Can He Be Too Confident?

[Seavee]

My poodle Sioux is almost a year old. He is a standard parti-poodle. He weighs about 70lbs right now. I am telling you that this is one tough guy. He is sweet as sugar. He is smart. He isn’t even remotely aggressive. He just loves the whole wide world and everything in it.

He is easy to train when it comes to things like tricks or commands. I have been clicker training with him and he does great. The problem comes when I have to teach him –not- to do something he really wants to do.  I know positive reinforcement is best but sometimes I really think a good rolled up newspaper is the way to go.

Alas, he is so confident and happy that he just isn’t intimidated. Rolling up a newspaper does no good. It’s like playing “Whack-a-Mole.” He just dodges and jumps around like it is a game. If I try a can full of coins he just looks at me. Loud noises don’t bother him one bit. I don’t know what else there is.

I have tried ignoring him when he does bad. It is effective on some things but not on others. When he really sets his mind to something ignoring undesirable behavior just does not work.

It makes me crazy. My mother just has to look at her poodle Jax and say “no” in a low pitched, serious voice and his tail drops and he is immediately contrite. I say “noooo Sioux” in just the same voice and he just looks at me and keeps on doing whatever it is that he is doing.

What am I doing wrong!

[croc1au]

Just keep trying!  If he understands what displeases his person he should improve as they usually want your approval!  We had a Spoodle some years ago who was so upset at sight of Newspaper that she would wee - she came as an adult, supposedly breeder had others of same bloodlines so couldnt keep but we discovered  severe digestive problems and more.  She had a short but happy time with us and no newspapers in sight!  Good luck!

[zefi]

Hi Seavee, welcome to the PR. I know exactly where you're coming from with Sioux. I have the exact same issues with Bonnard. He's now 15 months old and he thinks the whole world is there for his pleasure. He does as he pleases, has no manners, etc. He responds well to positive reinforcement training but can get too keen and his enthusiasm causes him to go wild. LOL And telling him off or waving the newspaper, or wacking his butt with it, has NO effect. He thinks its a game. The other day he was doing something he shouldnt so I wacked him with the paper and he didnt even look around! LOL Yelling no or 'ay' has very little effect too. A treat is a great distraction at those times, but you know what... in a way I feel thats reinforcing the bad behaviour cause 'when I do this mom gives me a treat'. sigh.

The good news is that Montana was the same. Impervious to voice or facial expressions or hand signals and the threat of the newspaper. She was a wild child too, only a smaller package. And now she's great. All I have to do is use my voice these days and she listens. When did it happen? I have no idea. One day I realised she was just good.

[Seavee]

 Well, it is good to know I am not the only one. Sioux is not inclined to be really bad. His major sins are jumping on screen doors, running away and chasing kitties. I just keep the screen doors propped open so that he can’t jump on them. That is easy.

Unfortunately, running away and chasing kitties is way way too much fun for him to be easily deterred. The poor cats hate him in a very cat-like way. It is really kind of funny. He just wants them to love him and they just won’t.

Running away isn’t bad when we are out places. He doesn’t do it if I take him hiking or to the beach or the park. He is an angel when we are out in public. He only runs away at home. I think he just gets bored. I am trying to keep him entertained but there are limits.

I hope he has the same change to good behavior yours did. I admit I get frustrated with chasing him down when he escapes me. 

The up side to his behavior is that he is just so adorable and sweet. He is very friendly and responsive and if he isn’t chasing a cat or running off he is always willing to have a good cuddle.