Dozy
11-01-2009, 19:05
I realised earlier today that every time I post about Zeb (or talk to people about him) all I do is moan about his behavioural problems. So I had a think and realised that he has actually improved a lot!
He responds to "sit" and "down" (verbal and hand signals) most of the time, and I'm sure he'll get the hang of "stay". He also knows "off" and "go away", again verbal and hand.
He's not nearly as clingy as he was. Sometimes he actually stays in the room when I leave it and, if he does follow me, he will go back if I point and say "go away"!! He's also learning "go away" when we're out - he knows where all the other dog walkers keep their dog treats and is a little beggar for bothering them for more.
We're also working on "no" when he wants to go galloping up to somebody, especially if they have a shopping bag. I wish he'd learn that one a bit quicker, though, as he doesn't half jerk me when I lock his lead! (He's on a harness when he's on his long lead, partly because I was worried about hurting his neck, because he's a puller.)
He's slowly improving on heeling, with the help of a Canny Collar, so I get far less muscle/shoulder ache!
I started crate training him yesterday and he's taken to it remarkably well. I'd got it all set up and cosy, with his bed in there and his Tigger, and a cover over the top of it, and I just pointed at it and said, "That's your new den, Zeb", and he went straight in it! I was so shocked, I expected to have to tempt him with treats and cajoling. I just left the door open, so he could come out when he wanted to, which he did after a few minutes. But he went back in when I told him to, though I did get the "look (http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t248/Dozy_album/Image008.jpg)" (mind you, I get that every time I tell him to do anything he doesn't want to!)
After a couple of times, I shut the door on him, which didn't seem to upset him at all. He did so well, that I put him in there and shut the door overnight, I was sleeping with my head a foot from the crate and he didn't wake me up, and he was fine this morning. He's been back in the crate for a short time on a couple of occasions today and is still fine.
I'm not happy about leaving him locked in when I'm not here, in case he panics, so I'm going to fix up a webcam on my laptop so I can lock him in and then go and watch what he's doing on my PC in the other room.
If he does carry on well with his crate, then I won't be coming back to a distressed dog and a load of rubbish or cardboard chewed up all over the floor, topped of with pee, practically every time I leave him!! And I'll be able to go back to sleeping in my bed, instead of on the sofa (except when my sciatica is bad, of course!)
So, here's a banana for Zeb - the lad's doing well. :banana:
Drat, got the photo link wrong. Try again! (http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t248/Dozy_album/Image008.jpg)
He responds to "sit" and "down" (verbal and hand signals) most of the time, and I'm sure he'll get the hang of "stay". He also knows "off" and "go away", again verbal and hand.
He's not nearly as clingy as he was. Sometimes he actually stays in the room when I leave it and, if he does follow me, he will go back if I point and say "go away"!! He's also learning "go away" when we're out - he knows where all the other dog walkers keep their dog treats and is a little beggar for bothering them for more.
We're also working on "no" when he wants to go galloping up to somebody, especially if they have a shopping bag. I wish he'd learn that one a bit quicker, though, as he doesn't half jerk me when I lock his lead! (He's on a harness when he's on his long lead, partly because I was worried about hurting his neck, because he's a puller.)
He's slowly improving on heeling, with the help of a Canny Collar, so I get far less muscle/shoulder ache!
I started crate training him yesterday and he's taken to it remarkably well. I'd got it all set up and cosy, with his bed in there and his Tigger, and a cover over the top of it, and I just pointed at it and said, "That's your new den, Zeb", and he went straight in it! I was so shocked, I expected to have to tempt him with treats and cajoling. I just left the door open, so he could come out when he wanted to, which he did after a few minutes. But he went back in when I told him to, though I did get the "look (http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t248/Dozy_album/Image008.jpg)" (mind you, I get that every time I tell him to do anything he doesn't want to!)
After a couple of times, I shut the door on him, which didn't seem to upset him at all. He did so well, that I put him in there and shut the door overnight, I was sleeping with my head a foot from the crate and he didn't wake me up, and he was fine this morning. He's been back in the crate for a short time on a couple of occasions today and is still fine.
I'm not happy about leaving him locked in when I'm not here, in case he panics, so I'm going to fix up a webcam on my laptop so I can lock him in and then go and watch what he's doing on my PC in the other room.
If he does carry on well with his crate, then I won't be coming back to a distressed dog and a load of rubbish or cardboard chewed up all over the floor, topped of with pee, practically every time I leave him!! And I'll be able to go back to sleeping in my bed, instead of on the sofa (except when my sciatica is bad, of course!)
So, here's a banana for Zeb - the lad's doing well. :banana:
Drat, got the photo link wrong. Try again! (http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t248/Dozy_album/Image008.jpg)