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RE: Time to walk the dog - 9/2/2008 2:40:21 PM
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laura...
Posts: 2861
Joined: 3/1/2005
From: NE Ohio
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Boaz is doing much better on his walks. I did buy the head collar. He hates it but it works. When he gets the chance he'll plop down on the grass and try to rub the strap that goes over his nose off. He is doing that less and less.
Yesterday, he got 3 walks and 3 games of frisbee...make that 2 games of frisbee because he spent most of the 3rd game watching me and my niece play while he layed in the grass. After the 3rd game we took him for his 3rd walk. I dropped the nose strap of his head collar and used the opposite end of the leash as a slip lead to show my niece how she can walk her dog with more control. Boaz continued to walk politely without pulling so the head collar is already getting him into the rythym of polite walking. Toward the end of the walk we had to revert back to the head collar because he began to pull more. He usually pulls more when he knows we're getting close to home or the car. After so much exercise yesterday, he was a calm dog this morning.
I'll have to check out agility training. Right now he's more along the lines of big-foot rather than agile. LOL!! Eventually I will probably fit him with a backpack. Why should I carry what he can carry? Right now, though, I want to concentrate on getting him to consistently walk politely.
My next 2 goals for him are:
1. Getting him to stop using his teeth on us. He doesn't bite but he plays with his teeth. Ouch.
2. Training him to go potty in a specific area of the yard. I want him to learn to use a sand box as soon as my husband builds it. I am encouraged by the fact that Boaz is already starting to head to the area of the yard where I want to put the box when he has a bowel movement. He must be getting as tired of stepping in or around it as I am. I spent a lot of time yesterday cleaning up the yard for company. I think the biggest challenge will be training me to consistently walk him to the sandbox when he needs to go. Maybe I'll just be really blessed and he'll instictively like using sand. What are the odds? LOL!! He does like to dig.
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This is what the Lord says: “Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. But you reply, ‘No, that’s not the road we want!’ Jer 6:16
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RE: Time to walk the dog - 9/2/2008 4:38:23 PM
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Wild-Rose
Posts: 403
Joined: 1/11/2006
From: Upstate NY
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quote:
Getting him to stop using his teeth on us.
Good goal! Even our vet said she was happy when people trained their dog to be careful when taking a treat. Here are some thoughts. When you are playing any game if the teeth touch the hand then the game is over. Do not tolerate any teeth on the hands, mainly because dogs don't know when they are hurting you. If you allow it at all it can get out of hand. Teach your dog a word such as "be gentle" or "be careful". Hold a treat in your hand with your fingers wrapped around it. Make him be patient until you release the treat so he can take it with no teeth touching skin. The command "Be Careful" (which I use with my dog) comes in handy when there are little kids or small puppies around. My dog understands that he is not supposed to hurt them in any way.
Good work! It sounds like you are making progress!
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Wild-Rose
Rejoice that your name is written in heaven. Luke 10:20
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RE: Time to walk the dog - 9/3/2008 2:19:57 PM
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Sadey
Posts: 539
Joined: 7/25/2007
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I had a big dog who yanked and pulled me all over the street. I got a long stick, crooked, so as we walked along I waved it in front of his nose. Didn't hit him but he stayed behind it.
He eventually ran away so maybe that wasn't such a great idea. 
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RE: Time to walk the dog - 9/3/2008 9:08:53 PM
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manda59
Posts: 6016
Joined: 9/22/2005
From: Hampshire, UK
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quote:
ORIGINAL: laura...
2. Training him to go potty in a specific area of the yard. I want him to learn to use a sand box as soon as my husband builds it. I am encouraged by the fact that Boaz is already starting to head to the area of the yard where I want to put the box when he has a bowel movement. He must be getting as tired of stepping in or around it as I am. I spent a lot of time yesterday cleaning up the yard for company. I think the biggest challenge will be training me to consistently walk him to the sandbox when he needs to go. Maybe I'll just be really blessed and he'll instictively like using sand. What are the odds? LOL!! He does like to dig.
Have you tried placing one or two of his "stools" in the sandbox? Dogs like to return somewhere that smells of themselves.
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"Once again....drum roll please! Manda is right"
doinkdom, October 2008
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RE: Time to walk the dog - 9/4/2008 10:52:25 AM
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laura...
Posts: 2861
Joined: 3/1/2005
From: NE Ohio
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: manda59
Have you tried placing one or two of his "stools" in the sandbox? Dogs like to return somewhere that smells of themselves.
Nope. First I need the sandbox. Anyone know how to train husbands? &:)
_____________________________
This is what the Lord says: “Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. But you reply, ‘No, that’s not the road we want!’ Jer 6:16
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RE: Time to walk the dog - 9/16/2008 2:47:55 PM
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laura...
Posts: 2861
Joined: 3/1/2005
From: NE Ohio
Status: offline
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Well, still no sandbox. The sooner we get it put together the better. Unfortunately, my hubby has been struggling with an uncooperative kidney stone so it could be some time before he can work on it.
We took Boaz to the vet on Saturday for his final set of puppy vaccinations and rabies vaccine. Unfortunately, testing his stool specimen revealed that he has whip worm. His stool tested clear a month ago but the vet said that isn't unusual because whip worms don't constantly shed eggs...they cycle. About the only way dogs can get whip worm is if they eat another dog's infested stool. I know that he hasn't been eating other dog poo. Cat poo, yes. Goose poo, yes. I asked the vet about those and she said goose poo doesn't carry it and our cat is indoor and very unlikely to have it. So, he most likely came to us with it. We had to give him meds 3 days in a row. Then he'll have to have another round in 3 weeks and again in 3 months.
We'll have to be very dilligent about cleaning up the yard because this particular parasite will migrate from the stool into the soil. I am really anxious to get a sandbox constructed.
On a better note: I've been watching "It's Me or the Dog". It's a British production on Animal Planet. I really like Victoria's training methods. I also really like how she actually walks through the training techniques so that anyone watching can easily put them to use. Very, very practical stuff. I've tried just a couple of techniques and am getting almost immediate results. I enjoy watching "Dog Whisperer" but that show always leaves me thinking, "Okay, how can I do that?" Cesar's methods are more dominance based while Victoria's is more motivation/reward based.
Last night was the first time we've attempted to eat dinner with the dog present. Normally we put him outside or in his crate while we eat. I decided that it was time to teach him some dinner manners. LOL!! First I tried to just "bully" (dominance) him into staying on the other side of the doorway to the dining room. Everytime he came in I would stand up and back him back out of the room. When he sat or layed down I went back to the table. He'd be up and in immediately. So, I changed tactics.
I got a handful of his dog food and placed it on the table next to me. I gave him a couple of pieces when he layed down in the doorway. Then I sat down. Immediately, while Boaz was still in the doorway, I got back up and gave him a couple more pieces. Then I sat down again, took a bite of my food, got back up and rewarded him again while he was still lying in the doorway. I slowly stretched out the time between rewards. Once, he got up and came in to the room before his next reward. So, I made him go back lay down but he didn't get a reward. Then I sat back down and quickly got up and rewarded him again. It was a lot of up and down but it worked as Boaz settled and became more and more patient between rewards. I got up to 3-4 bites of food before getting up to reward him without him getting up. My husband was like, "You're never going to be able to eat bouncing up and down like that." I told him it was worth it to train Boaz to lay quietly in the doorway while we eat rather than under our feet, jumping, begging and having to be put out or locked up. As well as Boaz responded I suspect it will only take a few jack-in-the-box meals.
I'm also working on training him to back away on command. He likes to crowd people. It makes it a bit tough to stand up from the couch when he won't get out of the way. He's learning.
He gained 10 lbs in one month. That puts him at 30 lbs at 18 weeks old. Training is vital. LOL!!
_____________________________
This is what the Lord says: “Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. But you reply, ‘No, that’s not the road we want!’ Jer 6:16
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RE: Time to walk the dog - 9/16/2008 4:33:00 PM
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Wild-Rose
Posts: 403
Joined: 1/11/2006
From: Upstate NY
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I've watched both of those TV shows, and have learned from both. The main thing that has benefited me is that exercising the dog enough will solve problems in several other areas too. An exhausted dog will not bark all the time, will not dig up the yard so much, will not run around the house destroying things, will generally be more pleasant and have a happier life. Some folks think you take the dog out so that he can relieve himself, but it is much more than that. It is so he can burn off all that excess energy!
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Wild-Rose
Rejoice that your name is written in heaven. Luke 10:20
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RE: Time to walk the dog - 9/16/2008 4:39:56 PM
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laura...
Posts: 2861
Joined: 3/1/2005
From: NE Ohio
Status: offline
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quote:
Some folks think you take the dog out so that he can relieve himself, but it is much more than that. It is so he can burn off all that excess energy!
Yep. Relieving himself some place other than our yard is just a bonus. &:)
_____________________________
This is what the Lord says: “Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. But you reply, ‘No, that’s not the road we want!’ Jer 6:16
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RE: Time to walk the dog - 9/23/2008 4:43:55 PM
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laura...
Posts: 2861
Joined: 3/1/2005
From: NE Ohio
Status: offline
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This is a true saying: "I tired puppy is a good puppy." Last night Boaz was the perfect puppy. He was exhausted. Sunday afternoon we took him for the first time to Bow Wow Beach. He got run over by a few exuberent dogs but he had a lot of fun. He also discovered swimming. We threw tennis balls into the lake and he retrieved them. When we didn't throw balls into the lake he looked for abandoned floating balls and would retrieve them. He would rather retrieve balls from the lake than play with the exuberent dogs.
We then spent the night at my inlaws because we had an early morning funeral to attend. Boaz's litter-mate, Tara, lives with the inlaws. Monday morning they played and wrestled in the back yard for about an hour until we separated them so that we could attend the funeral. After the funeral we took both dogs to Bow Wow Beach. Both dogs had a wonderful time. Tara retrieved balls from the lake too but she preferred to let Boaz retrieve them and then take it away from him as soon as he got back to shore. Typical sister behavior. LOL!!
After returning to the inlaws the dogs continued to wrestle with each other as long as we didn't keep them separated. Tara is the usual instigator and is quite a bit rougher than Boaz. We had to watch that they didn't get too aggressive with each other.
When we got home Boaz spent the evening spread out on the floor chewing on a dental treat. When I went home for lunch today he was still a very calm dog. He didn't even harass the cat. Although the cat harassed him plenty.
We will certainly take Boaz back to the beach frequently until the weather gets too chilly.
_____________________________
This is what the Lord says: “Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. But you reply, ‘No, that’s not the road we want!’ Jer 6:16
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RE: Time to walk the dog - 9/23/2008 4:46:43 PM
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laura...
Posts: 2861
Joined: 3/1/2005
From: NE Ohio
Status: offline
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Oh, and Boaz has been much better about not jumping on people. The big break through was Sunday morning when I went to fill his water bowl and he wouldn't stop jumping on me. He ended up with a quart of water dumped on his head.
_____________________________
This is what the Lord says: “Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. But you reply, ‘No, that’s not the road we want!’ Jer 6:16
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RE: Time to walk the dog - 10/13/2008 10:38:55 AM
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laura...
Posts: 2861
Joined: 3/1/2005
From: NE Ohio
Status: offline
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The head collar is working very well. Boaz still doesn't like it but he tolerates it. Because of his short snout the strap that goes over his muzzle has to be set looser than instructed. Per the instructions, it should be loose enough to easily put 2 fingers under it and when you pull it forward it just reaches the bare skin of his nose. Well, for him, having it just reach the skin of his nose doesn't allow enough room to put more than one finger under it. So, I have to let it be loose enough that if we aren't actually walking he can rub it off. It really hasn't been a problem though. One day he just suddenly "got it". The day before he was constantly needing to be corrected. The next day he walked like a dream dog with a loose leash. But, he knows when that strap isn't across his nose because he will immediately start to pull again if it isn't there.
His jumping on people is vastly improved. I started using sound aversion when he jumped. It was almost an instant cure. His mouthing is almost non-existant now.
My biggest concern now is how we will get him adequate exercise this winter. We're done at Bow Wow beach until next summer. The water is already too cold for him to swim. The walks will continue but he really needs a way to either run or swim.
Last week we took him for a walk along a park trail. It was later in the evening and the park was empty. So, when we turned to head back to the car we unhooked him from his leash and let him go. He took off like a bullet. I've never seen him run so fast. Immediately I thought, "he's not going to stop till he hits the parking lot." My husband said, "We'll never get him back." But, as soon as I called and clapped he stopped and ran back to us. Then he proceeded to run at break neck speeds back and forth most of the way back to the car. He had a lot of fun and used up tons of energy. Unfortunately, we can't just let him loose like that all the time. If there had been anybody else in the park we couldn't have done it. And, with winter coming on, even going to the parks will become very limited. Of course, if we get a lot of snow he can use up energy just getting through snow drifts.
This last weekend Boaz spent a lot of time with his littermate. I'm afraid we are going to have to limit that too. They play so rough and Tara (his littermate) is pretty aggressive. When we got home I checked out his ears and they are bruised and scratched inside from her biting and pulling on them. She will run full force and broadside him. You can hear the "thump" when she crashes into his rib cage. He enjoys playing with her but I think he was relieved when we left.
Last night was the first time I didn't put him in his crate for the night. He was sleeping in the doorway of our bedroom closet. Shortly after I went to bed he got up and went into his crate on his own. He didn't come out until we got up this morning. He's developing into a great dog.
_____________________________
This is what the Lord says: “Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. But you reply, ‘No, that’s not the road we want!’ Jer 6:16
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RE: Time to walk the dog - 11/11/2008 2:32:43 PM
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laura...
Posts: 2861
Joined: 3/1/2005
From: NE Ohio
Status: offline
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We finally found our lost digital camera. Therefore, my avatar is now a picture of Boaz.
He got neutered on Friday so he hasn't been able to get much exercise this week. The vet said to try and keep him relatively quiet for a week. Yeah...right. LOL!! He's just a bit antsy.
Dogs are great. He was so excited about going to the vet Friday morning because he loves to go anywhere. He also loves everyone at the vet. 8 hours after we dropped him off we picked him up a "changed man" (as the vet put it) and he was just happy to see us. He didn't care about what went on between the time we dropped him off and the time we picked him up. He was a bit quiet that evening due to the anesthesia and pain meds but by Saturday morning he acted completely normal. So, we've had a completely normal dog who can't really get any exercise. The cat just loves it...not!
_____________________________
This is what the Lord says: “Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. But you reply, ‘No, that’s not the road we want!’ Jer 6:16
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so maybe try this and i know it's really been great for us.
