air. he makes no resistance to having the lead put on but will not simply sit and allow me to clip it on. Everytime he does the ritual of running way and rolling over :-)  lol

In our house when we say outside hurry up at bedtime they both roll on their back legs akimbo, I struggle out with CS and OH struggles out with a huge BC its so funny, only time they do it is when the TV goes off at night...

A two year old Siberian did that in our first OB class and now a four year old mixed hound breed is doing it in our second class.  OOOh, I guess that's not very reassuring is it?  For both these dogs the owners have been advised to try to find a way to make the class more interesting for them, bringing a favourite toy, not feeding the evening meal before class etc. as both seem to find it  boring and do not respond much to food treats.  My own idea, five months is still pretty young so maybe he is just getting too much exercise that day and is tired?  I am still leaving out my 8 month old puppy's second walk the day we do our class.

Well something similar happened to me once with my GR puppy bitch, and No, I didn't find it amusing but I did not know how to correct it (I find things that look funny when pups are tiny often become quite large problems as they grow older)

I went to a GRC ringcraft demonstration and we were all being helped by a much repesected, very exprienced and well known GR Breeder/Judge/ Show person, soemone right on top of their game for decades, not someone who just talked the talk. My girl 5/6 months old decided to go well on the run up the mat but her trick was to stop at the top and not move back. I tried all the above, cajoling, treats, toys etc but nope!! She went up that mat and wasn't coming back. So there I was trying my best, getting redder at this pup NOT coming back down the mat, if she was human i swear she would have sat there filing her nails with everyone watching me!! So embarrassing. Never experienced it before with GSD's,Collies etc.

He, (The experienced guest speaker), said 'What are you doing dear?' And I explained the above problem. So he took her up the mat and just as she was about to perform by sitting her backside down and refusing to budge (and she was a very big bitch) he jerked the lead, without breaking his stride, 3/4 times sharp and she clearly went 'OMG!! I had better move and quick!!' He didn't stop and went round again sure enough, one sharp jerk just as she thought about it (and she didgive it a thought) but she kept moving. He passed the lead to me and I did the same, just at the second she thought about sitting, and sure enough she did, one quick sharp jerk, and I never looked back. As I thanked him for his help he gave me these words of advise which have never left me. He said ' You don't ASK a Golden Retriever what to do, my dear, you TELL it what to do'  And it stood me in good stead ever since. Only two of mine have needed that attitude, and they were mother and son!!!! She was gentleness personified but had a passively dominant streak in her. They want their own way. The others I have had wouldn't dream of it. But your boy is like my girl. He doesn't need asking he needs telling, and your timing is crucial.  Hope this helps you take back control. Because that is what you need to do, take back control, so he knows this is not acceptable behaviour and never will be. Don;t forget those words, hope they help. They have me!

The other thing I would mention is why do you not just try one training class (the one the dog responds to you better in) and one ringcraft.

My Mastiff pup went through something similar not too long ago. He was 9 month old and decided 1 day that he wasn't going to come back in after being on his walk, so he sat on the front lawn. I braced myself and told him to 'come', that went in 1 ear & out the other, as did any different strategy I tried. He then dropped to the floor so quick I thought he had passed out, but he was playing the fool, rolling on the grass and trying to eat it :( It took me 25 mins to get him in, he moved when he wanted to :( Carying him wasn't an option, he was 56kg at the time and as soon as I tried to lift the front of him up he managed to 'clamp' himself to the ground :(

The next day I thought I would try speeding up as we got to my lawn, that didn't work. The next day my OH tried, he ran full blast towards our front door but Buster still managed to clamp to the ground & grind my husbands dash to a halt :(

The next day.....I treid cheese....... :)

Cheese, displayed at the right moment worked :) I've used treats to great success to stop Buster pulling to get to greet people, I use the treat as a distraction - to get his attention on me and then to reward. So, armed with a pocket of cheese we went for our walk. On the way home, just as our house came into view I produced a chunk of cheese and made Buster aware of what I had ('whats' this' in excited voice). He focused on the treat, as we got to our lawn I could see him think about dropping so I wiggled the treat closer to him and reapeated 'what's this' very excited while acting all 'bouncy' and jogging (gosh, my neighbouirs must think I am bonkers!!!). This kept Busters attention enough for us to get inside :) :) :)

4 days of this and I no-longer needed the treat. A few more days later I didn't need to even prompt a 'come on then' as we went the lawn :)

If you can make yourself more interesting than anything else, you can work wonders, but sometimes you have to swallow your pride ;)

Thanx to all who have replied some very valuable advice. I think I need to let him know who is boss !!
Rx