Training
We got this new precious baby a few weeks ago. Dixie is fulfilling so many needs for me right now. #1- she's a baby and I can baby her to my heart's content- and she eats that mess up. She loves to take naps on us, and play, and is surprisingly tolerant of being carried like a baby on occasion (not all the time!!! She's a lab mix- I can't be carrying her around forever!!!)
#2- I am getting to teach again. (ok, yeah, yeah, I am still employed as a teacher, but this virtual teaching is . . . for the birds! I love to be home, but I LOVE to teach in a school building, amongst teenagers: interacting with them, telling jokes . . . that's what I need. Not this uncertain, cold interaction.)
Last week, Dixie had a rather naughty day. We said no. We yelled no. We chased her. She ran. She nipped. She growled. I was frustrated and frankly- she was being a big brat. I haven't had a puppy in almost 20 years. And, that puppy was raised with his mom (we bred her). She did a lot of training for us. This sweet puppy has her hoomans. Gracie (our older dog) has no use for Dixie. She is not a reliable trainer. And frankly- Gracie is 12 and pretty much does whatever the heck she wanna do. She trained us. We got Gracie when she was older (we got her from a family that was no longer able to keep her). Gracie didn't beg for food (she does now- because we taught bad habits- but she's still low-key about it). Gracie didn't barrel up on the furniture. She never had interest in it. We didn't train Gracie at all. She was already well behaved; however, "slightly" anti-social.
When I put Dixie to bed, that night last week, I decided I better figure something out otherwise we're all gonna lose our minds. So- I went to Pinterest, which took me to articles on dog training, which took me to YouTube. I found some great stuff and learned I better start training. She isn't too young. In fact- she's the perfect age to start. I started lesson planning. I got my curriculum together, made my long term goal, came up with my objectives and we're working towards it.
It's totally a work in progress because I'm no pro, so I'm learning how to train- while trying to train her. Do I screw up? Uh- duh. But I'll tell you this- she LOVES to train (it doesn't hurt that there are LOTS of rewards involved) and she's pretty dang smart. We've also got a pretty good system going- Dixie does all the work and gets a reward- and . . . Gracie gets a reward. Just because.
When I try to make her sit- she literally looks at me like I must have freaking lost my mind, because she ain't doing tricks for that little nibble. So- hand it over lady. Anyway- we've been really struggling when we eat- because Dixie likes to jump on our chairs and now is tall enough to put her paws on the table. I brought the clicker and rewards to dinner last night- and worked on everytime she laid down for an extended period of time . . . she got a small reward. Today at lunch- we had the ultimate win . . . she went and laid down on the dog bed. She figured it out. Begging ain't cool.
#2- I am getting to teach again. (ok, yeah, yeah, I am still employed as a teacher, but this virtual teaching is . . . for the birds! I love to be home, but I LOVE to teach in a school building, amongst teenagers: interacting with them, telling jokes . . . that's what I need. Not this uncertain, cold interaction.)
Last week, Dixie had a rather naughty day. We said no. We yelled no. We chased her. She ran. She nipped. She growled. I was frustrated and frankly- she was being a big brat. I haven't had a puppy in almost 20 years. And, that puppy was raised with his mom (we bred her). She did a lot of training for us. This sweet puppy has her hoomans. Gracie (our older dog) has no use for Dixie. She is not a reliable trainer. And frankly- Gracie is 12 and pretty much does whatever the heck she wanna do. She trained us. We got Gracie when she was older (we got her from a family that was no longer able to keep her). Gracie didn't beg for food (she does now- because we taught bad habits- but she's still low-key about it). Gracie didn't barrel up on the furniture. She never had interest in it. We didn't train Gracie at all. She was already well behaved; however, "slightly" anti-social.
When I put Dixie to bed, that night last week, I decided I better figure something out otherwise we're all gonna lose our minds. So- I went to Pinterest, which took me to articles on dog training, which took me to YouTube. I found some great stuff and learned I better start training. She isn't too young. In fact- she's the perfect age to start. I started lesson planning. I got my curriculum together, made my long term goal, came up with my objectives and we're working towards it.
It's totally a work in progress because I'm no pro, so I'm learning how to train- while trying to train her. Do I screw up? Uh- duh. But I'll tell you this- she LOVES to train (it doesn't hurt that there are LOTS of rewards involved) and she's pretty dang smart. We've also got a pretty good system going- Dixie does all the work and gets a reward- and . . . Gracie gets a reward. Just because.
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| As soon as I bring out the clicker and treats- this is how they both behave. Sometimes I train Dixie alone- but sometimes I train her with the others around because the distractions make it more difficult- and ultimately authentically learned. |
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