Too cool for school
Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2018 2:28 am
Our 15-ish-week old male DS Schneider is the calmest puppy I have ever seen. He doesn't bark unless he gets frustrated at a toy, he doesn't jump on strangers, or bark when someone knocks. He doesn't bark and howl at the fire trucks and noisy trains that go by. He doesn't charge at other dogs or growl when you get near his food or any of the normal rambunctious excited dog behaviors I have seen in every other dog ever.
This is great! My vet says he's fine, no problems - he's just laid back and I should be happy I have him - and I really am, but, there's a problem.
He's too calm to train! He doesn't get excited or upset at "NO!" or "BAD!" Taps on the nose and swats on the haunch do not phase him. I'd certainly never hit him hard enough to injure him, but I know those slaps on the butt I get him have to be noticeable but he just turns it into a game.
Are there any tips on some negative reinforcement I can use with this boy? I don't want to hurt him, of course, or make him sick. I also do not want to use his crate as a form of punishment - it's the only thing he dislikes and I want him to get comfortable in there for the night. Right now I am considering a spray bottle with something unpleasant in it, or maybe a dog whistle, but I really have no idea. How can I get the message across to this pup?
The behaviors that are problematic right now are: 1) Biting clothes 2) barking at night in his crate (this has been improving with repeated crate acclimation) 3) carrying off his food bowls (the dog can pick up any bowl, he is some sort of savant) 4) peeing by the door 5) snapping at faces.
I'm sure there are more but not many; he really is a good boy overall. He likes to play-chew on out hands but I'm not going to hassle him much over that because he's a teething puppy & I read the collared scholar article on it.
This is great! My vet says he's fine, no problems - he's just laid back and I should be happy I have him - and I really am, but, there's a problem.
He's too calm to train! He doesn't get excited or upset at "NO!" or "BAD!" Taps on the nose and swats on the haunch do not phase him. I'd certainly never hit him hard enough to injure him, but I know those slaps on the butt I get him have to be noticeable but he just turns it into a game.
Are there any tips on some negative reinforcement I can use with this boy? I don't want to hurt him, of course, or make him sick. I also do not want to use his crate as a form of punishment - it's the only thing he dislikes and I want him to get comfortable in there for the night. Right now I am considering a spray bottle with something unpleasant in it, or maybe a dog whistle, but I really have no idea. How can I get the message across to this pup?
The behaviors that are problematic right now are: 1) Biting clothes 2) barking at night in his crate (this has been improving with repeated crate acclimation) 3) carrying off his food bowls (the dog can pick up any bowl, he is some sort of savant) 4) peeing by the door 5) snapping at faces.
I'm sure there are more but not many; he really is a good boy overall. He likes to play-chew on out hands but I'm not going to hassle him much over that because he's a teething puppy & I read the collared scholar article on it.