Training Day 2...

     Justin and I took Lilo for a walk today. We worked on just her heel, and for the most part she did really well and we only had to correct her a few times whenever a car went by (she likes to chase cars... )  When we got to the park Lilo loves, I took her off leash and gave her the command  to stay. After a few minutes I gave her permission to go and sniff around, she squatted to do her business, and that is when I noticed the other dogs. I should have known to look for other people and dogs around (Lilo is very reactive to other dogs)... but there are hardly other dogs at this park.. Thank goodness for her being short and the other dogs being on the other side of the garbage bin. I got her to come and clipped her leash on.. just in time for the owner and his dogs to come around the dumpster.. I dropped her leash, knowing she is better meeting new dogs when not attached to me.. she still beat up the smaller of the 2 dogs, and I was very embarrassed.. I walked her around and did some obedience with her, making her listen and not pay attention to anything but me.  She has been really good around other dogs lately, but apparently we need to work on it still (it will be an ongoing process for her for the rest of her life...) thankfully the rest of the walk was uneventful, and we made it home with no more incidents. We will continue with training tomorrow.

It's All in How you say it...

      When I was taught how to train a dog for obedience, I was taught to only use the dogs name when doing the recall. I do my best to praise and motivate using an upbeat voice and body language.  When correcting a dog I try to never use their name. This is because you want their name to mean something good is coming. If you are correcting a dog and use their name they will associate their name with negativity.

     The way I see it, when you call your dog, you use their name to get their attention, and then you give them the "come" command. When you call them it should be a happy upbeat "Fluffy Come" and pat your legs and make it exciting for them to come to you, when "Fluffy" does come, they should be praised and told they are a good dog. If you were to call out to "Fluffy" and use a gruff deep voice and stand and make no movement, "Fluffy is more than likely to look at you and walk (or run) the other way.

    Recently at a family get together, my aunt was trying to get her adorable 5 month old Cocker Spaniel puppy to come out from underneath the table, she was bent down and saying "Ellie Come, Ellie Come!" Her voice was loud and deep and Ellie was backing farther and farther under the table, well out of my aunts reach. I recommended to my aunt to change the tone of her voice to a happy tone, and to entice Ellie out with it. IT WORKED and Ellie bounded out from under the table into my aunts arms, and was given lots of praise. Just by changing her voice and body posture was enough for Ellie to process, and realize that her mum wasn't mad at her, and it was better to be with my aunt getting praise than being under the table. 


Cheers, 

Hana @ K9 O'Hana