New Dog...Concerned About Growling - Page 6

HobNob · 01-12-2011, 09:49 PM

Success! Duke ate his dinner out of my hand tonight (and some out of hubby's)!

Also, we are trying to teach him that he doesn't belong in the kitchen while food is being prepared or eaten. In the past 24 hours, I'm pretty sure he has learned "stay." We bring him to his "spot" right outside of the kitchen and get him to sit (he already knew that one) and then lay down (he learned that one in less than a day with us too!). Once he lays down we say "stay" and slowly back up. He picked it up pretty quickly. We treat him after he stays for some time. Sometimes while we are eating or cooking he gets up and comes out to sniff and look for food, but we just take him back to his spot and do the same thing again. Tonight he stayed for at least 5 minutes without getting up. Yay! He's a quick learner when treats are involved.

In just a little bit I'm going to introduce him to his new Nylabone and try some trading games. Wish me luck!

onyx'girl · 01-12-2011, 10:03 PM

Welcome to you HobNob and James. I'm glad you found this place...you can see who has given such great advice and some that is just to be thought of, and dismissed!
Emoore, I am so sorry that is what happened to Cash. I never knew why, and was afraid to ask. How devastating. I cannot imagine and balls/size are always in my thoughts because my dogs drives for them are extreme. I love the cuz balls because those feet are saviors!
Good update on Duke, I hope things just progress from here on! Once you get into a training class Duke will bond with you so much more.

**Cassidy's Mom** · 01-12-2011, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HobNob

Success! Duke ate his dinner out of my hand tonight (and some out of hubby's)!

Also, we are trying to teach him that he doesn't belong in the kitchen while food is being prepared or eaten. In the past 24 hours, I'm pretty sure he has learned "stay." We bring him to his "spot" right outside of the kitchen and get him to sit (he already knew that one) and then lay down (he learned that one in less than a day with us too!). Once he lays down we say "stay" and slowly back up. He picked it up pretty quickly. We treat him after he stays for some time. Sometimes while we are eating or cooking he gets up and comes out to sniff and look for food, but we just take him back to his spot and do the same thing again. Tonight he stayed for at least 5 minutes without getting up. Yay! He's a quick learner when treats are involved.

In just a little bit I'm going to introduce him to his new Nylabone and try some trading games. Wish me luck!

Perfect!

HobNob · 01-12-2011, 10:41 PM

So, I just introduced him to the Nylabone. He really liked it. He tried several times to pull it away from me, but I didn't let him. The hot dog trade was a little difficult because I had to get it in my hand without him knowing it was there. My husband helped me...while Duke was chewing on his end of the bone, my husband went in the kitchen to get some hot dog chunks. But Duke followed him out to the kitchen to see what was going on. It took a few minutes to get him to forget about the treats and start in on the bone again. But he did, and after several seconds of chewing on his end I let him smell the hot dog and when he released the bone I gave him the treat and praised him. Again, it took him a bit to get back to the bone because he was SO preoccupied with tracking the scent of those hot dog treats. But I did 4 cycles of him chewing his end of the bone for several seconds and then letting him smell the treat and giving it to him after he released the bone. Each time I praised him. Afterward I put the bone away. I never let him have it without me holding one end of it.

Does it sound like I did it right?

Will he start to associate the bone with treats? Would it be best to alternate the toys I use for the trading games?

Zoeys mom · 01-12-2011, 10:53 PM

Yay that is sweet success right there and yes you did it right,lol He will associate you taking and touching what is in his mouth with a treat and trust you no matter what toy and treat you are using if you keep it up. He needs to understand you control the toys and treats in the house but will be fair and are not a threat to his stuff. No growling is huge and the fact that he was receptive to the treat even when it meant relinquishing the toy is huge

HobNob · 01-14-2011, 11:28 AM

So how long would you all advise I play the trading games with him before I start to give the "drop it" command before/with the treat?

And how long should I/we hand feed him his meals?

HobNob · 01-16-2011, 11:50 AM

Question about toys:

Since we are working on the resource guarding, we are sticking to lower value toys for now (tug rope, large tennis ball, Nylabone). The only toy that is out all the time and free for him to play with at any time is the large tennis ball. He really doesn't play much with it. Sometimes he'll play with it if we get his attention on it and he's feeling playful. I was wondering if we should get another toy or two -- low value such as a squeaky chew toy -- to leave laying around the house for him to play with freely. He just seems bored a lot. Would this re-invite the resource guarding? After reading everyone's responses above, I was sort of under the impression that to keep the resource guarding in check WE should be the ones to say when playtime is over and we should put the toys up after playing with him. But should he also have a couple of his own at his disposal?

01-12-2011, 09:49 PM	#51 (permalink)
HobNob Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 146	Success! Duke ate his dinner out of my hand tonight (and some out of hubby's)! Also, we are trying to teach him that he doesn't belong in the kitchen while food is being prepared or eaten. In the past 24 hours, I'm pretty sure he has learned "stay." We bring him to his "spot" right outside of the kitchen and get him to sit (he already knew that one) and then lay down (he learned that one in less than a day with us too!). Once he lays down we say "stay" and slowly back up. He picked it up pretty quickly. We treat him after he stays for some time. Sometimes while we are eating or cooking he gets up and comes out to sniff and look for food, but we just take him back to his spot and do the same thing again. Tonight he stayed for at least 5 minutes without getting up. Yay! He's a quick learner when treats are involved. In just a little bit I'm going to introduce him to his new Nylabone and try some trading games. Wish me luck! __________________ ~ Holly ~ Duke's Mom www.austingermanshepherdrescue.org

01-12-2011, 10:03 PM	#52 (permalink)
onyx'girl Crowned Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: SW, MI Posts: 17,596	Welcome to you HobNob and James. I'm glad you found this place...you can see who has given such great advice and some that is just to be thought of, and dismissed! Emoore, I am so sorry that is what happened to Cash. I never knew why, and was afraid to ask. How devastating. I cannot imagine and balls/size are always in my thoughts because my dogs drives for them are extreme. I love the cuz balls because those feet are saviors! Good update on Duke, I hope things just progress from here on! Once you get into a training class Duke will bond with you so much more. __________________ Jane~ Kept by Onyx, Kacie and Gideon v Wildhaus aka Karlo

01-12-2011, 10:41 PM	#54 (permalink)
HobNob Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 146	So, I just introduced him to the Nylabone. He really liked it. He tried several times to pull it away from me, but I didn't let him. The hot dog trade was a little difficult because I had to get it in my hand without him knowing it was there. My husband helped me...while Duke was chewing on his end of the bone, my husband went in the kitchen to get some hot dog chunks. But Duke followed him out to the kitchen to see what was going on. It took a few minutes to get him to forget about the treats and start in on the bone again. But he did, and after several seconds of chewing on his end I let him smell the hot dog and when he released the bone I gave him the treat and praised him. Again, it took him a bit to get back to the bone because he was SO preoccupied with tracking the scent of those hot dog treats. But I did 4 cycles of him chewing his end of the bone for several seconds and then letting him smell the treat and giving it to him after he released the bone. Each time I praised him. Afterward I put the bone away. I never let him have it without me holding one end of it. Does it sound like I did it right? Will he start to associate the bone with treats? Would it be best to alternate the toys I use for the trading games? __________________ ~ Holly ~ Duke's Mom www.austingermanshepherdrescue.org

01-14-2011, 11:28 AM	#56 (permalink)
HobNob Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 146	So how long would you all advise I play the trading games with him before I start to give the "drop it" command before/with the treat? And how long should I/we hand feed him his meals? __________________ ~ Holly ~ Duke's Mom www.austingermanshepherdrescue.org

01-16-2011, 11:50 AM	#57 (permalink)
HobNob Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 146	Question about toys: Since we are working on the resource guarding, we are sticking to lower value toys for now (tug rope, large tennis ball, Nylabone). The only toy that is out all the time and free for him to play with at any time is the large tennis ball. He really doesn't play much with it. Sometimes he'll play with it if we get his attention on it and he's feeling playful. I was wondering if we should get another toy or two -- low value such as a squeaky chew toy -- to leave laying around the house for him to play with freely. He just seems bored a lot. Would this re-invite the resource guarding? After reading everyone's responses above, I was sort of under the impression that to keep the resource guarding in check WE should be the ones to say when playtime is over and we should put the toys up after playing with him. But should he also have a couple of his own at his disposal? __________________ ~ Holly ~ Duke's Mom www.austingermanshepherdrescue.org

01-12-2011, 10:53 PM	#55 (permalink)
Zoeys mom Knighted Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Rockville, Md Posts: 2,941	Yay that is sweet success right there and yes you did it right,lol He will associate you taking and touching what is in his mouth with a treat and trust you no matter what toy and treat you are using if you keep it up. He needs to understand you control the toys and treats in the house but will be fair and are not a threat to his stuff. No growling is huge and the fact that he was receptive to the treat even when it meant relinquishing the toy is huge

Remove Advertisements Sponsored Links
German Shepherd Advertisement