A tiny triumph

neveranymoney

I have just managed to call scampers away from the back fence with out a full on rigmarole. It might not be much to some, but the poor dog out back was out of his run and him and scamps were full on daggers at dawn. I don't care that I had a load of treats in my back pocket and the dog knew that. (We had been going out to play) It was a thing I needed at the end of a doggy stressful week to show me that the training is working. Just wanted to share with someone!

coinxoperated

Well done!

joansgirl

Not such a tiny triumph either I don't think. It shows that the hard work is paying off. It's glimpses of light like this, at the end of a very long tunnel that keeps us going. You must be so chuffed!

And it doesn't matter if you have to use treats, whatever works. Bailie's fairly good these days but her recall is only as good as it is because of what's in my pocket. If there were no treats she wouldn't come back, ever!:rotfl:

meritaten

neveranymoney wrote: »

I have just managed to call scampers away from the back fence with out a full on rigmarole. It might not be much to some, but the poor dog out back was out of his run and him and scamps were full on daggers at dawn. I don't care that I had a load of treats in my back pocket and the dog knew that. (We had been going out to play) It was a thing I needed at the end of a doggy stressful week to show me that the training is working. Just wanted to share with someone!

as scampers probably forgot all about the treats when he spotted the other dog, I think you can call this a 'large' triumph! well done!:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T

krlyr

Well done If food overcomes the neighbour's doggy, I would use this as a good training opportunity - try to create a greater barrier between the gardens/fence if possible, to make it a bit easier for Scamper (so if you need to place some extra fencing, some screening, a bit of garden furniture, etc. along it, do so) but every time he goes to bark at the neighbour's dog, scatter yummy treats on the floor near him.

Basically you want to change Scamper's emotional response, so that neighbour's dog being loose and near the fence is a precursor to lots of yummy treats.

I've done very similar with my reactive dogs and I think teaching them to ignore the neighbour's dogs has done wonders for their reactivity as a whole too.

dibuzz

It feels good when it works doesn't it?
My staffy who used to snap and growl at other dogs now takes one look at a dog or cat and sits in front of me asking for a treat.
One morning I forgot them and was so relieved when we didn't meet any other dogs

neveranymoney

Tbh I have been spending the last week thinking I must have been way bad in a former life and have written out at least one, long pity party post and then deleted it as I have tried to think of the positives that come with el rescue dog. If I didn't , I think I would go round the bend.

Scamps is fully house trained, he isn't destructive, he is pretty obedient in the house. He doesn't mind visitors at all. He keeps my legs warm.

This is against, his complete and utter melt down at any or all dogs, Cor, but he DESPISES small dogs. Walks at odd hours and odd places, continually trying to keep him under threshold to the point I sometimes feel he is taking over my life. Arsing about with muzzles and knowing it will always have to be this way, his continual nervousness at very little things (I am practically an expert in dog body language at this point) policing him with children - the fact he is never going to be a playful, family dog, sigh.

People think I am nuts keeping him on, why don't/didn't I get a puppy? One actually said to me - did you have to get a depressed dog???! Hoping others will post happy, Cracker Jack rescue dogs do come around type tales. I keep saying to myself, we don't know his history, bonds need to be built, it will take time , so any sign of improvement is a bit of a victory IMO!

meritaten

Its still very early days and you have his 'unknown history' to overcome! I think you have done extremely well! yes, training can be dispiriting as sometimes its one step forward and two steps back! BUT, its PERSISTENCE and continuity which pays off! if I can train two very different dogs (who were not easily trainable) to obey over 50 commands - YOU certainly can too! I was a complete novice when we had First Dog. had no idea what I was doing made lots of mistakes but kept on and on until we both learned a lot. then had to chuck all that knowledge out the window as Second Dog was a completely different dog and previous training methods didn't work with her! only food did! (First Dog responded to praise and play best).
its not been long and to pull this off after such a short time IS an achievement!

neveranymoney

Krlyr, our garden is about 2,3 feet higher than the garden behind, if that makes sense. The poor old dog behind us is a lab who is kept in a run away from the adjoining fence the majority of the time (that was ANOTHER thread I had thought of starting....) and he was used to me putting a wash out but barked at anyone else, since scampers arrival he sounds more growly and goes mental now when we are out the back. I get the feeling that he was, like many big dogs, bought as a cute family pup but he became a handful and is now continually kept outside ( I am a bored housewife, I know these things) I always knew when the postman, window cleaner was about as he is a real barker, but I think because we are continually in the garden now, he is very distressed. I don't think they are bad to him, so what am I able to do? Scampers now, after a good while is actually desensitised to this barking when you can't see the other dog as j ignore it and the behaviourist says this is good that scampers can carry on play, training etc with that going on.

Meritaten, I have been going over sit, stay, turn, very early days of watch me and have been introducing a clicker, but outside the house and garden, all bets are off! We have begun long line when we can I would pay good money, (well, I would use the visa) to the bright spark that comes up with a fully enclosed field that could be rented out for an hour. And at times he is brill and at others, like someone else's dog. As my husband put it after another dog walk of despair, it would be nice to see a tiny bit of loyalty and another gem - surely to god he must know by now we are not going to batter him!

Last weekend, we visited my aunt, sans scampers obviously. She has a mental terrier that she got from the pound, age 3 who is now 8. MShe has never had to use a lead, he wants to play all day and to watch my son tee heeing and throwing a ball for ages really made me sad. As we got in the car to go, my son announced that he was the bestest dog ever. I stand wistfully at the school gates looking at all the 'normal' dogs and end up all tetchy after 2 forty minute school runs that I could have had the bloody dog with me.

catkins

Neveranymoney, I am so pleased to see your post. I was wondering how you were getting on with your boy or if you even still had him. I am so pleased you haven't given up on him

meritaten

neveranymoney wrote: »

Krlyr, our garden is about 2,3 feet higher than the garden behind, if that makes sense. The poor old dog behind us is a lab who is kept in a run away from the adjoining fence the majority of the time (that was ANOTHER thread I had thought of starting....) and he was used to me putting a wash out but barked at anyone else, since scampers arrival he sounds more growly and goes mental now when we are out the back. I get the feeling that he was, like many big dogs, bought as a cute family pup but he became a handful and is now continually kept outside ( I am a bored housewife, I know these things) I always knew when the postman, window cleaner was about as he is a real barker, but I think because we are continually in the garden now, he is very distressed. I don't think they are bad to him, so what am I able to do? Scampers now, after a good while is actually desensitised to this barking when you can't see the other dog as j ignore it and the behaviourist says this is good that scampers can carry on play, training etc with that going on.

Meritaten, I have been going over sit, stay, turn, very early days of watch me and have been introducing a clicker, but outside the house and garden, all bets are off! We have begun long line when we can I would pay good money, (well, I would use the visa) to the bright spark that comes up with a fully enclosed field that could be rented out for an hour. And at times he is brill and at others, like someone else's dog. As my husband put it after another dog walk of despair, it would be nice to see a tiny bit of loyalty and another gem - surely to god he must know by now we are not going to batter him!

Last weekend, we visited my aunt, sans scampers obviously. She has a mental terrier that she got from the pound, age 3 who is now 8. MShe has never had to use a lead, he wants to play all day and to watch my son tee heeing and throwing a ball for ages really made me sad. As we got in the car to go, my son announced that he was the bestest dog ever. I stand wistfully at the school gates looking at all the 'normal' dogs and end up all tetchy after 2 forty minute school runs that I could have had the bloody dog with me.

have you thought about chucking some treats for the poor lab whenever Scampers appears? lol - remote training? get HIM associating Scampers with something nice?
neveranymoney - would you compare your OH with someone else husband? NO? then try not to compare your dog with others. Scampers is YOURS and when you both get this training lark sorted he will make you proud! You do not know what this dog has suffered - kennel staff who knew him when he first came in would probably be highly impressed with what you have achieved so far!

and I always found the first five commands the most difficult - because YOU and the DOG are still getting to know each other, getting to know what works and what doesn't. its a learning curve for you both - and what you say about his 'Home' behaviour - well I would prob have swapped my second dog for Scampers cos she was nightmare for her first 18 months she was so destructive!

and here is a little secret (other dog owners don't tell you about their dogs BAD habits)!