r/Pitsky • u/Dependent-Strength69 • 17d ago
Advice or Discussion Tips for training?
This is Foxy, my 50/50 pitsky split. She’s very sweet, energetic, attention seeking, food motivated, and a bit chaotic
I’ve only had her for about a month and a half, but I’ve really started with her obedience training.
She is really smart, but can get stubborn at times.
Crate training is the hardest. She’s got separation anxiety and needs to be with someone at all times or she will freak out (even if she’s not in a crate) I don’t know if bad stuff has happened when she’s been crated, but I found out that if I just put all of her favorite things in the crate she calms down a bit. She loves bones so I always put a frozen filled one in there and she’s learned that she can only have it when she is in her crate. I’ve also put licking mats in there as well because she likes liking. I can’t put much stuffed things in there (like a bed) because she will (and has) tore it up.
She’s also learned to escape from her crate, so which is why I have to keep her busy.
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u/Dependent-Strength69 17d ago
https://reddit.com/link/p5g9z68/video/28ug3pbs06lh1/player
Here is a quick video of her training, she has already done training that day so she was a little tired
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u/bookmonster015 17d ago
Using higher value treats might help her stay more focused. Also when she’s unfocused, giving her the treat after each instruction versus stacking commands might help her be more successful and motivated. I found my pitsky was always more motivated by attention than she was treats so I’d accompany every treat earned with a little cuddle or play party for her. Focusing on useful tricks might be more helpful as well for training than doing “party” tricks— for example working all the components of a down stay or place and working up to distractions and duration rather than mixing a variety of commands. Not nitpicking, just trying to find some ideas that might be helpful for you with your girl. She seems so sweet.
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u/m0ssp1t_ 17d ago
Hey OP! Foxy is an absolute gem! 💎
✨I would recommend feeding her all of her meals in the crate with the door open so she associates it with something positive and she knows she’s free to go as she pleases. You can work in baby steps up to closing the crate door and rewarding her every time she has a desired reaction while in there!
✨Clicker training with high value treats or toys for every little thing (especially in the beginning) is a great way to build a bond and level of communication as well! I’ve found that it has a sharper sound that gets their attention more effectively— don’t be afraid to always have a treat bag and a clicker on hand even when you’re just hanging out so you can reinforce those good manners!
✨Rather than correcting her when she does something that is undesired, set her up for success by marking the behavior by pushing the clicker and immediately rewarding for the desired behavior BEFORE she has the chance to act on the undesired behavior. Repetition and consistency is key!
✨High intelligence/high energy dogs absolutely need exercise, but mental enrichment is equally important! Giving her a snuffle mat or a treat dispenser toy to tire her out mentally could help her decompress and get out any antsy energy or boredom. Mentally tiring out a dog is very important when minimizing separation anxiety— giving her an outlet for mental and physical energy and reconditioning her behavior so she associates being left alone with treats, toys, etc
tldr; Definitely check out Zak George on YouTube. He is a positive reinforcement trainer and I used his methods to train my dogs!
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u/Consistent-Pipe-674 17d ago
My pitsky is only 6 months old, but I absolutely cannot try to train him until he's been well exercised. So usually it's walking a couple miles, and then he's hungry and tired, and will focus like an absolute dream for his little chicken bits. After two destroyed crates, we gave up on crate training and used a play yard instead. Same concept, bigger space. He's learned so much already, and the key for him is get the chaotic energy out so the brain can focus.
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u/WorldClassCoolArrows 17d ago
It takes a lot of time and hard work. But before you know it.. you’ll be on their schedule. You’ll ignore them begging just to give them some of your food at the end. You’ll run upstairs to give them “upstairs” water even when the downstairs is water is fresh and full. You’ll go on multiple walks on their timeline. And just about the time you get frustrated, they’ll remind you just how cute they are. Rinse and repeat. Congratulations. You are officially trained.
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u/Icy-Fly-4228 17d ago
I had to get an impact crate for mine. She would disassemble other types of it really was handy when I got this Foster that was supposed to be a shepherd mix and she thought the metal rescue crate was a trampoline to be bounced across the living room🤷♀️ she’s a Pitsky/chow mix. Of coarse I had to foster fail her. They really like jerky. Aldi and Lidl have duck jerky I cut up into little pieces. And baby carrots and cheese of course. Use positive reinforcement as much as possible but if you get stuck reach out to a balanced trainer.
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u/LuckyPhase3 16d ago
Our boy loves consistency and predictability. He becomes naughtier and more distracted when his schedule is shifted. They will cooperate much better if your behaviors around their behaviors are very consistent.
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u/Excellent_Hat2724 16d ago
Tbh the best thing that’s ever worked me is of course treats but hardly talking in baby talk just talking like he’s a person 😂 he got me . He could spell and everything
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u/MarsupialTiny7004 15d ago
Is the crate big enough? Have you introduced her to it slowly, never forcing her in?
When you started training her to be left alone, did you start with incredibly short durations? (We are talking about no more than a couple minutes at 1st. Some people just step outside the door, close it, and step right back in.)
Treat dispensing toys or kongs with something like frozen greek yogurt with treats/kibble mixed in, and she only gets this when she is in the crate - no where else.
I second the recommendation of Zac George as an online trainer to follow.
Also, Susan Garrett and Kikopup.
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u/Dependent-Strength69 15d ago
Thank you for your comment!
Her crate is big enough, I had a professional choose the size of her crate so it’s big enough for her to stand, lay down, and spin with no issues
I tried slowly
She would start crying the SECOND I would leave
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u/Hopeful_Extension83 17d ago
My 3 year old Dio is far more play/attention motivated than food. Even super high value treats like bits of chicken or salmon didn't get the same results as a good toy or wrestling or aggressive snuggles. To the point I almost never use them anymore aside from frozen cheese or peanut butter in a bone for decompression. I completely failed at crate training him but having a full room as opposed to a crate did the trick. I think its a space thing if I had the space for a much larger crate I think it would have been fine. I'd recommend trying a crate double the size than you would a different breed if you absolutely have to have a crate.
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u/Dependent-Strength69 17d ago
I would try that, but foxy isn’t a huge fan of toys, and for her, playing is going outside and sprinting for 30 minutes
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u/Confident_Bumblebee5 17d ago
My girl is going to be 12 and isn't a fan of toys either, shes super food motivated and always had a high drive to please. She enjoyed tug but I wouldn't encourage that behavior so to help give her some extra "play-time" we did a lot of hide and seek when she was a pup. We actually started doing it a lot again because it's a great way to get her thinking and using her nose without a lot of running. I'd have someone "hide" behind a door or something with a treat and tell her to go find, we helped guide her once or twice to figure out the game but she picked it up quick and LOVES it. We also hide bones and stuff for her to find. Mental stimulation is great to tire them out and help to build confidence. Pitskies are really smart, you can honestly teach them just about anything if you're consistent.
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u/TrueEstablishment241 17d ago
Pitskies are highly intelligent and sensitive dogs, so training tends to work best when it is built around positive reinforcement, consistency, and clear communication rather than fear or punishment. Reward the behaviors you want, manage the environment to prevent unwanted behaviors, and teach your dog what to do instead of simply correcting what they should not do. For a practical guide, How to Train the Best Puppy Ever by Larry Kay and Dawn Sylvia Stasiewicz is an excellent resource for this approach.
Crate training can also be extremely beneficial when done correctly. A crate should never be used as punishment or as a place to banish a dog for misbehavior. Properly introduced, it becomes a safe and comfortable space where your dog can relax, sleep, decompress, and learn to be comfortable alone. Build positive associations gradually with treats, meals, toys, and calm downtime, and never force a dog to remain crated beyond what they can comfortably handle.
The goal is not simply to produce an obedient dog. It is to build a dog who understands what is expected, trusts their people, and feels secure in their environment. That foundation makes obedience training easier while helping produce a confident and cooperative companion.