How is Rory?
- Thread starter Jeannie
- Start date
Hi jggrosch,
oops, haven't checked in here lately. I keep meaning to but getting distracted by other things and then disconnecting before I actually get here.
Rory has improved quite a lot. She is looking gorgeous and is learning to swim at the beach, which is quite a sight. She wouldn't win any medals for swiming technique, that's for sure. Hopefully she'll get a little more co-ordinated with age.
Behaviour-wise, we are getting there - slowly. She has improved, however, is still mouthy, and bitey at times.
I was actually wanting to ask opinions/advise on something to do with this (again
). I've been reading a training book for 'independent and difficult dogs' called So Your Dog's Not Lassie. (There's a couple of Newfies photographed throughout the book, by the way). The author bases her training on the reward system, with treats and lots of praise when the correct command is obeyed. In the book, she suggested that when a dog is jumping around/biting/out of control, give the 'SIT' command rather than saying "NO, STOP IT" or whatever you do to normally try and stop the dog.
Rory knows SIT fairly well, but expects a treat when she does it because we always make her sit before food. So, let's say she's biting and I give the sit command. She does it, and I then hand over a treat. Is this going to send mixed messages? Such as, when I bite, I get a treat? Or do you think she'll come to realise, 'when I stop my bad behaviour (or when I sit when asked), then I get the treat'?.
It has been working fairly well today. (I've only been doing it today). I'm just not sure about continuing with it until I get a little feedback.
We are off to our first obedience class on Sunday. We did an intro day and that was good, so we've signed up and will get started ASAP. Hopefully that will have some effect too.
Thanks for asking about her, by the way.
oops, haven't checked in here lately. I keep meaning to but getting distracted by other things and then disconnecting before I actually get here.
Rory has improved quite a lot. She is looking gorgeous and is learning to swim at the beach, which is quite a sight. She wouldn't win any medals for swiming technique, that's for sure. Hopefully she'll get a little more co-ordinated with age.
Behaviour-wise, we are getting there - slowly. She has improved, however, is still mouthy, and bitey at times.
I was actually wanting to ask opinions/advise on something to do with this (again
Rory knows SIT fairly well, but expects a treat when she does it because we always make her sit before food. So, let's say she's biting and I give the sit command. She does it, and I then hand over a treat. Is this going to send mixed messages? Such as, when I bite, I get a treat? Or do you think she'll come to realise, 'when I stop my bad behaviour (or when I sit when asked), then I get the treat'?.
It has been working fairly well today. (I've only been doing it today). I'm just not sure about continuing with it until I get a little feedback.
We are off to our first obedience class on Sunday. We did an intro day and that was good, so we've signed up and will get started ASAP. Hopefully that will have some effect too.
Thanks for asking about her, by the way.