I just got an email from my puppy trainer:

[Bsmiz]

She wondered what we can do to "up" his energy in class. We have a hard time getting him up to work on the lessons.

Mind you, he does have bursts at home where he is a "wild" puppy, but they are fairly short lived...and then he needs to lie down and take a nap.

Does this sound familiar? Suggestions? Tips?

edited to add: Quinn is 12 weeks old and this is a puppy manners class. Letter came after week 2.

 

[Thule's Mom]

Thule was the same way ..... my trainer understood it was a 'breed thing', at least, this is what we chose to believe!! I worked on her lessons at home, and she usually had it by the time we went back to the class. I would NOT be concerned.

 

[NessaM]

Two words. Chicken. Livers.

We had the same problem with Nanook. Only thing that rang his bell was freshly fried chicken livers.

 

[Bsmiz]

Thule was the same way ..... my trainer understood it was a 'breed thing', at least, this is what we chose to believe!! I worked on her lessons at home, and she usually had it by the time we went back to the class. I would be concerned.

you would be concerned? Or not be concerned?

 

[Bsmiz]

on another note though...I am contemplating having her over for a private session. Quinn is definitely exhibiting some separation anxiety which I am not sure how to deal with.

Any tips thoughts on this issue?

 

[NessaM]

Chicken livers!!! I'm telling you! Hold dinner until AFTER class, and find a high value treat, like the livers. Nothing else worked for Nanook, not even filet mignon, but he'd learn particle physics for the liver.

 

[Bsmiz]

Two words. Chicken. Livers.

We had the same problem with Nanook. Only thing that rang his bell was freshly fried chicken livers.

Thanks for the tip!!

 

[Newfobsessed]

Chicken livers!!! I'm telling you! Hold dinner until AFTER class, and find a high value treat, like the livers. Nothing else worked for Nanook, not even filet mignon, but he'd learn particle physics for the liver.

How perfectly put!! LOL - love it - soooo true.

 

[charlieinnj]

Are you only having trouble "in class" or at home, as well?

 

[charlieinnj]

Two words. Chicken. Livers.

We had the same problem with Nanook. Only thing that rang his bell was freshly fried chicken livers.

We found out our motivator was pieces of string cheese.

 

[Bsmiz]

Are you only having trouble "in class" or at home, as well?

He's pretty alert at home but our sessions are much shorter. Class is 75 minutes which I feel is a bit long for such young pups. He's pretty good for a half hour or so in class..then he peters out and nothing rings his bell, except for the cold wall molding he likes to lay against.

 

[Bsmiz]

We found out our motivator was pieces of string cheese.

I've been bringing stinky treats...hot dogs, cheddar cheese and some stinky soft treat/food item I bought at the pet store. After a while these get boring to him I think.

I should probably bring along some of my other dog's kibble. I have Quinn on a raw diet and he seems very interested in the dry kibble.

 

[charlieinnj]

He's pretty alert at home but our sessions are much shorter. Class is 75 minutes which I feel is a bit long for such young pups. He's pretty good for a half hour or so in class..then he peters out and nothing rings his bell, except for the cold wall molding he likes to lay against.

What you describe is exactly what we went through, too. I agree....75 minutes can be horribly long for them. I wouldn't be concerned.

 

[MMtnmom]

i think 75 minutes is too long...he's a wee pup. I doubt that you'd do 75 minutes at once at home. Like small children, their attention spans aren't that long. And as large breed dogs, they develop slower. That said, fried chicken liver might perk him up a bit. Yum, haven't had any in many years.

 

[charlieinnj]

on another note though...I am contemplating having her over for a private session. Quinn is definitely exhibiting some separation anxiety which I am not sure how to deal with.

Any tips thoughts on this issue?

What is he doing that you feel is seperation anxiety? Is he carrying on excessively when you leave? Is he crated? You would have thought Oliver was being murdered the way he carried on in his crate when he was yound and left alone. It eventually passed and thankfully the neighbors never called the police! LOL! It did eventually pass.....Remember, Quinn is still very, very young.

 

[dannyra]

Like others have said, I wouldn't be concerned. That's pretty long for a 12 week old to stay focused. Not feeding before hand may help if you are currently feeding before hand. I'd probably avoid using your other dogs kibble, kibble takes to long to chew.

 

[MMtnmom]

Gracie did not respond to string cheese, meat treats, or any of the "never fail" treats that the trainer supplied. And she was, and still is, a food hound. And her energy never flagged (I think she's really a Jack Russel on steroids). She just steadfastly refused to be manipulated by us. After three months of puppy class I just gave up. Never tried the chicken livers...wish I'd though of that. Gradually, over the years I've discov ered she is trainable...except she still countersurfs! and her recall is not good at all. However her trainer, I felt, had no real understanding of the breed.

 

[NessaM]

Variety is key. I used to bring 4 different kinds of treats to class. Start out with low value, hot dog or string cheese, when he got bored in class I busted out the meatballs or chicken livers. But you need to find what motivates HIM; for some dogs that's praise, for some it's food, for others it's a special toy.

He's still a baby, 75 minutes is a crazy long time to expect him to focus. Do they let the puppies play in the middle of class at all? Our puppy classes all had a 30 minute free play session in the middle for the pups to destress. Alternatively, teach him to play tug of war, which can be used as a reward and also as stress relief.

 

[Bsmiz]

What is he doing that you feel is seperation anxiety? Is he carrying on excessively when you leave? Is he crated? You would have thought Oliver was being murdered the way he carried on in his crate when he was yound and left alone. It eventually passed and thankfully the neighbors never called the police! LOL! It did eventually pass.....Remember, Quinn is still very, very young.

yes, he can be pretty frantic when I put him in his crate(He's only going in for short periods of time when I leave the house..I'm a stay at home mom, but I workout and go to knitting classes so have left him a couple of hours at a time). He's even more frantic when I return. He carries on, whines, jumps and generally goes crazy when he sees me. Then whines for a while after and won't leave my side. If he's feeling particularly needy at any point in the day he will whine if I leave him alone in a room. Sometimes he totally ignores me though.

 

[Bsmiz]

Variety is key. I used to bring 4 different kinds of treats to class. Start out with low value, hot dog or string cheese, when he got bored in class I busted out the meatballs or chicken livers. But you need to find what motivates HIM; for some dogs that's praise, for some it's food, for others it's a special toy.

He's still a baby, 75 minutes is a crazy long time to expect him to focus. Do they let the puppies play in the middle of class at all? Our puppy classes all had a 30 minute free play session in the middle for the pups to destress. Alternatively, teach him to play tug of war, which can be used as a reward and also as stress relief.

There is no unstructured play. Everything is very careful and very planned. There is a potty break halfway through but that's about it.