Silly dogs

[kjc]

I mentioned in a different thread that I can’t find right now that I had started giving my pups a treat when they come in from going potty, as a reward for good behavior. After having to go out and physically pick Finney up and carry her in the house for 10 years she now comes in the house on her own to get her treat, yay!

This has been working great until the dogs decided to add their little bit to this nifty trick.

Their add-on in their little minds is now anytime mommy comes in the house, when they have been left inside, they want their treat and no, I have not reinforced this behavior but they keep trying. They also go out, do nothing (no pottying), and run back in for a treat.

I’m not sure what to do. Suggestions appreciated.

[nanajoy]

If I were you I would just ignore it except when they have done the behavior that you want. Gus is my worst offender...whenever we go into their bathroom (the one pee pad that we leave down during the day) he comes in and circles, then pees just the tiniest bit. I still reward them when they are productive, but many times he will circle, then come up to me and look me right in the eye with excitement and expectation. I just chuckle at him and tell him that he is a little clown...then I say "no pee pee, no treat". He immediately head bumps the door and exits the room. He knows exactly what the rules are, but he will make every attempt possible to cheat the system! lol

[yorkietalkjilly]

Yeah, no treats for just coming in from a romp outside. Just when they do their toilet business and I always add the words 'good boy go potty(I, II or both), get a treat! Sooo proud of you" so a connection is made.

[kjc]

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

Yeah, no treats for just coming in from a romp outside. Just when they do their toilet business and I always add the words 'good boy go potty(I, II or both), get a treat! Sooo proud of you" so a connection is made.

Lol, we got connections... just short circuited on this one, haha. Nevermind, reread it the intended way, lol.

[kjc]

Originally Posted by nanajoy

If I were you I would just ignore it except when they have done the behavior that you want. Gus is my worst offender...whenever we go into their bathroom (the one pee pad that we leave down during the day) he comes in and circles, then pees just the tiniest bit. I still reward them when they are productive, but many times he will circle, then come up to me and look me right in the eye with excitement and expectation. I just chuckle at him and tell him that he is a little clown...then I say "no pee pee, no treat". He immediately head bumps the door and exits the room. He knows exactly what the rules are, but he will make every attempt possible to cheat the system! lol

Thanks, ladies. As I will have plenty of time, I will definitely be working on this.

[Marna1957]

I have to admit, I giggled (out loud) at how CLEVER your little LOVES are!



I also have to admit that in the mornings, that first walk with Katy, when I want her to hurry the most, we have started giving the two of ours Lard, like the size of a, what?, 1/2 dime and just as thin? Annnnnnnnnnd. It works some morninigs, "Katy, hurry go potty, (poo), let's go get your "Lard from Daddy."


Moral of the Story: SHE KNOWS WHAT, 'Go Potty Katy', 'Katy, Go Poo', AS WELL AS, 'Katy, Go Pee Pee', AND, 'Go To Daddy And Get Your Lard' ARE! ALL OF THEM. SHE KNOWS THEM! Little Devils.....acting, on a regular basis as if they do not! Ha Ha


Other Moral Of The Story: Who Is Training Who! (laughs about little Clever Devils!)

[Marna1957]

I randomly call my dogs over for a treat. That way, they never know, and it might one day save their lives because they listen better and come each time called.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by kjc

Lol, we got connections... just short circuited on this one, haha. Nevermind, reread it the intended way, lol.

lol - Yeah, we all got those connections!

[kjc]

Originally Posted by Marna1957

I have to admit, I giggled (out loud) at how CLEVER your little LOVES are!



I also have to admit that in the mornings, that first walk with Katy, when I want her to hurry the most, we have started giving the two of ours Lard, like the size of a, what?, 1/2 dime and just as thin? Annnnnnnnnnd. It works some morninigs, "Katy, hurry go potty, (poo), let's go get your "Lard from Daddy."


Moral of the Story: SHE KNOWS WHAT, 'Go Potty Katy', 'Katy, Go Poo', AS WELL AS, 'Katy, Go Pee Pee', AND, 'Go To Daddy And Get Your Lard' ARE! ALL OF THEM. SHE KNOWS THEM! Little Devils.....acting, on a regular basis as if they do not! Ha Ha


Other Moral Of The Story: Who Is Training Who! (laughs about little Clever Devils!)

I’d be leary giving her lard everyday. Many Yorkies are prone to developing pancreatitis, fatty things can bring it on.

One morning I came out of the bedroom and saw Peek a Boo walking funny. I asked DH ‘Okay, What did you feed him?’. He says ‘Oh just a little piece of cheese.’ Me: ‘Everyday, for how many days?’ He started with a small piece, which built up to a whole piece, in bits, as DH was eating his breakfast. I said call in to work, we’re going to the vet, NOW! He asked how I knew? With the combination of the funny walk, and dietary supplements, and Peek being a Yorkie.. just connect the dots, lol. Peek came through it okay, thank goodness.

[kjc]

Originally Posted by Marna1957

I randomly call my dogs over for a treat. That way, they never know, and it might one day save their lives because they listen better and come each time called.

Definitely doing this now, too. Thanks!

[yorkietalkjilly]

Tibbe got slow to react to his recall when he was about 18-20 months old and beginning to test his boundaries or boredom and I started re-training him on the recall by calling him and automatically praising/treating every time he quickly reacted and came running so as to establish a pattern of ALWAYS quickly reacting to every recall, which one day might just save him from some catastrophe.

At first, he ALWAYS came running right away but soon even the fore-sure treats and praise stopped working quite as effectively as it was routine and not always as exciting as that current scent, dog, foraged find, he'd fixated on and was very busy inspecting or playing with. I remembered some noted trainer's question that why should your dog leave his exciting, scent-heavy, intensely interesting outdoor activity he too rarely got to come inside to same-old you, even for a routine reward he always got, as there was no mystery or fun there anymore. Said you've got to know when to make yourself more interesting, intriguing or mysterious - or irritating - than his current outdoor activity.

So sometimes I'd put my coat on or hold my purse, keys jangling, before recalling him in. Other times just grabbing a cap or bike helmet, any interesting headgear, to change my outline to a different one. Sometimes I'd hide from his view when I called, jangling his treat bowl or squeaking a toy, unseen. Other times I'd be pretending to be talking on the phone(Tibbe was jealous of my phone activity!), or dancing, whooping, clapping, acting like a party was going on in here or just turned around with my back facing him - or just sitting down on the floor. Other times I'd be looking through my pockets or purse and he was intrigued. Anything to change the routine, make him curious.

I quickly learned in training dogs not to treat every single time once they'd learned the wanted behavior, had it down pat. This way they always live in expectation, eager to find out whether they get their treat/toy in addition to their always-earned praise & smiles. Seems dogs are more responsive to expectation than certainty when it comes to treats or toy rewards.

Very rarely but occasionally, he was unresponsive to whatever I did that time, as he was so involved in whatever he'd fixated on or was enjoying or was just bored with routine. I quickly just walked right out to him and hurried, herded him inside, cutting off his attempts to outrun me with outstretched arms and always catching up to him, herding him in, walking into him and steering him toward the door, always staying upbeat, chanting "Go, go, go, go, go, go in" over and over in a sing-song voice; irritatingly determined to rush him, crowd him, herd Tibbe, which he always detested. He'd snort and snort when he got crowded or rushed, hurried, herded and do just about anything to keep me from winning that contest, even to quickly learning that running inside ended his misery sooner than keeping on trying to avoid getting the bum-rush.

I'd always let him know by running inside to escape me, he'd outfoxed me, won the game. I'd call out "You WON, you cute little monster! Tibbe BEAT Mommie! Tibbe wins! You are So smart!!!" I swear that dog knew those words or my attitude or whatever and saw that as a big, big win, even though he came inside as I wanted to avoid my herding or hurrying him.

As long as your dog sees quickly responding to your recall or whatever request/command as a big win for him, you are the real winner. He eventually learns a Pavlov's dog type response, just to always do what you request without conscious thought. It becomes a muscle memory, routine, a rote reflex, quite sweet and very fulfilling and you both feel like winners if you make yourself interesting or enthusiastic enough a trainer/handler and are more determined than your terrier.