Question:

>Uh.. let her meet with kids who are used to dogs, smell little babies >etc.. I agree that it’s a good idea to let her get used to be handled, >but don’t overdo it, ok?

Proud mommy just has to brag about Madigan (the BC) again. :} Even though I don’t have kids, I made the mistake of not socializing my other dogs with them – so they were never very friendly to them.  My Eskie used to scare them.  Now I do puppets at children’s church, so I’m more likely to have kids around.  Therefore, I’m purposely exposing Maddie to them. She started out wanting to jump up and kiss the faces of all kids.  But as she became more exposed to them, she noticed that some of them were a little afraid of her.  So – by herself, with no intervention by me – she’s seemed to pick up on it… and those kids who are a little wary, she’ll crawl to on her belly, tail wagging, and wait until they pet her before she becomes more friendly. She seems to know "dog kids," and will jump right on them, to their delight. No, mommy hasn’t yet done anything about the jumping.  It’s a little complicated, because I *want* her to jump on me, but I don’t want her to jump on other people unless I say it’s okay.  I’m going to ask the trainer in puppy class to help me with this (we start tomorrow). I LOVE dogs to jump on me, and I’m disappointed when owners won’t let them.  So I want to give Madigan the option. :} Learn How to Can Spam http://www.whew.com/Spammers/reportspam_stepbystep.shtml http://www.spamfree.org/ WHITE HAT OF THE MONTH – Nominate At:  http://www.whitehat.com/whotm/ Internet Secrets, 2nd Edition, by John Levine (All About Spam, p. 277)

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>> However we’re struggling with one training problem, how do we get her to > stop counter surfing. >Mousetraps.

uh…wouldn’t that tend to break a few toes too? Paws on a pup like the OP has would be big, yeah, but owwww…. Paul C Purebred…mix…their tails still wag the same and they’ll still grab your lunch. Scratch an ear anyways.

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> >Uh.. let her meet with kids who are used to dogs, smell little babies >etc.. I agree that it’s a good idea to let her get used to be handled, >but don’t overdo it, ok? > Proud mommy just has to brag about Madigan (the BC) again. :} snip > I LOVE dogs to jump on me, and I’m disappointed when owners won’t let them.  So > I want to give Madigan the option. :}

Some of us have big dogs and small and older folks coming around and we try and train our dogs not_ to jump up on them. My itty bitty Mom , 61 years of age, can’t handle a 100# dog jumping on her without falling on her ass. (Brittle bones on old folks don’t heal fast, ya know)? So, don’t encourage other folks dogs to jump on you. There’s a good reason we train our dogs NOT to jump up on people. Personally, I would be pissed at someone ecouraging my dogs to jump up on folks, and would not hesitate to reprimand the human that encourages it. Terri

Response:

Hello dw,

> First step would be to "break the opportunity of the habit" > put up gates, folded newspaper on the edges of tables* > make them slippy to jump up on and redirect the energy.

No, that’s avoiding the problem. Putting up gates only adds a barrier frustration to the problem… > Completely remove the opportunity until you have it back > in your control.

CONTROL is a big issue with you bums, isn’t it? That means they will DENY themselves the OPPORTUNITY to train the behavior. That’s why you don’t have success with these behavior problems. That’s why you crate and confront dogs over their behavior problems. YOU are responsible for complicating behaviors like these. MOST dog behavior problems are CAUSED by our inappropriate and ineffective methods to address them. >Increase the distance from the smells, crate until after your > meals – ignore the sad face.

SEE? More of the same hot, dry, crap. You haven’t got a CLUE about training this behavior. >  * half hanging over.

The entire time ANXIETY is taking a toll on the dog’s attitude… You’re causing him to NEED to do other, perhaps LESS desirable behaviors, as anxiety relief mechanisms. Counter surfing, sofa sleeping, jumping, mouthing, barking, whining, housebreaking, etc are all EASY behavior problems to extinguish IF you do not avoid, confront, or punish the dog about them, and rely on scientific and psychological conditioning and deconditioning behavior modification techniques to quickly and without anxiety or conflict, EXTINGUISH ANY UNDESIRABLE BEHAVIOR. Ask yourself "WHY DOESN’T JERRY HURT DOGS TO TRAIN THEM?" And then just answer "BECAUSE JERRY KNOWS HOWE TO TRAIN DOGS WITHOUT HURTING THEM." And THEN SAY OUT LOUD: "IGNORE JERRY, HE’S MEAN TO DOG ABUSERS." You can get all the information you need to PROPERLY handle and train your dog using non force, non confronatational, scientific and psychological methods, in the Wits’ End Dog Training Method manual available for free at http://www.doggydoright.com The Wits’ End Dog Training Method manual is provided compliments of  the BIOSOUND Scientific Elves as an alternative to Doggy Do Right (and Kitty Will Too). Your pal, Jerry "The PHONY," Howe. j;~}

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Yeah, I thought you’d like that. The force approach turns you on, because you don’t have the INTELLECT to outwit the natural cunning of the domestic puppy dog.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Great choice. > Read "Childproofing your Dog" by Brian Kilcommons. > > A third question. We’re expecting our first child in a few months. Any > > particular training we should be doing now. The vet suggested > > "mauling" Zoe like a child would (i.e. tail pulling, poking and proding, > > etc) so that she understands there is never an excuse for agression (not > > that she’s show any signs of agression).

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>> I LOVE dogs to jump on me, and I’m disappointed when owners won’t let > them. >Personally, I would be pissed at someone ecouraging my dogs to >jump up on folks, and would not hesitate to reprimand the human >that encourages it.

No kiddin’.  I don’t give a flying leap if someone else wants my dogs to jump on them, they’ll get corrected regardless.  Sheesh.  Wait ’till your dog knocks someone over, you’ll feel very differently about it. Teach her to jump on YOU on command, and no one else if you must.  And don’t encourage other dogs to jump on you.  Their owners will thank you for it. –Cindy —

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>Personally, I would be pissed at someone ecouraging my dogs to >jump up on folks, and would not hesitate to reprimand the human >that encourages it.

Comprendo.  I don’t encourage other dogs to jump on me, because I know many owners are trying to train them not to.  But if it’s just because they’re trying to be polite about their huge dog jumping on a hundred pound woman, I let them know that I don’t mind. Learn How to Can Spam http://www.whew.com/Spammers/reportspam_stepbystep.shtml http://www.spamfree.org/ WHITE HAT OF THE MONTH – Nominate At:  http://www.whitehat.com/whotm/ Internet Secrets, 2nd Edition, by John Levine (All About Spam, p. 277)

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Great choice. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Read "Childproofing your Dog" by Brian Kilcommons. > A third question. We’re expecting our first child in a few months. Any > particular training we should be doing now. The vet suggested > "mauling" Zoe like a child would (i.e. tail pulling, poking and proding, > etc) so that she understands there is never an excuse for agression (not > that she’s show any signs of agression).

Response:

>We’ve got a 4 month old puppy (mom was a golden retriever/ border collie >mix,  we were told the dad looked like a black lab, but we’re sure there >must have been doberman in there somewhere as well).

She sounds like a little beauty >As you can imagine,  with that mix she’s bright with lots of energy >(what we were looking for in a dog). >However we’re struggling with one training problem, how do we get her to >stop counter surfing. She knows she’s not allowed to counter (or kitchen >table) surf, but just can’t seem to resist the urge when there are good >smells up there. She’s never out of our view (at least while she’s >uncrated and inside the house), so we always, correct her, but somehow >we need to convince her to stop jumping up on the counters in the first >place. Suggestions?

If you’re always around, you have a good opportunity to stop her _before_ she does it. Distract her when you she that she’s about to jump up on the counter. Then you reward her. The idea is that she never gets a chance to jump the counter, which breaks the habit, and you reward her for _not_ going up there. My guess is that is a puppy-thing. Naturally, if she gets used to jumping up there and finds food all the time, she will continue doing it because it’s rewarding. But as she gets older, she will be less interested in looking for things to eat/do.. such as searching the counter for food. >A second question. She (Zoe) learns the meaning of commands extremely >quickly, and when someone has a treat in hand will respond to sit, stay, >come, down, up, give, and shake However how do we convince her that >these are commands, not requests when we don’t have a treat in hand.

By not showing her the treat when giving the command. In the beginning you reward her every time she gets the command right. When she gets the command right every time, you gradually remove the reward from 1 out of one, to two out three, to one out of two..etc. I don’t take the rewards away completely. >(She will be going to obediance school as soon as the snow is off the >ground).  While she loves to be close to my wife and I, I find she is >much less motivated to actually please us than most of the dogs I had >growing up, or have come in contact with. She is much more motivated by >a chance to run and play. i.e she will usually respond to a command if >she knows I’ll throw her something  (especially snowballs) to go and >retrieve once she obeys.

Don’t forget that she’s a young puppy. She’s behaving perfectly normal. If she’s more interested in running and playing, you need to think about how you can play along with her. Training needs to be fun, and more fun than the play she comes up with on her own. >A third question. We’re expecting our first child in a few months. Any >particular training we should be doing now. The vet suggested >"mauling" Zoe like a child would (i.e. tail pulling, poking and proding, >etc) so that she understands there is never an excuse for agression (not >that she’s show any signs of agression). >Suggestions, comments, helpful hints?

Uh.. let her meet with kids who are used to dogs, smell little babies etc.. I agree that it’s a good idea to let her get used to be handled, but don’t overdo it, ok? >BTW, are puppies ever a lot of work! A lot of fun too!

I know, and I miss it! Helle

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We’ve got a 4 month old puppy (mom was a golden retriever/ border collie mix,  we were told the dad looked like a black lab, but we’re sure there must have been doberman in there somewhere as well). As you can imagine,  with that mix she’s bright with lots of energy (what we were looking for in a dog). However we’re struggling with one training problem, how do we get her to stop counter surfing. She knows she’s not allowed to counter (or kitchen table) surf, but just can’t seem to resist the urge when there are good smells up there. She’s never out of our view (at least while she’s uncrated and inside the house), so we always, correct her, but somehow we need to convince her to stop jumping up on the counters in the first place. Suggestions? A second question. She (Zoe) learns the meaning of commands extremely quickly, and when someone has a treat in hand will respond to sit, stay, come, down, up, give, and shake However how do we convince her that these are commands, not requests when we don’t have a treat in hand. (She will be going to obediance school as soon as the snow is off the ground).  While she loves to be close to my wife and I, I find she is much less motivated to actually please us than most of the dogs I had growing up, or have come in contact with. She is much more motivated by a chance to run and play. i.e she will usually respond to a command if she knows I’ll throw her something  (especially snowballs) to go and retrieve once she obeys. A third question. We’re expecting our first child in a few months. Any particular training we should be doing now. The vet suggested "mauling" Zoe like a child would (i.e. tail pulling, poking and proding, etc) so that she understands there is never an excuse for agression (not that she’s show any signs of agression). Suggestions, comments, helpful hints? BTW, are puppies ever a lot of work! A lot of fun too!

Response:

First step would be to "break the opportunity of the habit" put up gates, folded newspaper on the edges of tables* make them slippy to jump up on and redirect the energy.  Completely remove the opportunity until you have it back in your control. Increase the distance from the smells, crate until after your meals – ignore the sad face. * half hanging over. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > We’ve got a 4 month old puppy (mom was a golden retriever/ border collie > mix,  we were told the dad looked like a black lab, but we’re sure there > must have been doberman in there somewhere as well). > As you can imagine,  with that mix she’s bright with lots of energy > (what we were looking for in a dog). > However we’re struggling with one training problem, how do we get her to > stop counter surfing. She knows she’s not allowed to counter (or kitchen > table) surf, but just can’t seem to resist the urge when there are good > smells up there. She’s never out of our view (at least while she’s > uncrated and inside the house), so we always, correct her, but somehow > we need to convince her to stop jumping up on the counters in the first > place. Suggestions?

Read a good book on praise and correction training. By asking these questions and being aware of the need to change makes you very open to the assistance that a training manual can give – don’t wait. For now include a big praise during the treat and reduce your causal contact so that the praise contact is important – reduce the size of the treat to a crumb. > A second question. She (Zoe) learns the meaning of commands extremely > quickly, and when someone has a treat in hand will respond to sit, stay, > come, down, up, give, and shake However how do we convince her that > these are commands, not requests when we don’t have a treat in hand. > (She will be going to obediance school as soon as the snow is off th > snnip

Careful here! The baby and puppy will be growing up together and will learn with your help limits.  Both of them.  Get control of both before they spend time together.  For the next year contact will need to be tightly controlled. Both are too valuable to risk accidents.  Get a trainer not a Vet for help here.   > A third question. We’re expecting our first child in a few months. Any > particular training we should be doing now. The vet suggested > "mauling" Zoe like a child would (i.e. tail pulling, poking and proding, > etc) so that she understands there is never an excuse for agression (not > that she’s show any signs of agression).

Or buy a box  - your choice. > Suggestions, comments, helpful hints?

Looking forward to a pup next month.  First for five years.  : )   : ) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> BTW, are puppies ever a lot of work! A lot of fun too!

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> However we’re struggling with one training problem, how do we get her to > stop counter surfing.

Mousetraps. > A second question. She (Zoe) learns the meaning of commands extremely > quickly, and when someone has a treat in hand will respond to sit, stay, > come, down, up, give, and shake However how do we convince her that > these are commands, not requests when we don’t have a treat in hand. > (She will be going to obediance school as soon as the snow is off the > ground).  While she loves to be close to my wife and I, I find she is > much less motivated to actually please us than most of the dogs I had > growing up, or have come in contact with. She is much more motivated by > a chance to run and play. i.e she will usually respond to a command if > she knows I’ll throw her something  (especially snowballs) to go and > retrieve once she obeys.

Read "Culture Clash" by Jean Donaldson. > A third question. We’re expecting our first child in a few months. Any > particular training we should be doing now. The vet suggested > "mauling" Zoe like a child would (i.e. tail pulling, poking and proding, > etc) so that she understands there is never an excuse for agression (not > that she’s show any signs of agression).

Read "Childproofing your Dog" by Brian Kilcommons. Good luck! -Shannon the taciturn (today anyway)

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