ignoring my commands

Hi Jay,

Your 4 mos old puppy behaves well during the training sessions but he does not pay attention to you at home. Is that what you meant?

During the class, he is leashed so he is pretty much forced to pay attention to you and he gets not much distraction. It is structured and your instructor helps you to get your puppy's attention. I also assume you are using positive reinforcement training method using treats or a clicker.

Now, at home, your puppy is loose and he feels more relaxed so you don't get his focus that you get during the training classes. You can create the same kind of environment even at home only when you train him until he masters all the basic commends. Then, you can add more distraction but for now lets make it simple since he is only 4 mos old.

Are you using treats at home too? Are you training when he is hungry? If he is toy-motivated rather than food, you can use a toy or a play as a reward. Find something that can attract his attention. He ignores you because he finds something more interesting rather than you. This is like a game between you and your puppy. If you want to win, come up with something to help you get his attention. And don't make your training session long. Since he is still a puppy, maybe 10-15 minute training is enough but do it many times throughout the day.

As for "time-out" punishment, what did he do wrong to be punished:confused If he got "time-out" because he ignored you, I don't think it would work. "Time-out" can work when he wants something (your attention) but he didn't ask for it in a proper way. For example, he keeps barking at you, jumping on you, biting you, or combination of all of those, to get your attention while you are talking on the phone, or when you have a company, etc. By getting "time-out" he will learn that he has to behave well in order to be with you or have fun with your guests, etc.

Good luck

Jay - you didn't mention the breed of your dog - even if he is not purebred you need to try to figure out what breed mix he might be. Some dogs are just stubborn - I have two chow chow mixes who did wonderfully in obedience training and also when they want to obey - but if they don't want to you should just try again another time. A good tactic sometimes - if they don't obey you, turn your back on them and walk away and ignore them for awhile. Most dogs will work hard for your attention and this is a non-painful punishment that usually has very good results.

Hi Jay,

I understand every dog is different so this info might not fit your St. Bernard but I still think it's worth learning. Pls click on the link below:

[url=http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/reviews/saintbernards.html]Saint Bernards: What's Good About 'Em? What's Bad About 'Em?[/url]

My biggest concern about your dog is:

1) you live in Dehli, India and it gets very hot in the summer while the breed has very little tolerance about the hot weather.

2) you have a small child and your dog is already 25kg on its way to 100kg.

The link says:

I strongly recommend that you get your Saint Bernard involved in obedience classes at the intermediate or advanced level, or tracking, or pulling a cart or sled, or even just hiking and swimming. This is a working dog who needs something interesting to do. If you have small children, or if you or anyone who lives with you is elderly or infirm, I do not recommend Saint Bernard puppies.

However the good thing is that St. Bernard can grow to a gentle dog that can be friendly to small children f you keep working on his obedience training and giving him appropriate exercise and stimulation. I wouldn't waste any time if I were you because having a St. Bernard in your climate and family situation is already a big challenge. I would work very hard on his training and would pay a close supervision whenever the dog is near your daughter.

I didn't want to sound negative but please don't risk your daughter's life.

Hi Jay,

I am glad that your training is going very well.

>After few days of monitoring and training he has even learnt on not to approach my kid if she is playing. But my concern was to know that 'when she is sleeping or just lying he passes over her and at some times have hurted her by pushing her or legs hitting her'. I wanted to understand on how to teach him not to do this.

This is exactly what I am concerned with - Sufie is a puppy so he is still clumsy and also he doesn't understand he is hurting your daugher unintentionally. That's why you will have to supervise him all the time Sufie is around your daughter.

To teach him not to hurt her seems to be difficult at his age. You can repeatedly warn him not to get close to her when she is asleep or lying down and over time he will learn that he should take a special caution around her.

Keep up with your good job!