When a puppy isn't quite getting a command, or chooses not to follow it, how does one correct it properly? I usually just do not let him have a reward or play until he gets it down correctly. However I'm not sure if this is the "correct" way to correct him. I don't want to be counter productive. I haven't done clicker training yet but I have ordered a clicker. It should be here by next week.

A lot of positive trainers think you shouldn't "correct" a pup until they hit 6 months old. It based on that they are still learning and whole lot of correcting can dampen their enthusiasm to learn.

I personally don't think corrections should be brought in until a dog really understands what you are asking of them. If they are doing it quickly and correctly 90% of the time then it's possible they are simply choosing to ignore. If I am getting particularly frustrated with my dog not listening, I will simply take away their option to ignore by not giving them room on the leash to move around.

At Viking's age, his training sessions should be short and sweet and always ending on a good note.

I don't really "correct" my young puppies but I give a negative reward marker. I say "oops", Jason says "no" and another trainer I know says "uh-oh". So, for example, if I ask for a sit (and he supposedly knows this) and he ignores me, I say "oops" lure him around some more to get him moving and ask again, this time with more assitance if needed. I use this their whole lives. If I'm trying to shape a behavior a little later, I praise for offers but say "oops" if it's wrong. They will continue to throw behaviors until the right one or the approximation I am looking for pops up. I only use "no" if they are really, really naughty (like it might be something that could cause harm). Otherwise, I use ah! as a "stop that right now" command.

As a puppy, he's still learning. I wouldn't correct him AT ALL. If he doesn't do it, it simply means he doesn't know it yet. Take a step back and make it a little more clear or a little easier for him. Right now, he's still trying to figure out what it is you want. The clicker will help make things more clear for him too. The click means "YES! That thing you did right there is what I want. Your reward is coming!"

I never introduce corrections in my training, but that's just my style. If you plan on using corrections, make sure you wait until your dog KNOWS that behavior inside out and backwards in any location before you correct for non-compliance. If you correct them when they're unsure of what you asked, you confuse them and it's unfair.

Hard to correct a dog or puppy that does not know anything. It would be grossly unfair in fact.

Might want to invest in a book by Sheila Booth titled "Purely Positive Training" she has GSD's and this is an excellent all around book to start a puppy with whether you want just a home companion or think you might decide to compete in various venues. She shows you how to adjust training for different venues too.

You are in Seattle I see and you can order this book from dogwise which is in Wenatchee. You can have it in 2 days most likely. They always had my books to me in 2 days when I lived in Umatilla, OR.

you dont need a clicker to train you can use a marker word. puppies do not need "coRrectionS'... please do not use corrections until you know he knows the behaviour your asking him to do and have proofed it backward and foreward. then you cn add correction - but you must know what YOU are doing too. a mistimed correction or an unfair correction will set your training back. right now you have a clean slate....dont mess it up with corrections that are unneccissary. the whole no, uh-ho, i do not consider corrections and i am assuming you are defining "corrections" as the old school kind of collar pop , screaming at or smacking .... guess we should kknow what your definition is?

anyhow, as stated above, please check into some videos by micheal ellis, ivan babalanov or others. denise fenzi even. very helpful.

I always say that young puppies have the attention span of a gnat.

Keep your training times short and fun 15 mins or so to start.

I don't correct puppies other than what has been posted above, I give a negative voice marker and then lure them into what is correct and then praise. For young pups I usually use treats with praise as that is a high value reward for them. Around 4 - 6 months I start alternating between treats with praise and just praise.

If you pup isn't food motivated use a tug toy as a reward, a little tug session at this point with always letting the pup win, you want to build confidence. As the pup gets older you make it harder for them to win, more resistant on your part of letting go of the tug toy.

That's what I thought! Some snot on another forum insisted I was training him wrong because I didn't correct him when he didn't listen to a command and thus I was "setting him up for failure". I was like, "he's eleven weeks! he just doesn't understand everything yet!". I wanted to double check with you guys because it's always good to get a second opinion.

I think it is all about being fair. Puppies like babies don't come out knowing commands and right from wrong. So you want to have your pup want to please you that in turn will make him want to learn more.

Puppies and dogs learn through repetition. Just keep it short and fun for now.

I assume you mean a physical correction since withholding the reward or giving a negative marker and making the pup repeat the exercise is still a form of correction.

I use the negative marker and repeat the exercise. If the pup is still having a problem then I have not taught the pup well enough and will go back to helping them.

I just say "uh oh" and then try again. If the pup fails more than once, I back up a few steps in the training to make sure it understands.

Yep – puppies are meant to be loved and cuddled and fed and loved and cleaned up after and laughed at and loved and played with and kept safe. Did I mention to be loved? Gentle guidance is needed as they are taught to explore life – as fraught as it is with unfortunate boundaries and the need for manners. No need for raised voices or hands at the ready.

I love puppies.

I realize I do use AH, or other verbal correction. I don't know if I could stop! I use it when they are putting things in their mouths, situationally, not if the puppy doesn't sit or down.

I do a lot of conversational stuff. It's weird, they seem to understand it. I also laugh and clap a lot, and am a pretty easy audience. They really eat up the YAAAAAAAAAAAAY! and applause parties. Lots of times if you communicate with them really well what makes you happy, you don't even need to get into what makes you sad. Right now my little foster puppy is a big dancer, so he gets dance parties. I probably need to get a hobby.

11 weeks, a stern tone, a redirection and then a maybe treat.
I wouldn't wait till 6 months for corrections but no way at 11 weeks.

Yep, that's what I do. Recently he's started "thinking" about whether or not to come when I call him. If there's any sort of distraction at all it takes a few tries for me to get him to listen to me. That's one of the tough things I'm working on.



Hmm, what if it's a command he's already understood plenty of times but seems to have forgotten?

He's a puppy. Just because he got it right several times doesn't mean he knows it. Take a step back and try again. Remember, dogs do not generalize well. Just because he knows "sit" means sit when he's in the livingroom doesn't mean he realizes it means sit in the backyard too. You really have to practice any new behavior in various locations for your dog to understand the meaning of the word in all places and when faced with distractions.

Yep, what Jamie said ^.

This makes a lot of sense! Thank-you!

Dogs do not generalize well. They need lots of exposure in many places before they figure out sits always means anywhere they are.

funny, i thought fritz knew exactly what "heir" meant. i would do heir (come to front) everywhere. in my backyard, in my living room, the hallway, the front yard, petco,the park, etc... EVERYWHERE...fritz knows "heir" from the basic position, too. again, he can do this everywhere. i was SURE he knew this command ... backwards and forewards... well... one night i was in a training class and the instructor had us walk behind our dogs and give the "hier" command... my dog went right here--to fuss position ... what? i did this command from every position possile.. he only did it "correct' when he was inf ront (whether 1 ft or 100 ft) in front of me... or when he was on my left (whether 1ft or 100ft) beside me, so , what a wake up call... be careful thinking your dog really "knows" the comand like you think. fritz was 2 when this happened. sure showed me that "proofing" is even MORE than making sure theyknow what youa re asking in the back yard, front yard, the park, petco it also means in differnt positions, different voices...things i had not thought of. i have worked on this diligently and now know that he can do it from every posiition and every situation and i n every voice. but it was a little (no big) blow to my ego thinking the dog knew it backwards and forewards when he really didint .so, i guess i am saying... make very very very very sure that your dog realy really really knows the command in every way shape or form...

Excellent example, Schnickle Fritz! That's why it's so so important to think long and hard before you correct a dog for 'disobedience.' Because it's completely possible that the dog really doesn't know what you want. You have to be quite careful with puppies; you don't want to correct them unfairly. Just keep on working and he'll get it.