OT: Training K9 QI Help

Charlotte,

when asked! When he does not stop barking when asked we've resorted to using a water pistol to help with the training. He has gotten to the point where all we have to do is show him the water pistol now and he does quiet down (for a few minutes at least). One of my sister's (vet tech/wildlife rehabber) training methods is to put a few small stones in a metal coffee can - or improvise as needed - and shake the can when issuing the command. Same type association - unpleasant - when barking is not permitted.

Hope that helps - and sorry for the earlier blank post.

Kim from NJ

Do teach him to bark, speak, whatever command you want to put with making noise. I'm sure he already has a good idea of what "NO" means, so if you teach "speak" then "NO speak" will mean something....

Cappy

Have you tried 'clicker' training, Charlotte? It seems to be the favoured method of training here, now. To put it into action: Give the command (perhaps 'quiet' in this case), when the dog is doing what you want him to do, click the clicker and award a treat (tiny piece of dry food won't get him too fat!). Timing is critical. After you have said 'quiet', you might need to wait a while; but the instant he stops barking, give him the click and reward. Ultimately, of course, he will stop for the 'command/click'; then, hopefully, just the command.

As to 'heel', I mentioned the technique seen here, now: when the dog pulls, stop. When he stops walking, you start again. When he pulls, you stop; he stops, you walk up to him, start walking again; and so on. I have watched it work in a very short time! perhaps the dog gets bored silly >g< .

In message , Charlotte Hippen writes

Ah, but barking is just such glorious fun. Yorkies are naturally yappy and they do so love to visit the Swamp. There are several Yorkies in the family and we just let them run free (inside double fencing, of course) and bark at bunnies, squirrels, falling leaves and the occasional trash pickup guy. We'll even call their attention to anything they might want to say a few words about. If your baby Samson needs a break from being well-behaved, send him for a retreat to Aunt Polly

Smile! You little rascal! But - people say you can't 'herd cats'. You should see us at bed-time >g< They gather (every day) at 'the' time (with no instruction from us); then, when I appear, they get up from their warm spots and trundle into their bedroom (most days). Polly has also taught herself to use her litter tray for hairball up-chucking, or anything else distasteful >g< I didn't even ask her! (the boys haven't learned this helpful trick).

In message , Bronnie writes

Really, Pat. I'm an easy-going sort but I find it most offensive for you to discuss my private habits out here in front of everybody. How insulting. Polly

"Patti" wrote, in part > Polly has also taught herself to use her

Polly, I think you may be making yourself a victim of mistaken identity here :-)

Hanne > Really, Pat. I'm an easy-going sort but I find it most offensive for you to

Hanne..... are you sure? Do you know where or how our Miss Polly deals with her hairballs? Maybe you are making a mistaken assumption. VBG

Kate in MI

Oh, No! Oh, Polly - I'm so sorry. I completely forgot >GG<

I was thinking about my little girl cat, and never gave a thought to what using her name might mean. Oh, I truly hope everyone does not think you up-chuck your hairballs in my cat's litter tray.

Please - someone - reassure me (and human Polly) ? . In message , polly esther writes

Thanks for the advise, unfortunately it doesn't work well with our little guy. He doesn't startle or surprise very easily. I may get him quiet for a few seconds the first time or two just for him to see what it was, but that is it. We tried things like this for potty training with no luck. With my youngsters there was enough sudden noises and movements, that he didn't startle/surprise easily.

Thanks anyways.

He doesn't know the work No. Instead we do sort of a growly noise similar 'un uh that I can't really describe in words. We do this because this is what the trainer recommend we all do instead of the No.

This is pretty much what I've been trying only without the clicker, just praise and a treat. It is so long between the quiet and him actually being quiet long enough to reward that I don't think that he makes the connection. Also, according to our trainer we shouldn't keep repeating the command because they then think it is OK to ignore the first 4 commands and do it the 5th time you tell them so that means telling him once and waiting to praise him thus we get into does he connect the two. So, I'm at a loss. Thanks Pat. For now I'm going to keep trying what I'm doing. Hopefully I'll get some results. We'll see.

LOL!! Maybe he should go visit aunt Polly. Problem is he'd be afraid of your little guys. He loves people, but is afraid of other dogs. He eventually did warm up to a yorkie mix in his class, but was still afraid of another yorkie mix in the following class when we did some mixed socialization between the two groups the last couple of times.

I would love to just let him bark as he wished!! A few problems with that are that he doesn't bark and the critters that run though the yard, he barks at people. He will bark and anyone that he sees or hears. We are new to the area and don't want the neighbors to have to but up will his barking at everyone. Also the elementary is directly across the street so he barks at all the kids too. I don't really want that. Although he is small, I wouldn't want to have any of the kids scared as they walked by on their way home. And we also do a lot of traveling to parks etc and are wanting him to go with the family on most of our outings. It really wouldn't be enjoyable for others or us if he is barking and pulling on his leash the whole time.

He really is such a good little guy and is such a fun ball of fur!! I can't believe he has grown as much as he has. Looking at my webshots pictures of him, he looks so small!! Granted he's still small compared to many (still only about 10 1/2 lbs), but I hadn't realized he'd grown that much!!

Howdy!

LOL!

Just remember, Polly, your real friends keep (some of) your secrets.

...for ammunition later.

Thanks for the chuckles.

Ragmop/Sandy

Well it is better than her hurking her hairballs into MY cat's litterbox!

NightMist better out than in