Kaya Discdog

Teaching Heel

Heel can be one of the more difficult behaviors to teach to your dog. Fanny Gott has a unique technique where she starts out walking backward and having the dog follow her. She states that it is easier to watch the dog and reward. I was a bit skeptical that it would be easy to turn the other way and get the dog to follow you. It works in one session we walked backwards for a little while and then when I began to walk forward she seemed to pay close attention to me. When I tried to teach it just walking forward she would pay attention for a few seconds and then rush forward. I would have to stop and then she would pay attention again. We were getting a yo-yo effect instead of getting the constant attention. At the end of the session we attached the leash. At first it threw her off and then she picked it right back up.

Teaching Your Dog What No Means

Many people teach their dog the zen or often called leave it command. I decided to use the word NO because it is often what I say to the dog when they are touching something they shouldn't. Just because you yell No at them doesn't mean that they understand what you are saying. The only thing they understand is that you are really upset with them. No should be voiced like anyother command and shouldn't be yelled. Once your dog has been taught what the word means in several different places it can be used effectively to keep the dog out of things you don't want them to touch.

Training Level E-Book

Sue Ailsby has published her new book Training Levels Steps to Success and is now selling it in e-book format. You can purchased it in hard copy for $44.99 plus shipping or the e-book format for $25. If you are using a Kindle for reading the book (which I currently use), you can purchase the PDF version on your computer and email the book to your Kindle using the Kindle email address. You will need to put convert in the subject line. After a few minutes the book will appear on your Kindle converted and ready to read. This is the only training book you will ever need.

Click on this picture to purchase Hard Copy



Click on this picture to purchase E-Book

Dog Training On The Road

Maybe not on the road but at least in the school playground. We went to practice come on the school playground but instead of leaving me she wanted to stay right by my side. This is not a bad thing either.

I did discover that at one time she had no problem running through the playground equipment but this time she shyed away from it. She wouldn't follow me through the tunnels. We were able to get her to go down the slide once. I know it's been a while since we had gone but she seemed to show some fear and hesitation this time.

Training is definitely a continuing process because once you think they know something it's not always the case. That's why sometimes you have to go back to the basics.

We also had to take a trip to the vet's. Bailey got conjunctivitis to the point that her eyelid was swollen. She was stressed at the Vet's. The poor thing sat under my chair and shook. I held her while the vet but stain in her eye to see if she had a corneal abrasion and it was all I could do to keep her still. The vet tried to give her a treat but she won't eat a thing if she is stressed. She didn't want it later either because she probably knew where it came from.

In stressed situations she will not take a treat so I can't really do any training. I am hoping with more exposure that she will become less stressed in unfamiliar settings.

Dog Journal 9/26/11

I had grandious dreams of great training sessions and then reality hit. We really only got two training sessions in because of football games and practices. We did go to the Casey County Apple Festival to see how she does in a crowd. She was sporting her Gentle Leader (because she doesn't like to bark with it on). She was stressed in the crowd but was willing to stay close to my side. When we stopped I didn't have to tell her sit, that was an automatic. We did get a few requests to pet her but I declined because any time a stranger sticks a hand out she backs away. The more they try to pet her the more she backs up. One little boy did touch her from behind but she never flinched. We didn't stay long and she looked like a real professional. Then we took her to the park without the Gentle Leader and her true colors came out.

So we will work on the original goals from last week with the hope of have three training sessions instead of just two.

1. Zen - Bailey will focus on a bowl of treats and not really pay attention to me. She also tries to steal food and wants to remain close to the bowl.
Goal: To have Bailey leaving food on the floor, on the couch, and on the table.

2. Watch - Bailey will give me eye contact but in Level 3 she is suppose to give eye contact for 10 seconds.

3. Come - Our goal is to work on come three times a day for five minutes for eight weeks. Susan Garrett has a good article about the consistent work of come. So starting tomorrow we will work on it for eight weeks gradually increasing the distractions.

Dog Journal 9/20/11

1. Zen - Bailey will focus on a bowl of treats and not really pay attention to me. She also tries to steal food and wants to remain close to the bowl.
Goal: To have Bailey leaving food on the floor, on the couch, and on the table.

We worked on Zen as you can see in the picture. I had to stop here a few times with my hand. But for the most part she has improved and was able to walk around the treats without always trying to touch them.


2. Watch - Bailey will give me eye contact but in Level 3 she is suppose to give eye contact for 10 seconds.

I forgot to work on this one. We worked on trying to make a video instead but unfortunately my camera won't upload it.

3. Come - Our goal is to work on come three times a day for five minutes for eight weeks. Susan Garrett has a good article about the consistent work of come. So starting tomorrow we will work on it for eight weeks gradually increasing the distractions.
We worked on come once in the house and once in the garage. There was only one time she didn't come.