Okay, Brindle and Redyre! Look here!

[Redyre Rotties]

Start with a pile of treats he REALLY REALLY likes. You can also use toys if the dog is a rabid ball or fetch fan.

The key is to reward in the beginning anything that is anywhere NEAR vocalization. Many dogs start with sneezing!

So, show the dog the toy or treat, and then play around with them, keep away, sniff it, NOPE can't have it, or tug with the toy, then wave it around, etc.

ANY FORM OF VERBALIZATION OR NOISE MAKING, say YES!! and treat. As the dog learns that sneezing, or whining, etc, gets the treat, or the toy, then progress to making the dog work harder, and make louder noises.

Teaching verbalization involved frustrating the dog highly enough that he makes a noise to try to get whatever it is that he wants.

Do not put a verbal command with "Speak" until the dog IS speaking. Verbal commands need to be paired carefully and consistently WITH the behavior, or they lose their value. (example, everyone knows the person who says sit sit SIT SIT SIT!!!! to their dog who is standing....)

 

[key west chick]

DD taught her Cavalier King Charles to speak. She even does the hand signal for it. DD opens and closes her hand like a duck and says Speak and she barks. Its so cute. She also knows sit, stay, down, roll over, high 5 with both feet, beg, and her newest trick is bang and she falls on her side. The dog is rotten but so dang cute!

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
That's what we got last night. He was soooo frustrated because he knew I had the liver treats, but wouldn't give him one. He twisted up his mouth a couple of times, like he was about to bark, but then stopped.
We'll keep working on it. Thanks y'all.


OT slightly - I am very frustrated by our lack of resources for professional training around here. The closest classes we've found are an hour away and clash with DH's work schedule. I can't drive that far.

We'll have to keep plugging along on our own, but we're having fun!

 

[gritsar]

He just did it! He did it!

 

[Brindlebtch]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Aren't dogs fun!

 

[Redyre Rotties]

haha GOOD JOB!!

 

[gritsar]

And now he finally has his AKC name! (After two months of my nagging DH to get with it

).

Kugel hinter dem Abzeichen
(Bullet - DH's nickname @ work - Behind the Badge)

DH still has to check with a german friend of his to verify the spelling.

 

[Brindlebtch]

Good name. Very strong and Teutonic and people are going to read it and wonder what it means!

 

[Brindlebtch]

I hope the 'wonder what it means' comment wasn't insensitive. I don't want to give Jax a complex or anything.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
Nah, I didn't think of it that way at all. At first it (the name) sounded kinda corny to me, but DH being a cop and all. You know how it is with men and their dogs.

I'm just glad DH is finally moving on getting Jax's paperwork done.
I haven't even gotten my GSD yet and I already have a name picked out for her.

What's gonna be funny is if she turns out to be DH's dog the same way Jax has picked me.