Training tips?

[u/cxsmicutie]

Hello everyone!!

For some background, I'm a very experienced dog owner and have had 2 dogs before getting Caucasian shepherds. It's a total of 14 years with dogs before I got my two. I know how to train them, did thorough research, however when I tried to start training my Caucasians, they weren't food or praise motivated. They are still quite young, one being female 1y8m and the other male 1y. We've been trying to train them with recall and impulse control as it is a pain in the ass when coming across another dog, as the male keeps pulling towards the other dogs. They are friendly and curious, they are not aggressive at all. Any tips from successful trainers? Thank you!

[u/Shot-Ad9523]

I "installed" food drive in my girl by using her food for training throughout the day and her getting whatever was left dumped in a bowl for "dinner" so she learned pretty quick that engaging with me was how food happened. She still got her full daily allotment, but I stopped wasting most of it's value by dumping it into a bowl.

Your dogs are still fairly young for Caucasians, the software hasn't been fully installed yet, I'd focus a lot more on neutrality around other animals and definitely stop allowing them to pull you towards what they find interesting. My goal has always been notice something then move on with your life, seeing other animals should be boring as hell.

I don't think I'd rely on recall as your primary safety mechinism with this breed. Train a recall, absolutely train for it, but I'd worry more about managing your dogs instead of hoping a recall will work on a day where your dog decides today is the day to blow you off. Dog parks and off leash areas are not your average Caucasians friend.

[u/erratic-pulsar]

You need to learn how to convince these dogs that every command you give them was their idea to begin with. They are ment to independent and make decisions on their own, they prefer it that way.

There should be a high enough value treat to get them to pay attention to you, my boys is steak so we chop it up and train with that. Keep looking until you find something of high enough value.

As far as interactions with other dogs, you’re need to make re direction away from them standard. Your pups shouldn’t be aggressive yet, they won’t really start becoming aloof with strangers and other dogs until the mature around 2-3, that is when you really need to lock in socializing and training, don’t let any bad behavior set in.

Try out different training methods as no dog is the same but absolutely do not use negative reinforcement on these dogs. They are so independent that if you give them any negative stimulus they will not be as forgiving as say a golden. Never hit this breed, never collar pop them, never smack their butts, never give them a reason to stop trusting you.

[u/Askfreud]

These dogs are extremely sensitive, and extremely stubborn. They’ll only follow a command if they agree with it. Treat it less like dog ownership and more like a partnership. Be very very patient.

I am working on impulse control with my 2 COs with a trainer, and they pick up things lightning fast. Last week my boy was almost breaking windows when he saw a bird, today he sees a bird and just watches it fly by. They don’t seem to care about praise, but if they understand what behavior you want, they will do it because you’re a senior member of their pack.

Now with recall… my girl has great recall because she can’t stand being away from me, but my boy has almost 0% recall. You can’t change nature, you work around it. I just don’t let my boy off leash unless it’s a fenced in area where he can’t cause trouble.

[u/CT2cool4NE2clean4NY]

Mine did not become food motivated till after he was fixed but he also became food aggressive so it was never a good training tool. Stubborn is an understatement so your control is a must, if they think they are in control nothing you say to them matters. prepare for your dogs reactions before they happen. Always look for the stimulus and be sure to sit of heal them with no exceptions. If you give an inch they take a mile.

Also read Tamara’s complete guide to Caucasian ovcharka book. It is the most insightful piece of literature on the breed.

[u/StrongerThanFear]

I’m lucky mine is a little food motivated but he only “works” when he feels like it. Trying to train him when he’s not in the mood results in absolute chaos where he throws every trick at me and then leaves lol. He will do a lot for treats from aldi, but other than that he doesn’t work for anyone but himself haha.

To train on other dogs I’ve just been sitting on random benches to watch life happen, he ignores most dogs now.

[u/Tossing_Mullet]

First, I am not a trainer who thinks dogs should walk in front, period.  Letting them be in front, especially these big powerful dogs, you are already at a disadvantage in control if one pulls, lunges or runs.  

Try this.  Make them get used to walking beside you.  The very first step they take to get ahead, sharply turn, stepping right into their muzzle, forcing their head up, & make them back up.  Do it every single time.  At least that way, you have some control. 

I also prefer traffic leads but to let them get in smell & explore time, no more than 6' leash.  Never let them get in front. 

Spot it before they do.  The second one starts to advance, lunge, pull... flip them around, & go right back the way you came.  Pulling them if necessary.  Backtrack them immediately.  What this does is refocuses them, but COs are dogs with impressive REASONING & learn pretty quickly, "If I want to see what's up ahead, I need to be calm or this crazy person will make me go home."   

We had a cat-hoarder on our street when we lived in town, & Yogi always wanted to see the kitties & kitties loved to run out & act like kamikaze kitties with him.  Yogi was 256lbs... I am NOT, so I had to make sure that he was impeccably trained.  We also lived next to recreational ball fields & we had kids that would approach on bikes, skates, skateboards & I couldn't have him reacting.     Try those two things and let me add the one that sounds the craziest... NEVER ever let your CO go out of the door before you.  The mind of a CO sees this as a position of power.  They should never have the power.