My Coton is not too smart

by Elizabeth
(Chapel Hill, NC)

Are they feeding you?

I read everywhere that Cotons are very intelligent and easy to train. Mine is now 16 wks. She is adorable and loves everyone! But I'm having a hard time training her. I take her to obedience class once a week. she knows how to sit but chooses not to and will walk around me instead. Forget about "Down" when I can't even get her to sit!

I bought some dog games where you hide the food and they figure how to get it. she can't seem to figure it out and then just gives up. I've been trying to teach her the name of 2 toys. She just isn't getting it. Are my expections too high? Is she still too young? Or perhaps I didn't get a good breeder and she's just not that smart. I play fetch with her but after a couple of times, she would rather jsut chew the toy. I love her to death, just feel a bit disappointed.

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Mar 24, 2021
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young puppy NEW
by: Bambi

Sometimes we get frustrated another puddle of pee pee another poo poo on the floor or in crate. Its tiring and sometimes you may want to throw in towel but we all go thru this you are not alone! Remember they are like toddler it takes time and with perseverance and gentle firmness it will get better. With some they catch on fast with others its a bit slower but that's ok every dog like every human is different and learns in their own way. Remember to exert confidence and loving kindness. You are the pack leader the pups can sense if you have fear apprehension anger and they in turn learn from.you. never hit but only gentle firmness. They cannot talk you must use cues to your coton behavior. Coton needs to be watched around new people and experience to learn what acceptable and what isn't and stay consistent with training. They could nip out of fear or as a way of playing or leave me alone nip or a that hurts nip. Teach children to not hurt or tease puppy. If puppy walks away puppy is done playing respect that. No pulling tail or ears or rough mean play by children. Children and puppy are learning so consistently supervise. Coton is small child falling or tripping over puppy can hurt puppy. Puppy has shark teeth children need to understand this. Remember a kind loving pack leader who is confident will raise a wonderful puppy keep home calm and loving you will have wonderful pup!

Mar 24, 2021
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young puppy NEW
by: Bambi

My cotton is 14 weeks. She is a handful! We are still working on potty training. She uses the Richell potty tray. I can't let her on grass yet as she needs to finish all her vaccines first we have gardener who lows front/back and lawnmower could bring in parvo or something else so I am extra cautious. She knows how to sit and lay down. We are still working on leash manners. I use harness and we walk down hallway and side yard daily. She is like a vacuum and eats everything on floor or on cement so have to be careful should have named her Hoover or eureka LOL! She is still baby so we keep training sessions short. I use very little treats just here and there as I want her to do commands not depending on treats all the time I use loving happy praise to motivate mostly. I don't expect miracles she is still in puppy stage. I groom her daily. If I don't she gets bad tangles. Never pull on tangles get spray detangler. She prefers comb over brush their skin can be sensitive we just go slow and I give her toy to make grooming fun experience. I don't feed her people food meals only one blueberry a day and a very very small bit of shredded cheddar cheese on her puppy food once daily. She eats dry puppy food pro plan focus for puppy and a little royal canin small puppy dry food mixed in. The variety she likes. No wet food. Each pup is different you have to find out what works for them. Each pups milestone is different like kids each is different but they are all precious and we do love them so. I am allergic to poodles shin Tzu Maltese but coton I am not. I wanted to rescue a dog but unfortunately due to severe allergies to most known hypoallergenic breeds I could not rescue but god blessed me with this little girl coton and I can finally be a dog owner! If you have a coton that might be slow thinker don't give up. Not all dogs are same they will shine in their own special way. Aren't we all fortunate to own this precious breed! I know I am.

Nov 15, 2015
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Sprite NEW
by: TRUFFLES MOM

I think your Sprite is adorbs! Cotons are the most loving yet STUBBORN dogs one could own & love. Be patient.

I find Zukes chicken training treats worked wonders with my boy. He still pulls me on walks but he dies all tricks EXCEPT roll on his back on demand. My little pack leader has no problem showing his junk when he's napping but he won't lay on his back on demand & will fight if I try to roll him over when he's on his side. STUBBORN.

He knows many tricks & all his toy names and I bet I could train him to make my coffee however I know he'll never roll over;

He still gets fed & loved - whose the smart one? 😉

Oct 30, 2015
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Thanks for the response NEW
by: Elizabeth

Thank you so much for all your feedback! It is very helpful and encouraging! I will definately update on Sprite's progress! : )

Oct 30, 2015
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Training NEW
by: Vicky & Jonah

So your puppy is 3 months old. U take her to obedience class which is great. How much time per day to u practice. I'm assuming 5-10mins 3 times a day.

R u a positive trainer or do u get disgusted if the 1st time is not a success. What does the trainer in your obedience class say. A trainer in a legitimate class will give u individual attn. In class if u ask.

This is only a personnel opinion. I think the world of dogs & training r new to u that u would expect a 3 month old baby puppy to perform perfectly. I feel that u possibly need training on how to teach & follow though positively.

Ask ur teacher in obedience class for help. If they say they can give u private lessons for a price tell them u r (probably) investing $65-$85 in the class & u find that unacceptable in a puppy class when at this age your doing good teaching sit, lay down & rollover b/ c their 1st puppy class basically is a class to help socialize & start them in the world of learning.

One obedience puppy class does not make an obedience trained dog & practice, practice, practice is the road to success.

Oct 30, 2015
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smart dog NEW
by: sherry candie cotton

Like others have said--she is young. Like children they go at their own pace and have attention spans of a knat so do not keep at it for long periods at a time.

I really should not be giving advice on training as mine do what they want but I really wanted to say how cute she is and congrats on getting her.

Hope to see more pics as she grows and good luck with her!!

They are really clever, you mentioned the puzzle toy for treats, I got mine one last Christmas. My one figured it out right away but it flipped up and hit her nose so she was done with it. My other just waited because she knew she would get something whether she did anything or not. And she did! Clever little girl.

Full of personality and most loving dogs ever.

Oct 30, 2015
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Smart NEW
by: Deb in TN

I broke my foot 4 times in the first six months that we had Saylor Jane so I was not able to do alot other than hold her. At six months, she was hit or miss with the potty training and forget the leash. At nine months I found a really reputable trainer (it is important to get a good trainer that understands different breeds mine had no previous experience with Cotons but he understood that not all dogs were alike)anyway...the rest is history. Within two weeks he had Saylor Jane doing all kinds of tricks, sitting, walking on a leash...etc. Find what works for her. Saylor Jane is very treat oriented (my trainer said he thought she would try to file taxes if she thought she would get a treat) Don't give up. She is still very young. Keep us posted on her progress.

Oct 30, 2015
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what a cute girl! NEW
by: lulu

She is still a baby. When I got my Socrates, He already know the command of Sit. But I did not teach him the command of down, so he will sit or down whatever he likes to do.
He understands and minds me perfectly, and he has not destroy anything in the house except for his toys.

He starated to play fetch with toy right away, and when he was around 9 months old, he loves to fetch a ball.

I think that your baby is a bit young to really into play. She probably wants to chew (due to teething) and to sleep a lot. Please giver her time, she will be as smart as other cotons.

Good Luck!

Oct 30, 2015
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Thanks NEW
by: Elizabeth

Thank you for your reply! You are right! There is hope! : )

Oct 30, 2015
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Slow learning doesn't mean lack of intelligence NEW
by: Gale

Every dog learns at their own pace. I remember when Luc was a puppy and couldn't figure out how to jump on the couch or climb up stairs. There was a brief panic that something was wrong with him. But of course he figured it out.

Even kids learn at different speeds - One child will learn to speak months before another, but it doesn't mean the slower learner is less intelligent. In fact, some of the slowest learners end up being the smartest.

Give your pup some time - she's very young. Just be consistent with your training so she understands what you want her to do. And then one day it will click with her. Don't give up!

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