1) Any advice on how to deal with wires? My son had some trouble with Simba last night (i was out). The dog was on the "prowl" in his room, and got under the desk and started going after the electrical wires. Josh had a hard time getting him out of there (not sure if he had the leash on, I suspect not) and Simba was growling at him, etc. Sigh. Eventually he managed to get him out (not sure how, we didn't have a long time to talk this AM). But I'm worried about this as the usual response of Simba when he knows he's got something we want is to "destroy faster!" And he could chomp through a wire pretty quick while someone goes to get a treat! 2) Any advice on teaching him to accept restraint? Like at the vet, when he has to go for exam? The scene at the vet's when he had to have a look at his incision was bad....they had to pin him down, he's basically screaming....ack and yuck and BAD. I'm working on the collar sensitvity (this dog is a full time job, I tell ya! Good thing I'm not working right now!) but....he will need to be gently held when he gets needles, or physical exams. That just can't happen right now, as he gets bitey and so has to be forcably restrained.
Re: Two questions The only advice I can give about wires is to make sure he never has any access to them. I think I remember you mentioned the lay out of your house and that it was difficult restricting him to one area but I can't see any other way in preventing him chewing things and picking things up he is not supposed to pick up. As for your second question I would make it a part of your daily grooming routine to check his feet, between his toes, his nails, his teeth, check inside his ears etc. You can also clicker train for a stand and put it on cue which will make vet examinations a lot easier.
Re: Two questions As heidrun rightly says , if you get him used to you examining him, it will help enormously . I used to make a sort of game of it with Sam where I would call him over and say " Time for a check up " and literally inspect every part of him, including the private parts, and for suffering this indignity, he got treat, a really good quality one like a whole sausage, it worked like a dream . Re the wires, oh boy , this could be so dangerous and, for a determined dog , restricting access is the only way, so no more going into your sons room for Simba, not until he is older and ( hopefully ) these denied things are not so appealing to him , sorry .
Re: Two questions Yeah, it's tricky to confine him into a room where there is nothing he could chew on! I mean I could close him into a room, but every room has "no chew" stuff in it. The CRATE is the answer....I think I have to try something else other than the clicker with that as he just doesn't seem too motivated. I can't seem to get beyond "go in crate, stand". He'll do that maybe a couple times in a row (if I'm lucky) then loses interest. Doesn't seem to matter what treats. I guess it's likely I'm not doing it right, either. I know you're supposed to build up the progress - first, close to crate, then nose in crate, then one paw, or whatever. But he's already okay with going in the crate, so when he sees me with my treat bag and in the room with the crate he will go over to it and go in, or stick his head in, or ..... And this is where I think I have messed up. After the first day (only a little bit of practice and he was going all the way in), the next time I tried it I got my treats, sat down on couch, he went into crate....and DRAT I had forgotten the clicker! So I clicked with my tongue but not the same. Then he wouldn't go in all the way, and I was waiting for that, so...he lost interest. Next time, thought, right, build up the approach so I rewarded him for sticking a nose in, which he did, then he would put a paw in, so rewarded him for that, etc. But we didn't get to far and he lost interest. Each session seems to go like that. Anyhow this is what seems to happen - I sit down determined to "go slow", but if he actually goes IN or partially in, I reward. So this AM he went partially in (both paws) so I rewarded. He did that a few times more, so I thought, okay, now I'll wait until he gets all the way in.... and then he went and laid down. I dunno. I know I'm doing this wrong but I can't seem to crack it. Good idea about the daily checking of body parts....will have to work on that. Thanks! Katie, the problem being is that Josh's room is where he sleeps - up until now a safe and confined place for him to be and he's not roaming all over the house, getting into mischief. Sigh...it's all so complicated!!!!
Re: Two questions i feel for you, its the hardest thing i have ever done in my life .......i am getting there and so will you my downstairs is all open, the thing i find hard is the wet paw prints,he is a big softie, won't go outside with the door closed, i have got a gate that i can put him behind, as soon as i mop, he goes outside , the floor is just as bad, its all this rain, ....my garden is ruined with urine stains, he must have strong wee,..... he digs in the garden , then walks the mud into the house i do feel lucky as apart from a few burst cushions the damage has been to the garden my son just keeps saying things will get better WHEN
Re: Two questions In terms of getting things off Simba, or away from Simba, the girl who helps at puppy training told me to try "swap" things with Charlie when he nicks something and gleefully runs off with it (chasing him makes it MUCH more fun). Or settles down to chew something he shouldn't and employs his talent of gluing his bum to the floor so he can't be moved. I pretend the thing (usually a toy) I have is much better than whatever Charlie is determined to chew... usually doesn't take long before he drops whatever he is chewing and comes to try and get whatever I'm playing with. I once pretended to eat his tennis ball, with lots of chomping noises and yums of enjoyment, in order to get him away from my new boots... it worked! But desperate... I'm going to find myself a hit on youtube one of these days when I'm caught in mad puppy management behaviour, I just know it...
Re: Two questions Sorry Lisa,slow to reply to you today,visitors,then sick visitors,then cleaning up after sick visitors....Dex helped with that.......not giving details though let's just say that is could have been a really good opportunity to proof his recall but instead he got grabbed by the collar and manhandled behind his gate......leaving neither Chris or I proud of ourselves....I though of poor Simba Using my usual disclaimer....about lack of experience blah blah...you sound like you are doing the clicker right to me.....what about grading his rewards?do you think he gets fed up with what you are giving him....maybe start with a low interest one like his kibble/food and work your way through more exotic ones,chicken,sausage,sardines?also if progress is slow could be be losing concentration rather than interest?he hasn't had any formal training until he got to you so he's learning the new skill of focus from scratch too so that may be a factor?Also,everything I read on training says end on a high and a success.....you sound like you are getting success because there is a progression in his responses but I detect you aren't seeing your successes because you aren't achieving your ultimate goal....in the bloody crate Simba!!If you dont feel satisfied,he might be picking up on that so id say always end on a high even if its something different to what you are training....something as simple as sit,or look at me.... You must feel up against it because the holiday countdown is always in the background and i detect your urgency in wanting to acheive this.I know that the crate would solve so many of your problems.......but your cases aren't packed yet,there is still time to work on it! I haven't got anything to add to what the others have advised about how he behaves when at the vets....they are right that you just have to handle him as much as you can,that will make it better but like everything else it won't be a quick fix and it will be so much more pleasant to do when you have got past the anxiety that he might just have a nibble on you.....
Re: Two questions Have you put his bed inside the crate? I would take up all of his bedding and put it in his crate, so this is now his comfy sleeping place. I would also feed him exclusively in the crate and leave stuffed kongs and other long lasting treats or chews in there and eventually you wil be able to close the crate door on him while he is settling down to eat them, even if it is just for short periods of time to start with.
Re: Two questions Thanks again, all. I feel your support and I really appreciate it...honestly it is what keeps me going some days! I'm thinking of doing the "put the treat in the crate and close door" as a compliment to the clicker training....just because I can't seem to get him with the program with the clicker, as described! :-\ He does have a nice blankie in the crate, and I do feed him meals in it. The only other bed he has is his massive one that hubby bought him...think it would be big enough for an elephant...won't fit in crate. The one he was sleeping on in son's bedroom he chewed up (Hey! maybe that's why he was restless last night??? No comfy place to sleep there? Hmm...). I think he's not really scared of the crate itself. I have closed the door a time or two while he's eating, and it's fine. I open the door as soon as he leaves. But I guess I'm scared to push him too hard and completely ruin any chances of him ever wanting to stay there happily. I just need to take a deep breath, and give it a try? Yes....the holiday thing is STRESSFUL. Trying not to think about it too much, and work on things one day at a time. But there's SO MUCH to work on!! Collar/hand desensitization, no jump/nip, no jump when people come in, no recall, running away with purloined items, restraint, the "prowl", the crate, chew, chew, CHEW!!!! BUT....I do see some progress (think positive! think positive! 1) He is not jumping as much when people come in. 2) I can run around the yard like a loony, do jumping jacks, leap and squeal....he doesn't jump and nip. Success! At least when I'm in "training mode" and have my treat bag and clicker at hand. Am trying doing the same in the house to see how it goes. Was good the first time I tried. However, whenever I do this it's ME being crazy and trying to hype him up. Don't know how it would work when he's in a "manic" phase and just wants trouble!! 3) Collar touch/hand near face desensitizing is going pretty well. Continuing to work on it, and getting my kids to do it as well. 4) the "trade" for the purloined items works. Usually. I put down a treat on the floor (doesn't always want to get close enough to me to take it from my hand if he has something he's found in his mouth) and he'll usually drop it and take treat. However there are times when he tries to eat the kibble with the thing in his mouth.... I will be really glad when I don't have to think about all these issues 24/7, which is how I feel now!! And....to top it all off..... I notice his scrotum is a bit red...the incision looks good, but ....infection, maybe. I CAN'T DO THE CONE AGAIN. CAN NOT DO IT. CAN NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Re: Two questions With the crate - I would change your technique. You are trying to use shaping to get him to go in, hoping he will gradually put more and more of himself into the crate so you can reward it. Shaping is a good technique but it can be really slow if the dog isn't understanding the goal of the exercise or isn't motivated. I'd switch to luring. Have a good (i.e. amazingly fabulous) treat and kneel down and reach right to the back of the crate with the treat. When he goes in to get it, c&t. If he won't go right to the back start with the treat held halfway down, and gradually move it further back. I'd recommend that you get Susan Garrett's 'crate games' DVD. This explains how to train an enthusiastic entry into the crate. There is more to the technique than I've described - luring in is the first step. Later steps involve shutting and opening the door and also proofing - having the door open but the dog not coming out till released, despite distractions.
Re: Two questions It sounds like you are doing great to me and making progress on loads of things! You've got quite a list of things you want to improve, it probably will just take a bit of time.
Re: Two questions [quote author=JulieT link=topic=1845.msg14766#msg14766 date=1372486010] It sounds like you are doing great to me and making progress on loads of things! You've got quite a list of things you want to improve, it probably will just take a bit of time. [/quote] Yes, I second that. It takes time, but you really are doing a great job with him. It's all heading in the right direction.
Re: Two questions I had the wire issue when Piper was a puppy. I wiped Tabasco sauce over then and that was the end of that. One lick at them at the smell of it was enough to ensure never touched again. The vet issue also I was determined never to have that carry on again. My trainer told me this. A large blob of peanut butter on your fingers and put into the side of their mouth at the back. Helps if they like peanut butter which mine does. They are so busy licking if off your fingers and their teeth that I found the vet could carry on and do whatever was needed.
Re: Two questions Hi, Well as regards the wire nibbling, my dad bought me this wire tidy, I think he got it from homebase, its just a box thing that you put all your leads into , that go onto the plug thingy, if you ask them at homebase Im sure they could show you one. It wasn't particularly cheap about, eight pounds, but might be worth it for peace of mind. Maggie
Re: Two questions That peanut butter idea is good - I can test it out when I get back from holidays....thanks!
