The Front Porch Swing

[LeslieDJoyce]

Not me....the Ol' Bat does all the close work on dogs around here. I do the long range, running shots. I have a hard time doing the close up work, though I can if need be, it hurts my heart more than it does Mom's. She's not a fan of dogs or even animals, for that matter so it's much easier for her. I'm a big ol' softy compared to her.

The mind boggles ... TWICE!

 

[Beekissed]

We are in a farm zone and had to get rid of one of our best dogs because he barked. He BARKED. In our own yard. Yep, that was all it took for animal control to tell us THEY would shoot the dog for us if we didn't fix the problem ourselves. I was a kid at the time, and my parents wouldn't turn the dog into an indoor dog, so the dog got retired to a friend's farm where he was pampered and supervised. Lucky dog.

With Gust I've had a bit of a problem persuading TPTB that this dog needs supervision & training. I've trained him to stick by me and "help" me with chores and we have a potty ritual he adores, but TPTB refuse to follow the formula and have had to take Gust to the vet because he ran off and ate the wrong thing. Gust is a Lab ... he is the best eater ever. But show Gust the treat pouch you've loaded up take with you on your way out the door, toss his frisbee once before you get started working, correctly pronounce a few specific sounds, and you will have Gust's complete attention for however long you like -- Labs are also good service dogs. Don't, and Gust runs off to find his own "treats" ... because that's what you've trained him to do.

It's weird how resistant TPTB are to pronouncing the commands right ... I'm all like, "Gust hasn't read the Thesaurus. Yet."

Yet.... Labs are truly intelligent enough for that to be a possibility. Jake could be doing taxes right now if I bothered to train him. Last night he was on a barking trend, which is highly unusual for Jake but has been happening lately....I think the local coyote pack are really circling the meadow and spooking him. When he had a partner, he rarely ever barked but now that he is aging and all alone, I think he senses he is vulnerable....but still. He knows incessant barking is forbidden. Just during this last cold spell he's had a few nights where he barked more than normal, but I let it go for a bit. Last night it was warm and he was really wound up...it had to stop.

Anyhoo, I stepped out the back door and yelled, "Jake! Shut up and get in your house!" Silence. Silence all night long. Love that dog.

I've been training him a little on relaxing and waiting for his food after I put it out. In two tries he learned that he has to have his head lying on his paws and give the appearance of relaxation, even closing his eyes, or he doesn't eat. He's a quick study! He'll do anything for food.

 

[Beekissed]

The mind boggles ... TWICE!

Whaa????

 

[Triple Willow]

My dog is in "Doggie Gitmo" again, down amongst the chicken coops. He's so sad and depressed looking but it's not working on me! Instead of staying home like he knows he is supposed to he decided to go off with the riff raff dog pack that is running the neighborhood! Ohhhh no no no!!!!!!! As soon as he got home I put a leash on him and he almost led me to the Doggie Gitmo pen because he knew he was in deep water! I was actually headed out the door to go search the neighborhood for him and there he came dragging up. His butt is going to stay there until I get one of those wireless containment systems and get him trained to it- hopefully this coming week.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

I've been training him a little on relaxing and waiting for his food after I put it out.  In two tries he learned that he has to have his head lying on his paws and give the appearance of relaxation, even closing his eyes, or he doesn't eat.  He's a quick study!  He'll do anything for food. 

Awwwwww! Jake is a winner!

Gust failed his first family, so I "rescued" him when he was 11 months old. He was supposedly "the worst dog ever." He was VERY humpy. At first he was also very barky. I had zero clue how to train a dog so I took classes. He obeys me pretty well now, but he takes his time and it's hard to not nag him cuz I'm not the most patient person (it runs in the family). Considering how much work I've put into it Gust is really very good. He and I can have some pretty good conversations, and sometimes we sing, and as long as we're cooperating he obeys. But he does bark too much when we're playing, and he is spoiled about my attention. I need to work on that. He knows he has to "get on the carpet" (the mat by the kitchen door) and sit and wait while I prepare his breakfast or dinner, and he has to keep waiting until I say "okay," then he gets to eat. Lately his cat Kisa has been eating from his bowl while he waits, and that has been a big test. If I don't make him "wait" he becomes impossible about everything. He really seems to thrive on discipline.

 

[lindz8504]

I think I love your coops.

Aww! Thanks! The little one is the coop for now... the horrid blue thing is LEAVING! The big one is my coop in progress... Hubby built it for a work shop, then decided it wasn't quite big enough for him to work in.... so!!!!!! I get a bigger coop!

 

[perchie.girl]

NOT a happy camper this morning.



The neighbor won't keep their dogs at home

Looks to me they need a hot wire lesson..... Sara Sunshine. told me a great idea..... Run the hotwire then smear something tasty on it to be sure they get up close and personal to snif... then they get a NOSE zap..... Believe me they will Yelp and cry all the way home.

deb

 

[sarahsunshine]

Looks to me they need a hot wire lesson..... Sara Sunshine. told me a great idea..... Run the hotwire then smear something tasty on it to be sure they get up close and personal to snif... then they get a NOSE zap..... Believe me they will Yelp and cry all the way home.

deb

Yeah - the trick we use here with bears is to open a can of tuna and hang it from the wire... I'm sure cat food or anything nice and smelly would work. Make sure it doesn't drip on the ground too much - you don't want to let them have a reward.

 

[Beekissed]

Awwwwww! Jake is a winner!

Gust failed his first family, so I "rescued" him when he was 11 months old. He was supposedly "the worst dog ever." He was VERY humpy. At first he was also very barky. I had zero clue how to train a dog so I took classes. He obeys me pretty well now, but he takes his time and it's hard to not nag him cuz I'm not the most patient person (it runs in the family). Considering how much work I've put into it Gust is really very good. He and I can have some pretty good conversations, and sometimes we sing, and as long as we're cooperating he obeys. But he does bark too much when we're playing, and he is spoiled about my attention. I need to work on that. He knows he has to "get on the carpet" (the mat by the kitchen door) and sit and wait while I prepare his breakfast or dinner, and he has to keep waiting until I say "okay," then he gets to eat. Lately his cat Kisa has been eating from his bowl while he waits, and that has been a big test. If I don't make him "wait" he becomes impossible about everything. He really seems to thrive on discipline.

They do! Jake loves being made to work, no matter what that is. He's so eager to work that he'll run through his whole gamut of tricks over and over if I have food in my hand, just in case he hits the one that will work. It's kind of pathetic and also very funny.

When the chickens or cat try to eat Jake's food while I'm making him wait, I'll just fend them off....I let him know I'll protect his food when he cannot. I'll also do the same for the cat if Jake tries to nip in and get his food.

My mom is not very patient with Jake either but I've had to train her about that...if she just waits a few more seconds until he can settle his excitement about a walk down, he will sit quietly while she removes his collar for the walk. He knows he can get stuff over on her because she is impatient and won't wait him out. But...she is learning....... we'll have her trained soon!

 

[lindz8504]

But...she is learning....... we'll have her trained soon!