Dog Owner Chat! (for-fun poll added) (new chat)

[Jazi]

Oh I don't like those. I prefer harnesses with a broad chest strap as that puts pressure right at the core of the body, rather than the base of the neck. Also tends to hold it in place better.

EEEEE!!! So... I might have a job coming up working a vet clinic and boarding kennel... walking dogs and cleaning up poop. They've had other applicants but none they seem confident about, but were impressed with my dog experience. We shall see.

[Saracirce]

Oh I don't like those. I prefer harnesses with a broad chest strap as that puts pressure right at the core of the body, rather than the base of the neck. Also tends to hold it in place better.

EEEEE!!! So... I might have a job coming up working a vet clinic and boarding kennel... walking dogs and cleaning up poop. They've had other applicants but none they seem confident about, but were impressed with my dog experience. We shall see.

Can you give an example? And awesome about the job. Cross my fingers for ya!

EDIT: This is the style of Loli's current harness though the straps are sewn at the top rather then having the ring.

[MacGyver]

Mac: how did you teach "play dead" I have always wondered how to do it because I think it is a cute trick, it it just hard to figure out how to train for it xD

LOL! It's my favorite of Dixie's tricks. When I taught it to Stitch (mom's Pekingese), I lured him onto his side by bringing a treat around behind his head and over his back. His nose would follow and he'd end up on his side. :3 Then we added stay to the side position. He learned it in about two hours in one day. x3
Dixie on the other hand was kind of...difficult to teach it to. xD When I lured her, she'd pop into a sit and then spin around to get it. I tried for a long time but that method just didn't work with her. By accident, I found out if I told her "down" a couple more times after clicking and treating for her initial down, she would try to get lower to the ground than she already was. After I clicked and praised heavily for the first time she laid on her side, she learned quickly. We transitioned to the word "Bang!" and a hand signal (finger gun) after that. :3 I hope that helps!
I really wanted to teach her this one, but we're having trouble with "sit pretty". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PX6fWx8ckag

[Jazi]

Oh I don't like those. I prefer harnesses with a broad chest strap as that puts pressure right at the core of the body, rather than the base of the neck. Also tends to hold it in place better.

EEEEE!!! So... I might have a job coming up working a vet clinic and boarding kennel... walking dogs and cleaning up poop. They've had other applicants but none they seem confident about, but were impressed with my dog experience. We shall see.

Can you give an example? And awesome about the job. Cross my fingers for ya!

EDIT: This is the style of Loli's current harness though the straps are sewn at the top rather then having the ring.

Ah well, anything like these two would work:
http://www.thebigdogsworld.com/images/p ... arness.jpg
http://www.all-about-german-shepherd-do ... rd_LRG.jpg

The padding is a bonus, but there's a broad chest strap which goes right over where the dog's core strength will be (with us, it's our sternum&shoulders). While this does enable the dog to pull better, I feel it also gives me better leverage over using the dog's strength against it in a time when I need to haul them out of a dangerous situation. Baby has a similar harness and it's so much less of a struggle to get her away from reacting to an overexcited dog.

[.Middy.]

Hey guys.

I've been thinking of getting a clicker for training Chewie to do tricks. I have never used a clicker with him and he's over a year old. Do you think I should? Would he even understand it if I switched it all up on him? I wouldn't use it for training him anything other than tricks. Other things I would use my normal method of training but for tricks I thought it might be a good idea. What do you guys think?

[PhoenixWings]

Zarria got a bath a few minutes ago,she didn't like it that much but now she is clean. The hole time is was like 'why are you doing this to me...' she is now playing with her toy. Well soon we have to go on a walk and then after walk time is going to be play time in the yard. ^_^

[~Serenade~]

Hey guys.

I've been thinking of getting a clicker for training Chewie to do tricks. I have never used a clicker with him and he's over a year old. Do you think I should? Would he even understand it if I switched it all up on him? I wouldn't use it for training him anything other than tricks. Other things I would use my normal method of training but for tricks I thought it might be a good idea. What do you guys think?

Go for it! I started Bella on clicker training at four and she had no problems learning that it was just basically another way to say "Good Girl" (But better)

[.Middy.]

I got one.

He seems to understand it, now if only he could understand the trick lol

I'm trying to teach him to jump into my arms, but he refuses to jump in my lap while im sitting. (I guess I trained it out of him as a pup by accident?) so were working on it.... And now the cat has stolen the chair. Great.

Any clicker tips? I've never really used one. I think I trained one of my grandmas dogs with one but that's it..

[Cardinal]

Clicker tips? Read. A lot. Theres a lot more going on that just making a noise. Its important to understand WHY it works and HOW its working. The theory BEHIND marker/clicker training is pretty fascinating. I'm pretty sure Karen Pryor has some worthwhile reading on the subject.

Charging the clicker in super important and so is keeping the sessions short, sweet and loads of fun. Always end on a positive note BEFORE the dog starts to show signs of boredom. Clicker sessions should be 2-7 minutes, throughout the day. The dog should get excited about training. Juniper gets SO excited when she hears the clicker rattle. xD

Baby steps. If the dog isn't getting what you're asking.. You're going to fast and need to back it up a couple of step. For example, when teaching to close a door you'd click for looking at the door. Then for moving towards the door. Then touching the door. Then moving the door.. Etc. Its a process. Also, its fine to click multiple times for the same behavior. When teaching sit or to stand on a book.. When she'd do what I asked its be click<treat click<treat click<treat click<treat then throwing a treat to 'reset'. When she'd offer the behavior on her own it was the same thing.

I found working on things the dog ALREADY knew, but with the clicker helped us out quite a bit. Like.. for sit I'd just stand there and wait for it. As soon as it was offered she'd be a click.

Work on timing! Its reeaalllyy important.

[.Middy.]

Thanks Cardinal. Like I said, I've worked with one before but it's been awhile. Turns out all I needed to do was a refresher course. (I watched a video since my computer was messing up every time I tried to read a article.)

Anyways, I have got him so he will jump on my lap when I have 5 pillows and 2 blankets ontop of a chair under me. All I needed was a higher value treat. Since I usually use dog food for training, I grabbed some Ritz crackers and he got it within 3-4 tries. Now I just have to work on getting him to do it when I stand up.

The clicker is actually a big help. Though I think he wants to eat it...