Quote:
Melon!!!!
Quote: Me too!!
I have to clean the coop first....(and I haven't been to bed yet. Gonna be a l-o--n---g day.)
it was hot and humid and nasty out there ughhh
Happy Sunday everybody!
Okay, well here's one I made last week when my girls were still free ranging. There was a daytime predator and now they are locked up, so no more knocking at the door! I'm gonna miss that...
do the dogs bark?
i think you're right about energy because my brother takes him and has taken him in the city etc and he doesn't react. And he's gone to beach and played with other dogs. He hated one golden retriever but according to my brother the owner was a jerk too so maybe he sensed it LOL but he's played with his friend's unneutered male mastiff and was roaming the beach with him so I think he loves other dogs. The issue might be me. But even in the car even with my brother he will freak at certain dogs. But I think exposure is his issue. And I'm not even necessarily scared but even when I'm not I've been known to yell at him to cut it out, pull him from the back with the choke collar which I don't think even works since he's lunging and probably doesn't feel it, start almost crying etc. Actually i only cried when he was truly going after the lab and they said to the neighbor as they were walking away oh he's not a very nice boy is he and they said no he isn't. Only cried at home (it was by our mailbox) but still. I later realized I would be scared if a 130 pound black dog was lunging at me too but it made me upset because he's the sweetest dog in the world, sleeps all day, cuddles, and they're saying that without even knowing him. Plus saying it right in front of me. When their dog was also doing the exact same thing to Gator. This was last year. Since then i just dont really take him. But so anywau, VERY long story short, that day my hysterical energy probably fed into his belief that this dog was scary and a threat. I don't like the choke collar but he slips regular collars to his neck shape (huge neck at the shoulder base/bottom, smaller head) and with his behavior I feel the need to have him under control and don't feel safe using anything else. I tried a harness because I didn't like it pulling his neck when he sniffs and that worked and I liked it but I was paranoid about the connections. I've always wanted to try a martingale so I may have to look into that. Having him sit did help some, I tried it once, and I had planned on trying LAT before I got too scared, but my dad seems to think that stopping and sitting may actually make him worse and draw attention to the dog rather than just walking right by it, keep walking and not stop. That's a good point too so I don't know. Thoughts? I think either way I need to remain calm and try not to get scared when a dog approachesor freak out and scream at him to stop it NO bad dog sit SIT NO and yank him away hard when he does it. I think remaining calm may be best. Which I do have issues with but it's for Gators sake. I think I mostly just need to get him out there. Thanks again. Yes, that's how it works.
ROFL
lol
Don't worry about being off topic, it was helpful.
Good Morning!
Good Morning!
He certainly sounds like a funny boy! Gator mostly likes to sleep but he also loves pillows. He will carry them around or like when we go to watch TV he grabs one and jumps on the couch with it in his mouth. Has to hold one. And he carries treats around too at first. Not milk bones or instant eating treats but like bully sticks or when we used to give rawhide etc. And a brand new toy. He prances around with it. And usually with the treats or bones he wants to bury it. Then finally when we don't let him he eventually eats it.
Yeah, I actually feel the same way. I did used to think he was disobeying on purpose like you said but then I realized he was just slow to move and also had to think about it. We had read early on that Pyrs have to think about everything and that they have to decide if it's worthwhile but I didn't really fully get it and start connecting till he was a year or two maybe a bit later. It finally hit me I just wasn't finding the right motivation. I also realized he responded much better to positive reinforcement. I've always tried to use positive reinforcement though but was more finding the right motivation etc. Anyways, once I realized it and also read more on training things went much more smoothly. It was just about the right treat and/or toy and being way more excited etc. Plus of course him maturing. Now he's excellent and does almost everything I ask. Of course he still has his limits with too many repetitions or too long of training sessions but he's great now. He's actually very very smart so that wasn't my issue, I knew he wasnt stupid, just that he was very slow to do things and has to think about everything. I actually think stubborn might be a better word. I thought he was stubborn. Turns out he likes learning but I just wasn't using the right motivation and tried to train too long or force some things. Now we stop when he's done. I also very quickly relaized the Lab in him makes him more food motivated and more willing to please so I think easier to train than maybe a pure Pyr. I had to figure out what would make him decide that listening was more worth it than disobeying. It's so much fun once you finally figure out/can understand and connect with the dog so we've done some cool stuff. I haven't really trained him in a year actually or barely but recently I've been a lot more. But he's 4 now so a lot calmer. He really calmed down at 3 but he was already starting to calm down some before that. He actually used to be a total terror as an adolescent. Wouldn't listen and was way overexcited, jumped and play bit, stole stuff to chew up, barked all night, etc. etc., total terror from maybe 6 months or a year to almost 2 years. I think most dogs the adolescent phase lasts like 6 or 8 months to around 18 months but I think his phase lasted till almost 2. He was so bad. But then he calmed down.
Sorry, got to rambling.
Anyhow as for distraction, yeah I definitely need to work more and I will try one thing at a time. He doesn't even like to work if someone is watching us. Or if someone comes home or in the room. He gets all flustered. He used to not even work when I was filming it but will now. As for reactivity, you're right about exposure. We didn't socialize him and he doesn't go on walks because he's gotten worse.
As for the added part, thanks for all the great info. I'll try all of thati think you're right about energy because my brother takes him and has taken him in the city etc and he doesn't react. And he's gone to beach and played with other dogs. He hated one golden retriever but according to my brother the owner was a jerk too so maybe he sensed it LOL but he's played with his friend's unneutered male mastiff and was roaming the beach with him so I think he loves other dogs. The issue might be me. But even in the car even with my brother he will freak at certain dogs. But I think exposure is his issue. And I'm not even necessarily scared but even when I'm not I've been known to yell at him to cut it out, pull him from the back with the choke collar which I don't think even works since he's lunging and probably doesn't feel it, start almost crying etc. Actually i only cried when he was truly going after the lab and they said to the neighbor as they were walking away oh he's not a very nice boy is he and they said no he isn't. Only cried at home (it was by our mailbox) but still. I later realized I would be scared if a 130 pound black dog was lunging at me too but it made me upset because he's the sweetest dog in the world, sleeps all day, cuddles, and they're saying that without even knowing him. Plus saying it right in front of me. When their dog was also doing the exact same thing to Gator. This was last year. Since then i just dont really take him. But so anywau, VERY long story short, that day my hysterical energy probably fed into his belief that this dog was scary and a threat. I don't like the choke collar but he slips regular collars to his neck shape (huge neck at the shoulder base/bottom, smaller head) and with his behavior I feel the need to have him under control and don't feel safe using anything else. I tried a harness because I didn't like it pulling his neck when he sniffs and that worked and I liked it but I was paranoid about the connections. I've always wanted to try a martingale so I may have to look into that. Having him sit did help some, I tried it once, and I had planned on trying LAT before I got too scared, but my dad seems to think that stopping and sitting may actually make him worse and draw attention to the dog rather than just walking right by it, keep walking and not stop. That's a good point too so I don't know. Thoughts? I think either way I need to remain calm and try not to get scared when a dog approachesor freak out and scream at him to stop it NO bad dog sit SIT NO and yank him away hard when he does it. I think remaining calm may be best. Which I do have issues with but it's for Gators sake. I think I mostly just need to get him out there. Thanks again.
And sorry for the rambling lol and spelling. This site seems to have slow reaction times especially on mobileand i find always hits the wrong key. I know it's the site cause i type just as fast on other sites and its fine.
Oh and also forgot to add but for the boredom thing, ive been bad about doung things with him lately actually but i plan to do more. One thing i did find is that i realized just this week actually as he was stealing stuff put of recycling that he is not a bad dog, he is simply a bored dog and we're just bad owners. I've known he's bored for a while but this big realization was recent. My first thought, as he finished chewing one thing up and went and got another to chew on the couch, was gosh why do we have such a BAD dog. Why is he always so bad, stealing stuff, he's terrible, trashes the house. My second thought was wait a minute. He is not bad. He's just bored. And we're bad owners. He needs things to chew or things to do. So I immediately went and got one of the bully sticks I just recently ordered, which i found out he loves, and gave him one of those to chew instead and that immediately resolved the problem. So I guess it's just another example of reaching an understanding with the dog. Even though he's 4 now we're still constantly learning and adapting.
The next big thing is getting everybody on board. No one is consistent. We all hsbe different rules and training methods and some of the rules I want to implement my dad thinks are mean and some of the ones ny brother wants I think are excessive and I don't agree with my other brother's methods. For example, I think he should be out of the kitchen when we are eating. He actually knows this one but I've stopped enforcing it. My dad thinks it's mean. My one brother thinks he shouldn't be allowed in whenever we are sitting at the counter, not just eating. That's where I think it's excessive because we're at the counter A LOT. so even the family needs to understand each other more haha
Sorry for this lengthy add on.
I agree, was very helpful.
I agree, maybe hawk? We had a hawk attack once and thankfully it didn't manage to catch anyone but did manage to pull a large pile of feathers from one hen. And it was silent too. Swoop in and grab one. I would think with a coyote the hens would make a big ruckus.
Mine too!!!!!Okay, well here's one I made last week when my girls were still free ranging. There was a daytime predator and now they are locked up, so no more knocking at the door! I'm gonna miss that...
WOW!
How did you type all that? How long did it take?????
Lol!
Large breeds generally have the brain cells arrive (mature/stop acting like bratty teens/etc) at about 18months. Giant breeds, 3 years. So, Gator was being a normal boy. Plus, intelligent dogs do figure things out. They'll find a way to entertain themselves plus they really want to please. In general, dogs want structure and order. They need discipline, routine, affection, & stimulation--physical & mental. Pyr have been breed to work solo as guardians and labs are hunters, breed to be part of a partner/group in that sense. There's a reason labs are used by most service dog organizations. You've a combination. So, you have to look at both aspects & adjust as you have been.He certainly sounds like a funny boy! Gator mostly likes to sleep but he also loves pillows. He will carry them around or like when we go to watch TV he grabs one and jumps on the couch with it in his mouth. Has to hold one. And he carries treats around too at first. Not milk bones or instant eating treats but like bully sticks or when we used to give rawhide etc. And a brand new toy. He prances around with it. And usually with the treats or bones he wants to bury it. Then finally when we don't let him he eventually eats it.
Yeah, I actually feel the same way. I did used to think he was disobeying on purpose like you said but then I realized he was just slow to move and also had to think about it. We had read early on that Pyrs have to think about everything and that they have to decide if it's worthwhile but I didn't really fully get it and start connecting till he was a year or two maybe a bit later. It finally hit me I just wasn't finding the right motivation. I also realized he responded much better to positive reinforcement. I've always tried to use positive reinforcement though but was more finding the right motivation etc. Anyways, once I realized it and also read more on training things went much more smoothly. It was just about the right treat and/or toy and being way more excited etc. Plus of course him maturing. Now he's excellent and does almost everything I ask. Of course he still has his limits with too many repetitions or too long of training sessions but he's great now. He's actually very very smart so that wasn't my issue, I knew he wasnt stupid, just that he was very slow to do things and has to think about everything. I actually think stubborn might be a better word. I thought he was stubborn. Turns out he likes learning but I just wasn't using the right motivation and tried to train too long or force some things. Now we stop when he's done. I also very quickly relaized the Lab in him makes him more food motivated and more willing to please so I think easier to train than maybe a pure Pyr. I had to figure out what would make him decide that listening was more worth it than disobeying. It's so much fun once you finally figure out/can understand and connect with the dog so we've done some cool stuff. I haven't really trained him in a year actually or barely but recently I've been a lot more. But he's 4 now so a lot calmer. He really calmed down at 3 but he was already starting to calm down some before that. He actually used to be a total terror as an adolescent. Wouldn't listen and was way overexcited, jumped and play bit, stole stuff to chew up, barked all night, etc. etc., total terror from maybe 6 months or a year to almost 2 years. I think most dogs the adolescent phase lasts like 6 or 8 months to around 18 months but I think his phase lasted till almost 2. He was so bad. But then he calmed down.
Sorry, got to rambling.
Anyhow as for distraction, yeah I definitely need to work more and I will try one thing at a time. He doesn't even like to work if someone is watching us. Or if someone comes home or in the room. He gets all flustered. He used to not even work when I was filming it but will now. As for reactivity, you're right about exposure. We didn't socialize him and he doesn't go on walks because he's gotten worse.
As for the added part, thanks for all the great info. I'll try all of thati think you're right about energy because my brother takes him and has taken him in the city etc and he doesn't react. And he's gone to beach and played with other dogs. He hated one golden retriever but according to my brother the owner was a jerk too so maybe he sensed it LOL but he's played with his friend's unneutered male mastiff and was roaming the beach with him so I think he loves other dogs. The issue might be me. But even in the car even with my brother he will freak at certain dogs. But I think exposure is his issue. And I'm not even necessarily scared but even when I'm not I've been known to yell at him to cut it out, pull him from the back with the choke collar which I don't think even works since he's lunging and probably doesn't feel it, start almost crying etc. Actually i only cried when he was truly going after the lab and they said to the neighbor as they were walking away oh he's not a very nice boy is he and they said no he isn't. Only cried at home (it was by our mailbox) but still. I later realized I would be scared if a 130 pound black dog was lunging at me too but it made me upset because he's the sweetest dog in the world, sleeps all day, cuddles, and they're saying that without even knowing him. Plus saying it right in front of me. When their dog was also doing the exact same thing to Gator. This was last year. Since then i just dont really take him. But so anywau, VERY long story short, that day my hysterical energy probably fed into his belief that this dog was scary and a threat. I don't like the choke collar but he slips regular collars to his neck shape (huge neck at the shoulder base/bottom, smaller head) and with his behavior I feel the need to have him under control and don't feel safe using anything else. I tried a harness because I didn't like it pulling his neck when he sniffs and that worked and I liked it but I was paranoid about the connections. I've always wanted to try a martingale so I may have to look into that. Having him sit did help some, I tried it once, and I had planned on trying LAT before I got too scared, but my dad seems to think that stopping and sitting may actually make him worse and draw attention to the dog rather than just walking right by it, keep walking and not stop. That's a good point too so I don't know. Thoughts? I think either way I need to remain calm and try not to get scared when a dog approachesor freak out and scream at him to stop it NO bad dog sit SIT NO and yank him away hard when he does it. I think remaining calm may be best. Which I do have issues with but it's for Gators sake. I think I mostly just need to get him out there. Thanks again.
And sorry for the rambling lol and spelling. This site seems to have slow reaction times especially on mobileand i find always hits the wrong key. I know it's the site cause i type just as fast on other sites and its fine.
Oh and also forgot to add but for the boredom thing, ive been bad about doung things with him lately actually but i plan to do more. One thing i did find is that i realized just this week actually as he was stealing stuff put of recycling that he is not a bad dog, he is simply a bored dog and we're just bad owners. I've known he's bored for a while but this big realization was recent. My first thought, as he finished chewing one thing up and went and got another to chew on the couch, was gosh why do we have such a BAD dog. Why is he always so bad, stealing stuff, he's terrible, trashes the house. My second thought was wait a minute. He is not bad. He's just bored. And we're bad owners. He needs things to chew or things to do. So I immediately went and got one of the bully sticks I just recently ordered, which i found out he loves, and gave him one of those to chew instead and that immediately resolved the problem. So I guess it's just another example of reaching an understanding with the dog. Even though he's 4 now we're still constantly learning and adapting.
The next big thing is getting everybody on board. No one is consistent. We all hsbe different rules and training methods and some of the rules I want to implement my dad thinks are mean and some of the ones ny brother wants I think are excessive and I don't agree with my other brother's methods. For example, I think he should be out of the kitchen when we are eating. He actually knows this one but I've stopped enforcing it. My dad thinks it's mean. My one brother thinks he shouldn't be allowed in whenever we are sitting at the counter, not just eating. That's where I think it's excessive because we're at the counter A LOT. so even the family needs to understand each other more haha
Sorry for this lengthy add on.
I agree, was very helpful.
I agree, maybe hawk? We had a hawk attack once and thankfully it didn't manage to catch anyone but did manage to pull a large pile of feathers from one hen. And it was silent too. Swoop in and grab one. I would think with a coyote the hens would make a big ruckus.
