Hi

I got my Ben on Sunday, he's 8 months old and he's bootiful!! :love:

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff111/Becci1985/ben.jpg

He is extremely skinny & doesn't appear to have been treated well :mad:
One question.. he doesn't drop, he got hold of one of my socks this morning, when i told him to drop & take it off him he started growling then snapped at me.. whats the best way to teach him to drop? I know it'll take a while for him to get use to me but i don't want him snapping at my neices, :confused:

Can't help with the training thing...but there are a few here that probably can.

Love spangles though...proper little characters!

Aww Ben is lovely!

Re: training- Lotti will come to the rescue, I'm sure, but here's how we did it- bearing in mind we have one of those dogs that loves to grab things and hold onto them (although she doesnt growl, bless her).

We use the command 'leave' rather than 'drop' (it doesnt really matter) and taught Ailsa to do that initially by offering her an alternative treat or reward -something she was likely to desire more than the thing she already had.

It was easier to persuade her to 'leave' if she was lying down or sitting down, rather than being stood up - she was less likely to try to play tug with the thing she already had, and less likely to try to snatch the alternative or jump up, that way.

We showed her the other reward first and instructed her to 'sitr' or 'flat' (lie down). If she sat or went 'flat', we told her she was a 'good girl'. (Better to get those basic comands out of the way first). When she did as instructed, we put the new thing down in front of her but far enough away so she could not immediately snatch it- and told her to 'leave' it. If she tried to grab it, we either removed it or put a foot on it so she could not grab it - and said 'no'.

If she left it, we told her she was a 'good girl' in a friendly voice and rewarded her with a tasty treat (small cubes of cheese worked well). We then encouraged her to 'take' the new thing and if she took it, we rewarded her. If she didnt' no reward- most dogs get the picture...You just have to know what motivates them and you're in luck if you have a food motivated dog.

Then we told her to 'leave' it again - if she did, she got a treat, if she didnt, we ignored her- (if the game is boring, she won't play, if there's something in it for her, she plays).

Gradually, we were able to encourage her to 'leave' or 'take' without the use of bribes -or only offering them occasionally, so she never quite knew whether she was going to get one but still obeyed, on the off-chance that she might. Now, just using the command(s) and praising her works. It means we can take food or other things off her without growling or snatching.

thanks katkin, i'll give it a go,

he seems to be settling in well & daddy is spoiling him..
he's a giddy little kipper and i cant wait to take him to rother valley this sunday.. wellies at the ready!!

awwww, how cute, he looks like my friends dog also called ben :)

awwww, how cute, he looks like my friends dog also called ben :)

Hmmm... I remember when I got introduced to one of the local farmers at my Mum's (Devon) his first comment... 'Ben? thats a dogs name innit?' :suspect:

I guess there must be something in that!

have you tried reinforcing 'drop' with 'treat'
there is no way he will be able to eat a sweety (dog safe obviously) with a mouth full of sock!! say drop offer the treat and lots of 'good boy' when he gets it. hope that helps huni

Hi

I got my Ben on Sunday, he's 8 months old and he's bootiful!! :love:

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff111/Becci1985/ben.jpg

He is extremely skinny & doesn't appear to have been treated well :mad:
One question.. he doesn't drop, he got hold of one of my socks this morning, when i told him to drop & take it off him he started growling then snapped at me.. whats the best way to teach him to drop? I know it'll take a while for him to get use to me but i don't want him snapping at my neices, :confused: