[gemy]

Jeanie I have to say, you take such great care and do such a fine job of explaining things to beginners.

To the OP if you need me to continue to explore Ottawa trainers let me know.

And Jeannie is so very right - 2minutes is way too long in the beginning to allow a baby dog in terms of obedience to wait for dinner! With my older dogs - Only every once in a while do I make them wait for 2minutes. This is usually as I am building up to another competition. I do not use removing their dinner or breakfast as a "punishment" for misbehaviour. Some trainers will - and I am not saying it is wrong per say. It is just a bedrock of belief in my make - up. I will never starve my dogs - even if for only a day to get them to behave.

I do other behaviour modification techniques. And yes I do use removal from my presence as one of the ultimate punishments! It works very very well. But that is because we have years of history, with working together, with training together; we truly are each other best friends. They know when they dont get to go into the backyard with me - when I discipline them with my voice and walk out the door without them - they have mis-behaved.