The NFC B-Day Chat Thread

[Blooie]

Just a little hint: If you were strolling in the mall, heard someone say your name, and then got yelled at for responding when you don’t even understand why they yelled, are you gonna trust that person again? Nope. Same with dogs. The best response I ever get in training is when I don’t use the dog’s name when correcting. If their name always means something good, they learn quickly to respond favorably when they hear it. We gave all of our dogs “you’re in trouble” names....Captain was “Bus”, Rueben was “Arj”, Rosie was “Mutt”, Fiona is “Mook” and so on.....any old name that doesn’t sound like theirs and doesn’t sound like any of the basic obedience commands.

And corrections should be done quietly, just as praise should be given. Let’s say Libby instantly obeys a command. Great, right? So you rub her vigorously, especially around the head, and heap on the “good dog” in an overexcited voice so she knows she’s pleased you. I don’t even have to be there to know what happens next...she gets all silly and excited, bouncing and reacting to your excitement. In those seconds she’s just forgotten WHY you loved up on her, just that you did. Oh, she’ll begin to respond consistently despite that, but it’s sure gonna take longer. Go a quiet, “Libby, good girl” with a little tickle under the chin and then immediately repeat the entire exercise. Same with correction. Jerking and yelling and grabbing her by the jowls is still seen by her as overexcitement. Instead when she acts out, calmly say “Nickname, enough” and turn away from her. If she has something she’s not supposed to have, tell her “release” and then take it from her - no tug of war, either! Then turn away from her. At that moment she simply ceases to exist, no matter what she does. They are social animals and hate to be ignored. So take advantage of that - quiet praise for the right thing, the cold shoulder for the wrong one. Since they so want to please, they practically train themselves about what’s acceptable and what isn’t.

Dogs don’t think in grays....everything is black and white in their minds. Something is either always okay or it’s never okay. So letting them do something as a puppy that you don't want continued into adulthood is going to result in a jumper, a barker, a chewer, a runner - you name it and the problem most likely stems from the owners giving in to puppyhood cuteness. That’s especially critical with big dogs, and it has to be applied consistently by everyone. Me, I’m back to square one with Fiona. Tam and Evan mean well, but there is entirely too much laxity with Ken an me gone. They know better, but doing it my way is too much to remember.

 

[bruceha2000]

They know better, but doing it my way is too much to remember.

Maybe if you yell at them.
TAM, EVAN DON'T LET FIONA GET AWAY WITH A, B, C!!!!!!
Make sure you say it LOUD

Also with Franklin they're already like sit sit sit sit

Right and when he doesn't they say
Franklin, sit, sit, SIT, SIT!!!!!!

 

[JaeG]

That's one thing no body tells you when you get a puppy - the amount of time and effort that you have to commit to in order for them to learn how to be a good dog. We'd only interacted with adult dogs before we got our pup so it was a real shock to the system to have to deal with all those puppy and adolescent behaviours. I think I'm maybe too strict on our dog but I've learned to relax over the years. A quick "Oi" or harsh "Ah" tells her to quit what she's doing and because I'm so strict she does as she's told. Sometimes hubby will tell her to do something and she'll look at me to make sure I'm ok with that too!

Have you guys heard about what's going on in Australia at the moment with the strawberries? Someone is putting needles in them and they are still trying to work out what the heck is going on because you don't know how much of it is just copy cats and attention seekers. The very first incidence was a disgruntled worker but it seems to have snowballed. When they get to the bottom of it the people responsible should have the book thrown at them because that is economic terrorism. We import a lot of their strawberries and there's been an incident of it happening here now, so we might just be waiting for NZ strawberries to come into season (which should be very soon). But the tonnes of strawberries that have had to just be disposed of in Aussie, and the impacts on the poor growers is just terrible.

 

[bruceha2000]

Sometimes hubby will tell her to do something and she'll look at me to make sure I'm ok with that too!

Do I REALLY have to do that Mom??

Have you guys heard about what's going on in Australia at the moment with the strawberries?

 

[ShrekDawg]

Just a little hint: If you were strolling in the mall, heard someone say your name, and then got yelled at for responding when you don’t even understand why they yelled, are you gonna trust that person again? Nope. Same with dogs. The best response I ever get in training is when I don’t use the dog’s name when correcting. If their name always means something good, they learn quickly to respond favorably when they hear it. We gave all of our dogs “you’re in trouble” names....Captain was “Bus”, Rueben was “Arj”, Rosie was “Mutt”, Fiona is “Mook” and so on.....any old name that doesn’t sound like theirs and doesn’t sound like any of the basic obedience commands.

And corrections should be done quietly, just as praise should be given. Let’s say Libby instantly obeys a command. Great, right? So you rub her vigorously, especially around the head, and heap on the “good dog” in an overexcited voice so she knows she’s pleased you. I don’t even have to be there to know what happens next...she gets all silly and excited, bouncing and reacting to your excitement. In those seconds she’s just forgotten WHY you loved up on her, just that you did. Oh, she’ll begin to respond consistently despite that, but it’s sure gonna take longer. Go a quiet, “Libby, good girl” with a little tickle under the chin and then immediately repeat the entire exercise. Same with correction. Jerking and yelling and grabbing her by the jowls is still seen by her as overexcitement. Instead when she acts out, calmly say “Nickname, enough” and turn away from her. If she has something she’s not supposed to have, tell her “release” and then take it from her - no tug of war, either! Then turn away from her. At that moment she simply ceases to exist, no matter what she does. They are social animals and hate to be ignored. So take advantage of that - quiet praise for the right thing, the cold shoulder for the wrong one. Since they so want to please, they practically train themselves about what’s acceptable and what isn’t.

Dogs don’t think in grays....everything is black and white in their minds. Something is either always okay or it’s never okay. So letting them do something as a puppy that you don't want continued into adulthood is going to result in a jumper, a barker, a chewer, a runner - you name it and the problem most likely stems from the owners giving in to puppyhood cuteness. That’s especially critical with big dogs, and it has to be applied consistently by everyone. Me, I’m back to square one with Fiona. Tam and Evan mean well, but there is entirely too much laxity with Ken an me gone. They know better, but doing it my way is too much to remember.

Thanks Blooie. Excellent advice as always. Especially the nickname for being in trouble. I think I had watched a video a while ago about how you should never use your dog's name to punish them and also never call them then punish them for not coming cause both teach them not to come to you or listen (why would they?) But I had forgotten about that. They use her full name like "LIBERTY!" and/or "HEY!" but I do think using her name for punishment is definitely a bad idea. Drop it is another one that usually involves anger but she's pretty good with me

I was thinking step between them and say enough or whatever the command is (all done, game over, whatever it is), if she stops playing and/or preferably also sits and looks at me/us, good girl and either a treat and/or just let them play again but if she doesn't, bring her in the house? I think that would send a very clear message very quickly with no yelling. But they also are a bit micro managey I think but I would be happy he has settled in enough to want to play and roughhouse with her.

 

[JaeG]

Do I REALLY have to do that Mom??

Kind of the opposite. It's more a case of "is the mean lady going to let me do something fun"?

 

[perchie.girl]

I always speek quietly to my dogs....

Good girl or Good Doggo... I try not to say her name unless its important.

deb

 

[sharron]

That's one thing no body tells you when you get a puppy - the amount of time and effort that you have to commit to in order for them to learn how to be a good dog. We'd only interacted with adult dogs before we got our pup so it was a real shock to the system to have to deal with all those puppy and adolescent behaviours. I think I'm maybe too strict on our dog but I've learned to relax over the years. A quick "Oi" or harsh "Ah" tells her to quit what she's doing and because I'm so strict she does as she's told. Sometimes hubby will tell her to do something and she'll look at me to make sure I'm ok with that too!

Have you guys heard about what's going on in Australia at the moment with the strawberries? Someone is putting needles in them and they are still trying to work out what the heck is going on because you don't know how much of it is just copy cats and attention seekers. The very first incidence was a disgruntled worker but it seems to have snowballed. When they get to the bottom of it the people responsible should have the book thrown at them because that is economic terrorism. We import a lot of their strawberries and there's been an incident of it happening here now, so we might just be waiting for NZ strawberries to come into season (which should be very soon). But the tonnes of strawberries that have had to just be disposed of in Aussie, and the impacts on the poor growers is just terrible.

so many sick in the head people in the world today, if they catch whoever is doing it, should make them pay for all the fruit, if they catch many people, split the cost between them, make them pay instead of a slap on the wrist, then put them in jail

 

[ShrekDawg]

Maybe if you yell at them.
TAM, EVAN DON'T LET FIONA GET AWAY WITH A, B, C!!!!!!
Make sure you say it LOUD


Right and when he doesn't they say
Franklin, sit, sit, SIT, SIT!!!!!!

Lol yup, they already so that with Libby and I admit I used to be guilty of it with Gator so far they haven't done it with Franklin but they do tell him enough like with Libby... he is a baby. Also I do think that telling him sit sit sit sit from an early age is teaching him that that's the command. Actually, I noticed today he did it on the same amount of times, like the third or fourth time, forget exactly which, he did it. Twice. Who's training who?

Do I REALLY have to do that Mom??

Kind of the opposite. It's more a case of "is the mean lady going to let me do something fun"?

Lol Gator does that with me sometimes. Both looks at me like "do I really have to do that?" And looks at me like "are you sure I'm allowed to eat that?"

I always speek quietly to my dogs....

Good girl or Good Doggo... I try not to say her name unless its important.

deb

That's a good idea

 

[ShrekDawg]

That's one thing no body tells you when you get a puppy - the amount of time and effort that you have to commit to in order for them to learn how to be a good dog. We'd only interacted with adult dogs before we got our pup so it was a real shock to the system to have to deal with all those puppy and adolescent behaviours. I think I'm maybe too strict on our dog but I've learned to relax over the years. A quick "Oi" or harsh "Ah" tells her to quit what she's doing and because I'm so strict she does as she's told. Sometimes hubby will tell her to do something and she'll look at me to make sure I'm ok with that too!

Have you guys heard about what's going on in Australia at the moment with the strawberries? Someone is putting needles in them and they are still trying to work out what the heck is going on because you don't know how much of it is just copy cats and attention seekers. The very first incidence was a disgruntled worker but it seems to have snowballed. When they get to the bottom of it the people responsible should have the book thrown at them because that is economic terrorism. We import a lot of their strawberries and there's been an incident of it happening here now, so we might just be waiting for NZ strawberries to come into season (which should be very soon). But the tonnes of strawberries that have had to just be disposed of in Aussie, and the impacts on the poor growers is just terrible.

Yup, exactly. I mean, they do train but even training they want to send them places instead of taking a class. And it seems to me like when they do it a few times then they "know" it, hence the repetitive sit sit sit with Franklin I think. Well no, he doesn't know it and still needs to be trained, just like Libby doesn't know certain things despite them thinking she does and getting frustrated with her.

And I don't mean to sound mean or like I'm bashing them in all these posts, I know it sounds like that and I somewhat am I guess but they are great people and mean well but there are definitely some frustrating things and they don't always take advice. Sometimes they do but then sometimes they do it their own way and I try not to say much and the little I do in a non confrontational way, more like a suggestion, even though I know some of the stuff isn't a good idea. But Libby turned out well so I guess theyre doing something right