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Originally Posted by JennaPenny  Not cutting in on purpose- Jilly, I worked with the leave it command and then hoover last night. she loved every second of it, so I'm confident that she'll be good to go. Of course, duck jerky helps.  . I was so upset, and thanks for those links, because I Fully agree, because I've always done positive reinforcement. I am one of those women, I love video games. I love Bitten and Teen wolf. I play a game called Red Dead Redemption from time to time on the console. Each time bitten, or teen wolf came on, she used to bark like crazy. Same with Red dead. Wolves, bark like crazy. She doesn't any more, and it only took two days. I used her favorite treats- suuupppper expensive Honest kitchen jerky treats to do this.
When people or that dog passes by the window, she now does the end of the puppy howl bark- where she sounds like she's back talking with this little drawn out growl. Positive reinforcement I've always been all for. Her potty training was long and drawn out, because the trainer wanted us to stop her mid stream or mid poo, and she wouldn't poop OR pee for hours after that happened- even when she was obviously going, so again, prime example of how praise and treats worked better, even if it was slower. So, thanks!!! |
I'm so pleased that she's training well. If made fun and the dog sees obeying as super-rewarding - a big win-win, they quickly grow to love their training sessions, the intense interaction with you and before long, she'll likely push you to work her. Dogs with trainers using positive-reward techniques are extremely eager and happy to work, find it very fulfilling.
Personally, I don't mind my dog showing reasonable instincts of greeting and territorial protection messages, barking and growling at passersby, whatever the species, to say, "Hey, hi, there, I'm here! By the way, you're on my patch here, just so you know". It's natural for dogs to love to communicate with others and their bark and growl are the only way they usually can do so. I usually indulge a 1 - 2 minute initial communication session.
As dogs get older and if well-trained, well-behaved, usually don't bark over a maximum of 60 - 120 seconds at a time unless there is a real problem in their minds, such as utility workmen setting up on the street and beginning to dig it up! Even then a well-behaved pet has learned our boundaries for barking, how to control himself and won't go nuts barking for minutes at a time; but still may bark or growl from time to time if people or critters linger within his line of sight or scent(his territory), just reinforcing his initial message of greeting and territorial notice. Eventually the savvy dog realizes the ones that concerned him have not actually approached his home or tried to enter it, relaxes and finds other things to do, checking back from time to time.
Frankly, I kinda like passersby to know I've got a very alert little watchdog in my home and no approaching it day or night will go unnoticed, so I gladly tolerate most territorial barking Tibbe finds necessary! I've come to trust his instincts. He learned the 'bark/speak' & 'quiet' commands quickly but I rarely have to use 'quiet' anymore unless the garbage collection truck or stray cats linger nearby longer than he'd like
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