Dutch Shepherd Forum

The spousal unit had to fly to Boston at 5 AM on Sunday morning, so he was leaving for the airport at 4AMish. Came back in and said, "Honey, I'm sorry, but I've got a flat; you need to take me to the airport."

Fine...sorta . Of course, it's my job to get the tire fixed in his absence, too .

However, living in a little place like rural Charlottesville makes this kind of thing a piece of cake; as long as you don't call first thing Monday morning, or after a huge storm, something like that, it only takes about 20 minutes for the AAA guy to get to you.

Meanwhile, as a lot of you know, Geyser doesn't much care for strangers, and she especially doesn't want any of them to pet her. I always tell people just to leave her alone and not try to pet her. (Isn't it amazing how many jerks and jerkettes there are in the world? This seems to spur some of them on to prove that all dogs love them;they're the exception. What makes me laugh is the harder they try, the more elusive she gets )

So, this good ol' guy shows up this morning, and I first ask if he's OK with dogs; affirmative. May I let her out to greet you? Yes! So, out she races to run up to him and start barking again (she'd quit in the house once I told her to, but this was a new situation ). I followed her out and told her to knock it off, which she did. Then I went thru my rap with him about don't try to pet her, just ignore her, and in about 10 minutes, she'll be pestering you to pet her.

Naturally, he had to reach his hand out, and just as naturally, she eluded it. Then he told me about this Chi he has that is a little terror to people, and he just ignored her. By the time he was jacking up the Jeep, she was over there checking out the jack (and him, of course). Now she starts her deal; she goes up and acts nice to the stranger, then comes up to me and looks at me and says, "OK, give me a treat, I was nice to the stranger," which of course, she gets.

Then, he comes over to the flat and starts removing the lug nuts. She starts going up to him and sticking her face in his, and under his arm, and he pats her head, and she comes back to me smiling, looking for her treat. Then she goes up to him (he's squatting on the ground, dealing with this flat), and she starts kissing his face! OMG. I was totally surprised. She never kisses strangers, but in all fairness, most of their faces aren't at her head level, either .

Naturally, she expected more treats, and got them. Now, we've got a kissing monster on our hands, and she just can't get enough of him. We're both cracking up, he's petting her, she's trotting back and forth between us, and I finally said, "no more treats, you little stinker."

He was such a nice guy, and he was happy to put up with all her nonsense. She sure cracked me up!

leih merigian wrote:. I was totally surprised. She never kisses strangers, but in all fairness, most of their faces aren't at her head level, either .

Whew! That's totally a good thing Leih. That most visitors don't lay down in your presence.

Story cracked me up!

Excellent story, well done Geyser!

I love that story!! Geyser, you sure know how to work it for those treats!!

Leih, what I want to know is how did you teach her to stop barking when you tell her to"knock it off"? I am having a hard time with this for Odin.

felixone123 wrote:I love that story!! Geyser, you sure know how to work it for those treats!!

Leih, what I want to know is how did you teach her to stop barking when you tell her to"knock it off"? I am having a hard time with this for Odin.

Thanks!

As far as the training part, I love to teach opposites. Hup/off (jump up on me or on the object, get the hell off ); speak/quiet, etc.

So, first teach him to speak on cue. You have to know something that will get him barking; often this involves frustration over a toy you're teasing him with. When you get him barking for it, "good speak!" and reward with the toy. Repeat MANY times . Repetition is your friend!

Once you've got that side (the easier side), then you work on the "quiet" part. Cue speak, then wait for him to stop barking, "good quiet!" and reward. Repeat a gazillion times.

Also, whenever he's barking at anything, then stops, tell him "good quiet." You want to associate that cue with the behavior whenever you find it.

Do that enough times, and reward it enough, and you'll have both sides of the equation. And, use it in everyday life. Whenever he alerts you to something (whatever it is, an unauthorized squirrel in the yard, someone at the door, etc.), then thank him, acknowledge his help, then tell him "that's enough," and when he stops, "good quiet." Part of it is tone of voice. He'll come to associate the "that's enough" tone with what you're asking, and will respond to it. The more situations you use it in, the more quickly he'll get the concept.

leih merigian wrote:

felixone123 wrote:I love that story!! Geyser, you sure know how to work it for those treats!!

Leih, what I want to know is how did you teach her to stop barking when you tell her to"knock it off"? I am having a hard time with this for Odin.

Thanks!

As far as the training part, I love to teach opposites. Hup/off (jump up on me or on the object, get the hell off ); speak/quiet, etc.

So, first teach him to speak on cue. You have to know something that will get him barking; often this involves frustration over a toy you're teasing him with. When you get him barking for it, "good speak!" and reward with the toy. Repeat MANY times . Repetition is your friend!

Once you've got that side (the easier side), then you work on the "quiet" part. Cue speak, then wait for him to stop barking, "good quiet!" and reward. Repeat a gazillion times.

Also, whenever he's barking at anything, then stops, tell him "good quiet." You want to associate that cue with the behavior whenever you find it.

Do that enough times, and reward it enough, and you'll have both sides of the equation. And, use it in everyday life. Whenever he alerts you to something (whatever it is, an unauthorized squirrel in the yard, someone at the door, etc.), then thank him, acknowledge his help, then tell him "that's enough," and when he stops, "good quiet." Part of it is tone of voice. He'll come to associate the "that's enough" tone with what you're asking, and will respond to it. The more situations you use it in, the more quickly he'll get the concept.

thanks so much!! makes alot of sense and very logical too!!

Cute story Leih! Love that she turned into a little love bug!

That is the sweetest story!

whaha, I can just see it more treats! more!

Great story... I have been praising Pi for alerting me too. I did however ignore a bark and I believe it's when someone stole my barbecue off my patio! I've tested Pi by making noise at the window when I've been out for a while and he barks quite nicely. Pretty amazing for such a silent dog. He has everything from high pitched playful barks to deep, bold barks that make him sound so much bigger.

On a side note, he jumped and climbed about 8ft up a tree today after a squirrel! I wish I was ready with a camera!

I can just picture her licking him as he is changing the tire!! So funny.