Dog Training :: Tips and Tricks

[Kidnemo]

Fact about Daisy, she only obeys commands when she knows we are holding food. What does this mean? What can remedy this?

That's the reason I don't agree with using treats as a way to train dogs...

Lots more to reply to, but now I'm off to choke some people, I will post more later.

[Drewbacca]

IN YOUR FACE!

I don't feel a toe tap or a light poke is inhumane or "mean".

So long as you aren't beating the shit out of your dog it's fine. They aren't delicate. Dogs, especially bigger breeds like golden retrievers Schlep has, love to horse play rough. A few deliberate taps isn't going to do shit to it.

[stormy]

I taught the new guy sit and he is doing it regularly now. When I have his attention he does it just about every time. When I don't have his attention, ie. if we are on a walk and there is just something more interesting around, he won't respond.

How can I make my commands the focus of his attention?

[PaCrappa]

Hi stormy!

I saw this thread when you made it but my failing constitution (bronchitis) would not allow me to remain upright long enough to type anything. I haven't read any of the replies but I remember icarus and Kidnemo both knowing about dogs so you probably don't even need me at this point.

Anyhow, first thing I should mention is that I got the luck of the draw. My three required very little from me. They're just good. It probably helps that pitbulls are the smartest dogs on earth.

As far as advice goes I suggest watching the Dog Whisperer at any available opportunity. That guy is a champ and I never saw him pass bad info ever.

The water spritzing thing sounds lame. I'd forget that.

Positive reinforcement is fantastic and should be practiced vigorously, but won't necessarily correct all disciplinary issues.

One big issue is barking at the door when the neighbors walk by. I have been making sure to grab him and pet him, calmly drawing his attention away from it so he will learn to ignore it.

So basically he barks at the neighbors and you congratulate him and ask him to do it again as soon as possible? I'd bark a hardy "NO" with a bigass handclap and leave his ass alone. The issue with this behavior is that dogs have a job. It's to protect the pack and especially the leader. Your dog is your early warning system and training a dog out of something like that can be difficult. My boy doesn't give a shit, Jade makes no noise if she does "bark" and Linda is pretty vocal about it. I do as I just described and she'll shut it for the moment but she's got my back and wants to make sure I know things are going on in the world. It's not like she barks all day or anything so I'm pretty satisfied with what I've got.

As far as making your commands the center of his attention? If mine are having an ADHD moment on leash I'd just lift 'em straight up (get a harness) so they're barely even on the ground anymore. Not in a jerky cruel way but just elevate them a little bit so that they won't be able to do shit until I give the go ahead. I've held them up for as much as a minute or two if they were really having a hard time focusing. After a few weeks worth of that they decided they'd better check with me before doing just about anything. Off leash is different. I almost never had to do it to mine but I did it to my buddy's dog three times in one day the last time she stayed over. I call it the top dog move. Top dog his ass if need be (he may be too fresh out the joint for this technique right now). Lay him on the floor and lay right on top of him. I see he's small so you probably won't want to use much weight, but with the previously mentioned young pitbull I would just wait for her to go charging past, clothesline her in the chest and let her own momentum flop her to her back and then lay right on her with all 210lbs until she stopped fucking around. After the third time she was just like one of my own. And by that I mean completely aware that the only boss around these parts is me and she better straighten up and fly right.

But like I said, he's new to you and rescue dog no? If so you might want to spend a few more weeks making total friends before you go hardline on the discipline.

I can't imagine that I've said anything original but there you go. Once your dog knows who's the boss he will do anything to keep you happy. That's his mission in life anyway: Work for the leader.

[Anne Bonny]

Dog training is something I think Im good at, and something I feel very strongly about. I have quite a bit to say on the topic, but this is easier:


Seriously. Its the best book Ive read on training your dog, and believe me, Ive read a few. Its on paperback now.

[stormy]

Thanks Pa.

I got a book by Pat McConnell called 'For the Love of a Dog'. It's really good so far. It's not really a training book, more of an book that describes how dogs feel and react to things. I recommend it. I might try Cesar's book too since everyone is mentioning it.

I heard a funny dog trainer joke. The only thing 2 dog trainers will agree on is that the 3rd trainer has no idea what he's talking about.

[Othello Harrington]

Thanks Pa.

I got a book by Pat McConnell called 'For the Love of a Dog'. It's really good so far. It's not really a training book, more of an book that describes how dogs feel and react to things. I recommend it. I might try Cesar's book too since everyone is mentioning it.

I heard a funny dog trainer joke. The only thing 2 dog trainers will agree on is that the 3rd trainer has no idea what he's talking about.

Don't be cheap, pay to have your dog trained. You won't do it right.

[Anthony]

I suggest you watch the south park episode about the dog whisperer.