tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1943031415851623904.post1142726165901315313..comments2024-03-13T09:23:16.861-06:00Comments on Rubicon Days: Why I'm a Bad Dog Trainer Lara Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16661093611286883883noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1943031415851623904.post-58082165692582111882015-07-13T15:50:17.050-06:002015-07-13T15:50:17.050-06:00Bain's training is always a work in progress. ...Bain's training is always a work in progress. I have my lazy days, and probably let him get away with more than he should. It's always nice to get back to those 15 minute nightly training sessions. <br /><br />I'm needing to work on how amped up he can get before leaving for walks, or when waiting for doggy friends to join us for walks. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1943031415851623904.post-52494939886196670332015-07-10T11:50:47.409-06:002015-07-10T11:50:47.409-06:00That's brilliant to use the relaxation protoco...That's brilliant to use the relaxation protocol while getting ready for a walk - though because they're not my dogs I have to admit the vision of them running around with your shoes is quite comical. I don't even remember why I stopped doing the relaxation protocol, we didn't stick with it for long, it's something you've just reminded me I should be working on again. <br /><br />Having 2 dogs with pretty different personalities would probably break my brain - it would be so weird to have to balance the training out for both of them. I struggle enough with 1, I really admire your dedication.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01672825791526583489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1943031415851623904.post-7019856058605882432015-07-09T10:16:37.713-06:002015-07-09T10:16:37.713-06:00When I finally realized that training was more abo...When I finally realized that training was more about building our relationship and less about teaching tricks (which I stink at), everything became more fun.<br /><br />Being a "bad" trainer with a great relationship is not such a bad thing to shoot for, eh?Pamelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13768027087753712341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1943031415851623904.post-19654781890779789812015-07-08T15:37:27.333-06:002015-07-08T15:37:27.333-06:00We practice our sits at a distance from the door t...We practice our sits at a distance from the door to keep the dogs from bolting out when it opens.<br />I admit though we definitely have a list of things we need to be practicing more regularly...Dz Dog Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13009070542545035600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1943031415851623904.post-81643270348582185032015-07-08T10:06:16.455-06:002015-07-08T10:06:16.455-06:00Whenever I go to put my shoes on before a walk, Na...Whenever I go to put my shoes on before a walk, Nala licks my face and sits and wiggles on me for butt scratches. Then, she squeaks at me because I am taking too long to put on my shoes! And, of course, I just laugh at her, which reinforces her behavior. :)<br /><br />I did a lot of randomly-reinforcing-good-choices when we first got Nala (a la Kathy Sdao), and so she habitually does things like hang out on her mat when I'm in the kitchen. I like this arrangement--I hate ordering her around all the time, so I guess I'm a bad trainer, too! Honestly, she's so easy to live with that her occasional mischief just amuses me. This is probably why we have lots of tricks and behaviors that are only sort of on cue. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1943031415851623904.post-13931593782745099962015-07-07T08:29:41.288-06:002015-07-07T08:29:41.288-06:00I think we all know that familiar feeling of train...I think we all know that familiar feeling of training inadequacy. There is always more for each of us to learn/do. What matters is that we're learning and putting forth our best - you've got both covered!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1943031415851623904.post-53931767656568649232015-07-06T19:38:47.177-06:002015-07-06T19:38:47.177-06:00It is so easy to forget to use the training for pr...It is so easy to forget to use the training for practical reasons! Barley and I started training because of her reactivity and we're very good at applying what we've learned outside of the house, but inside she can do very little wrong. I was just telling someone else that I had that "ah ha" mat moment recently, too--Bar had been driving me batty getting into things while I tried to cook and clean and one day I was like well, maybe I should put her mat in the kitchen where she can relax and keep an eye on me. She doesn't necessarily stay on it the whole time, but she gets into far less trouble while I try to be productive!Bethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03497873574218444965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1943031415851623904.post-30927929857784737802015-07-06T19:30:47.018-06:002015-07-06T19:30:47.018-06:00I love that Ruby generalized "go to her mat&q...I love that Ruby generalized "go to her mat" so well!<br /><br />I'm a mix of too low and too high of expectations. Shyla had such huge fear issues when I first met her (almost 3 years ago) that I tend to be too permissive when we're around other people. I view almost any behavior aside from cowering as good. But, with people who she really knows well, she's started taking advantage of my permissiveness (leading to frustration in me)... so maybe it's time to raise the bar around those people.<br /><br />When it's just me and Shyla, my expectations are sky high, leading to frustration sometimes. But, because she's so sensitive, I've learned to work around my tendency toward frustration, since it never helps the situation! It just makes Shyla disengage from training.KBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16885661679762446456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1943031415851623904.post-85581612925042392052015-07-06T18:46:44.483-06:002015-07-06T18:46:44.483-06:00I tend to be more passive too. My training style ...I tend to be more passive too. My training style is to ignore bad behavior and reward good behavior with the goal of teaching our dogs that if they behave THIS way they'll get lots of love.<br /><br />It takes a lot of time and patience, but with our dogs, I know that screaming at them may get them to get off the counter, for example, but it just teaches them to jump up there when we're not in the room.<br /><br />Praising their choice to stay down from the counter results in them staying down.<br /><br />Our dogs aren't perfect, but neither am I. :)Kimberly Gauthier, Dog Nutrition Blogger for Keep the Tail Wagginghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07021211954887075184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1943031415851623904.post-68681984978863135062015-07-06T17:07:31.045-06:002015-07-06T17:07:31.045-06:00I feel like I have the opposite problem where I ha...I feel like I have the opposite problem where I have high expectations and then I have to deal with feeling like a failure if it doesn't work out! I'm working on it though.Tenacious Little Terrierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02357242770204603366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1943031415851623904.post-53715001498223899282015-07-06T15:35:08.575-06:002015-07-06T15:35:08.575-06:00I have found a similar issue in my training. We wo...I have found a similar issue in my training. We work on skills, but then I don't apply them to real life. Work in progress!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03034825938128682200noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1943031415851623904.post-10884456974689340012015-07-06T13:35:10.829-06:002015-07-06T13:35:10.829-06:00This is a good reminder that my dogs' love of ...This is a good reminder that my dogs' love of treats and Luke's willingness to "go to his bed" are tools that can be used in many situations. It's easy to get complacent about things, until the next bad thing happens and we realize we still have more work to do. I tend to do that a lot.<br />Jan, Wag 'n Woof Petsjank1961https://www.blogger.com/profile/02300333186503144220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1943031415851623904.post-60888414194613451322015-07-06T12:59:20.535-06:002015-07-06T12:59:20.535-06:00Great post, Lara! I really need to make more compr...Great post, Lara! I really need to make more compromises in my training! I'm also working really hard on being more proactive, too. We've been doing a lot of training recently and I'm hoping that they will generalize it.zoepheedogshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05959397251791559890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1943031415851623904.post-87615924247550643882015-07-06T12:26:34.435-06:002015-07-06T12:26:34.435-06:00I think this is a great reminder for me. I tend to...I think this is a great reminder for me. I tend to do the same sort of things with Shiner and her training. Accomodate her more than trying to fix the problem. Of course, I still work on things with her but she is just such a stubborn dog who seems to be set in her ways. AnnStaubhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09386132460741393276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1943031415851623904.post-26646421771321252412015-07-06T12:08:25.063-06:002015-07-06T12:08:25.063-06:00Isn't it so cute? You're right about them ...Isn't it so cute? You're right about them doing no wrong...Boca had her paws up on the counter while I was making a salad yesterday and we just grinned at each other. What bad manners? Lara Elizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16661093611286883883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1943031415851623904.post-39760742171604419312015-07-06T12:05:20.863-06:002015-07-06T12:05:20.863-06:00Good job using the Relaxation Protocol before walk...Good job using the Relaxation Protocol before walks. I'm pretty passive when it comes to the dogs too. Pretty much they can do no wrong in my eyes. Bitey face and running around with my shoe as I'm getting ready for a walk? Adorable!<br /><br />I betcha I'm a worse trainer than you!Kari Neumeyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08180248845656504546noreply@blogger.com