Gone to the Dogs

[heirloomgal]

and also there needs to be a reminder to every potential dog owner that the dogs you see in movies or on-line are usually well-trained and you're not seeing all the work through the years to get them to that point.

So true. A balanced, well mannered dog takes work. The amount of reps I have put into my dog with recall training now, thresholds, all the time put into the tricks. It took DD a full month of at least 2 or 3 sessions a day to get our dog into a back stall position - and it still took time after that for him to be comfortable with it. Doing it was one thing, looking like a pro doing it was another.

And then the underlying reality that everybody who has a dog is a dog trainer, it's a question of what you're training the dog to do when you don't think you're training anything. When I pivoted away from 'sessions' of specific training exercises and realized that all the daily interactions I was having with my dog was the the training, that was a gamechanger. When he gets in my car, when he gets out, when he wants to eat, everything is an opportunity to show him the correct way to behave.

I played a little game with my boy today where I had this tiny 2 inch bottle with a scented oil in it he dislikes. I slid it toward him slowly like snake, which his usually mute little self responded to with a bark. Each time he barked I made the 'snake' back up a little. His barking increased quickly the more effective it was on the 'snake'. Then I reversed course, each time he barked (he had been enjoying his bark power over this scary thing) the snake jumped toward him a little, he still tried using a bark to get it to back up but I kept moving it forward each time. Within about 20 seconds he realized the barks were no longer creating distance between him and the snake, they were now bringing it closer and closer! He got mute again pretty quick! How smart canines are is truly amazing!

 

[flowerbug]

... How smart canines are is truly amazing!

some of them... just like people, there are all types.

 

[digitS']

Click on the Picture to learn about Terry (Toto)

 

[flowerbug]

Click on the Picture to learn about Terry (Toto)

well there ya go!

 

[Shades-of-Oregon]

Luv, luv, luv dogs. Have had them my entire life. Always from shelters. They are all comedians.

Somebody just discovered they are on candid camera . … HELLO

 

[digitS']

And then the underlying reality that everybody who has a dog is a dog trainer, it's a question of what you're training the dog to do when you don't think you're training anything.

 

[Shades-of-Oregon]

My dog luves watching this YouTube vid and starts to sing along.

 

[baymule]

Giant Schnauzer, and a male. And she is the nicest, kindest lady too so he's already driving right over her. It's all cute young dog antics now, but you can tell that he interacts with her like she's a candy dispenser. Zero respect. He's gonna get to 100 lbs, and when the hormones kick in and the serious side of the breed emerges I actually worry a little for her. She is already quite stressed out because he's such a handful and doesn't register her as part of the equation at all.

What's amazing is when the instructor has stepped in to take her leash, because she's having trouble getting him to cooperate in the class exercise, in less than 30 seconds his mindset totally changes. He slows down, starts to think a little, and actually begins to pays attention to whose holding the leash. It's wild. Its his association with his owner that's a problem. There is lots of potential for him, she needs to change how he views her.

It is not the dog's fault, it is her fault. She does not need to own this dog. She needs a fluffy lap dog and even THAT dog will rule over her.