Quote:
Originally Posted by RitaNBoobear  I actually saw this on that Cesar show. So - Now we are paying attention to the dogs body language. He was telling this couple that when the ears are perked up and the body is rigid the dog isn't listening at all anyway.
So..now when Boo is clearly not paying attention, I don't even waste my breath. I stop here completely, say whatever command it is (Sidewalk, Wait..) just ONE time. Then I wait her out watching her ears and stance. As soon as she digests it's all being driven by me, I am the alpha -- I am in control) i can see her body relax and she "concedes". The mintue I see that adjustemtn, even if it is slight, I repeat the command. So far it has had fairly consistent results. AND many times I don't have to repeat. (Meaning maybe she heard & pretended not to?)
Lately Boo has developed this HORIBBLE habit of eating dead (dried up) worms. So -- If i catch her in time, sniffing out a worm, I'll step on the worm, covering it w/shoe and again -- she has to acknowledge I am in control. so when the attempts to dance around my shoe stop -- we keep moving. Each time the waiting her out for the adjusted "acceptance" or resignation gets smaller & smaller.
Good news (per my vet) the worm snack won't kill her -it's just gross. You would think she was eating the best filet mignon the way she chomps these things.
I feel so good when I win :-) which i find very amusing -- such a tiny opponent. hee hee, cause you know they are very willful & creative. |
This is pretty good advice. I was the OP of the Front Harness not working thread. We've been working with Uni a bit more, and she has improved a bit. I've tried the Cesar method, reading the body language and it has helped. Uni is so quick though, when I make her sit and wait, she will understand sit and wait, but she will do it tense the whole time. She'll sit, wag her tail, ears go down, ears go up, tapping front paws, whining. Clearly she is not relaxed, but she is listening to my commands, but she is telling me that's not what she wants to do. And she can def outwait me, so alas the pulling continues. *sigh* baby steps!!!