dog training tips and questions

[1 Old Man]

Just throwing things out to see if any of it relates or sticks.
Maybe someone else will chime in with better or new ideas
that might help you. I want you to have success.

 

[ponytug]

Just throwing things out to see if any of it relates or sticks.
Maybe someone else will chime in with better or new ideas
that might help you. I want you to have success.

Thanks! I appreciate the help and ideas.

Always happy to learn.

All the best, Peter

 

[QRTRHRS]

Any suggestions for a dog that is petrified of thunderstorms? She is a 70 lb boxer (68%) mix and is easily scared though she has gotten a little more confident since we brought her home last January. She is about 15 months old. We have had other dogs that were nervous during a storm but none were this bad. If a storm is happening or in the forecast I keep lights on to try to minimize lightning flashes. Thunder especially if the house shakes is the worst for her.

 

[Rockbadchild]

Any suggestions for a dog that is petrified of thunderstorms? She is a 70 lb boxer (68%) mix and is easily scared though she has gotten a little more confident since we brought her home last January. She is about 15 months old. We have had other dogs that were nervous during a storm but none were this bad. If a storm is happening or in the forecast I keep lights on to try to minimize lightning flashes. Thunder especially if the house shakes is the worst for her.

I had a Lab that was terrified of thunder storms she would shake and whine hours before it show up... she died at 13 years old and it was still the case... all I can think of is baby steps and exposure ....

 

[Rockbadchild]

Nobody all that close, and she pulls the fire alarm with enough accuracy, that in the few times when I don't see it, I tend to believe her.

We have enough wildlife for there to be lots of legitimate alerts. Two months ago, we had some work done here, and the contractor remarked that he had watched a fox walk right by them, and up the slope, and a day later that a bobcat had leapt onto the roof while they were working nearby. As we didn't hear the bobcat, I'm inclined to think that the nocturnal thumps on the roof are probably mountain lions. So, yes, probably lots of legitimate alerts.

On the barking front, I'm really just trying to cut down the indoor house explosions, for my sanity. Hence the work on "settle"/"you're ok". Outside, I'm working on the prey drive to turn it down/off for our cattle, for the safety of both.

Don't get me wrong, I adore the dog, and vice versa. The durability and strength of the prey drive just seems to take a lot of work, and at some point, I do wonder if there are better ways to help her.

All the best,

Peter

When a command is given it need to be absolute, you need to have the ability to make it absolute via leash or shot collar, it is not a proposition if you let them break the command you open the door for it. So that's one, have the basic nail down. When giving a command like sit you should be able to walk in a other room or turn your back on her while having a squirrel walk by without her break it until you say so.... it also should be immediate like she could be in mid chase and if you say sit she should sit... now you can't only discipline the dog to get what you want you will get the result but out of fear and without enthusiasm, not what you want, you will get the willingness and the joy with the rewards and that with food and play so while you are training incorporate play as a rewards along with food (play should be involving the dog and you like tug of war or these balls with a rope so you can you can play and throw but keep her close and play together not just throw she is playing with you not the toy)

I also recommend a warning word, mine is Haw haw, that's her warning, No comes with pressure.. so if she barks I can say ''quiet'', she barks again I can say Haw Haw she doesn't listen now its a No and she gets pressure (shock) it works well with a shock collar but that's because we did the steps necessary with the recall and other commands like sit for the shock collar training.

So in recap is once you have the training method nail down you can expand to any other command, but the basic need to be nail down.

Like even myself I have put in 6 to 8 months of consecutive training and she was flawless but then after a few weeks I will notice she will start testing her limit, break commands or be slow at it (not doing them immediately) so I will get the shock collar out and we do a short session of training and play then she will be back on tract for a few weeks.

 

[Happy in NC]

When we got our current dog( rescue) he decided he was going to chew an expensive shoe.
I reprimanded him then tied the shoe to his collar for an hour. He never touched another. Nothing else for that matter unless we actually handed toys to him.
He's a very well trained loving dog. Wife takes him to hospitals and children's home as he is certified therapy.
My tip of the day

 

[ponytug]

When a command is given it need to be absolute, you need to have the ability to make it absolute via leash or shot collar, it is not a proposition if you let them break the command you open the door for it. So that's one, have the basic nail down. When giving a command like sit you should be able to walk in a other room or turn your back on her while having a squirrel walk by without her break it until you say so.... it also should be immediate like she could be in mid chase and if you say sit she should sit... now you can't only discipline the dog to get what you want you will get the result but out of fear and without enthusiasm, not what you want, you will get the willingness and the joy with the rewards and that with food and play so while you are training incorporate play as a rewards along with food (play should be involving the dog and you like tug of war or these balls with a rope so you can you can play and throw but keep her close and play together not just throw she is playing with you not the toy)

I also recommend a warning word, mine is Haw haw, that's her warning, No comes with pressure.. so if she barks I can say ''quiet'', she barks again I can say Haw Haw she doesn't listen now its a No and she gets pressure (shock) it works well with a shock collar but that's because we did the steps necessary with the recall and other commands like sit for the shock collar training.

So in recap is once you have the training method nail down you can expand to any other command, but the basic need to be nail down.

Like even myself I have put in 6 to 8 months of consecutive training and she was flawless but then after a few weeks I will notice she will start testing her limit, break commands or be slow at it (not doing them immediately) so I will get the shock collar out and we do a short session of training and play then she will be back on tract for a few weeks.

I agree. Animal training, 101.

Currently working on transferring skills learned on collar to off collar, and smart dogs know the difference.

It is a work in progress here.

All the best, Peter

 

[Rockbadchild]

I agree. Animal training, 101.

Currently working on transferring skills learned on collar to off collar, and smart dogs know the difference.

It is a work in progress here.

All the best, Peter

For the shock collar on off thing focus on the reward, keep it on until she is consistent only then take it off and again focus on the reward… I didn’t have this problem I believe for this reason…

 

[1 Old Man]

I have put in 6 to 8 months of consecutive training and she was flawless but then after a few weeks I will notice she will start testing her limit, break commands or be slow at it (not doing them immediately) so I will get the shock collar out and we do a short session of training and play then she will be back on tract for a few weeks.

Yes, this. I think it's normal for the pups to test limits. I also think it's imperative
the pups know who the alpha/boss is.....reminding them makes for a peaceful,
and enjoyable life. Once the basics are down the refresher is easy.

 

[Jstpssng]

Don't ask me how he got the sleeve of my (formerly) good wool coat





Through this little hole.