Help! My dog is 2 and very stubborn. I need any advice I can get for training...

[spoiledrottencleo]

My dog's name is Cleopatra (cleo for short). She is a Rottweiler mix and is 2 years old. I slacked off training her since we live on a farm, but I want to be able to take her with us when my mom and I move into town. I need any advice I can get on training her basic commands as well as getting her to adapt from running around all she wants to a smaller fenced in backyard. I don't want to completely destroy her spirit though. Please help!

[Dax]

You can take her to classes which would help you as well. Training is not breaking their spirit. Dogs do things because they want to please you. You can start at home with basic commands - Come - Sit - etc. Use treats as rewards but be consistent. Do give the treat unless dog performs the command exactly. She'll pick it up in no time.

[spoiledrottencleo]

Thank you very much for your help doglover. I will take any other advice that anyone else will give me. My dad doesn't want to pay for obedience classes, and I don't either unless it's just for one or two. They can get very expensive quickly so anything I can do at home will be very helpful.

[erdog3]

she is still only a young dog, and if you had previously done some training, retraining should be quite easy for her.
As stated, some treats in your pocket, her favourite foods, Cheese, sausage, etc. get her to sit first, then continue on, only give a treat every so often though or she will end up not doing as you ask if you have no treats available at other times.
The back yard, she will become accustomed to it in time, so long as you exercise, give her plenty of love and attention, she should not become too destructive, give her some chew toys. Boredom would become your main problem from the switch.

[GretaJack]

The one thing that is a must when training obedience is to make your dog perform the command the first time you tell her to. Make sure that you start any training on a leash so that you can help her learn. When you tell her to sit, make her sit. Only tell her once, a hand on the rump, or using a treat whatever it takes. But then praise the living daylights out of her. And only train one command at a time. If she sits, don't expect her to stay. As soon as her rear end hits the ground she has completed the command. Once you have taught her the stay command, then a sit stay can be taught. Remember to keep training sessions short so she does not get bored. And always end it on a good note. She that she remembers that learning is fun

[spoiledrottencleo]

I have done all of that such as teaching her to sit. I think she understands it, but unless I force her to, she doesn't sit. When I praise her (and believe me, I praise her a lot) it seems as if she doesn't care. She's an independent dog and I don't think that she has that urge to please anyone. I will still train her for a couple more weeks before giving up. Thank you for all of your help everyone

[Brattina88]

Some dogs are like that and IME then you will have to find something that pleases her as a reward. It is possible to praise too ravishly, and soon it will become not such a big deal and the reward won't motivate the dog to perform for you. Try different treats and find her favorite, but don't over use it. You could try hot dogs cut up into tiny little pieces, or teeny pieces of cheese. I used there regular dog kibble one piece at a time, if they're interested.
You said that she doesn't sit unless you force her to. Maybe she isn't making a connection, then. Have you tried putting the treat between you fingers and holding it by her nose, tell her to sit, and then move your hand up/back so she follows her nose back and has to sit. Once her butt hits the ground you give her the treat and praise her. Then, in time she'll reconize the hand signal. Hand signals may help with your training... Consistancy is everything. When teaching her to sit make her sit for EVERYTHING: to be let in, to be let out, to get fed, for example... That'll make it sitck

[spoiledrottencleo]

I have tried that, but unless she gets the treat, she won't sit. A couple of times I would pretend that I was holding a treat but praised her instead of giving it to her. But it only worked a couple of times.

[Sirlocksley]

That is why I do not like using treats very often in obedience training. No treat, no obedience. You will have to be very concistant with this dog. If you give her an inch-she will take a mile. She will work to please you, but be stingy on the praise when not in a training session. The physical size of a Rot makes it a little harder to "put" them into a sit, but with the proper techniques you can do it.

[Dax]

Rotti's because of their shape sit easily.

Call their name - point up to the sky with your hand at face level or gently tip under thier chin. The butt goes down - i don't know why. Praise with Good Dog or a treat (i keep a whole bunch in my pocket sometimes they get it other times not. They never know so they perform all the time) Do not accept anything less then compliance. A half sit does not count. Keep lesson < 1/2 hour and do three times a day and always before you feed them.