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Tag Archives: Training

7.3.12 A Very Quiet Existence

03 Jul

The dogs make me realize that I live a very quiet existence.  There are not many people or animals who come into our world.  Of course there is the revolving door of teenagers (they come in and out and in and out, but don’t stay long, except for the ones that live here) and the usual family and friends who are animal friendly.  So the dogs don’t get to practice their good stranger manners very much.  I use to have a better handle on the barking at strangers walking by, but lately I seem to be losing that battle.  And strange dogs when we are walking (which we only see 1 out of maybe 5 walks) are not always met with obedient behavior. Sofie knows she is not supposed to jump up on people but lately it seems that many people kind of ask her to because she is little.  Lulu just stands at the top of the stairs and growls and moves away.  Maybe I need to take the dogs into the city and have them experience a busy street.  But I fear Louise will flip out.  But if they do not experience more people and animals and ‘busy – ness,’ how will they learn that it is OK?  Hummm, this is a dilemma. How do you train the dogs to situations which you rarely encounter but want them to know how to respond to?  I guess I should move (just kidding).

Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤

 
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Posted by on July 3, 2012 in Dogs

 

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3.14.12 A New Way For Sofie

14 Mar

No! I will not do what you say ! No No No No No!

Last Saturday, I started a new type of dog training with Sofie.  Two weeks ago she ran all over the neighborhood in the pouring rain (I dropped her lease while coming in from the car) and I realized that I need a better way to get her attention. Nothing I have tried for a year has worked,  Treats don’t work –  she is not terribly food motivated (and she actually gives her cookies to Louise).  The Clicker didn’t work – maybe for the same reason, even with high value treats like real chicken.  We have started the training they use for military and sporting dogs, called SportDog e-collar technique.  My trainer, John, was really happy to have a ‘normal’ everyday dog like Sofie, instead of the larger Rottweiler, Pitt, Shepard, or Mastiff clients he usually has.  Though Sofie was her usual stubborn, hard-headed self, she showed considerable progress her first day. I tried the collar on me and it was a vibration type feeling (actually, I do not feel it at all until level 3 and for Sofie I am mostly using level 1).  I hope that you will not judge me, I really tried everything else for the last year.

I know that it is really up to me to train my dogs.  I never blame the animals for not obeying commands.  If they do not follow commands that really has more to do with my lack of leadership than their lack of anything.  They are dogs, I am the human.  I have been told you have to repeat a command as many as 1,000 times before the dog reliably gets it.  I am the one that tires out before completing the training.  Dogs do not have gray areas; they are black or white.  They respond or they don’t.  I am gray.  I am not consistent.  I let both the dogs push me around and because of that, I think that I have allowed them to become unsafe.  Having a dog that runs into the street and does not respond is a safety hazard for them and a fear factor for me.  Allowing Sofie to bark at everything or totally destroy my yard is also not acceptable.  I was able to get Louise to stop barking using a lot of positive reinforcement but that method has failed with Sofie.

My wonderful little Sofie is with me 1 year this week (Yah!).  I know she can be a well behaved and respectful member of the pack, but right now she is the most strong willed 40 lbs of dog that I have ever encountered.  I will keep you updated on how the progress goes.  Wish us luck.  Now I am on my way outside to work on Come, Sit, and Break.  Just another dogdaz morning at the zoo. ❤ 

 
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Posted by on March 14, 2012 in Dogs

 

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