kids and dogs

Sit for Petting (Part One)

Posted on by HandsFullDogTraining

My first dog, Ginger, was a sweet little Brittany who failed the Canine Good Citizen test for probably the best reason out there… she was just too friendly.

Ranger suffers from this same happy affliction.  He loves petting and cuddles, and turns into a wiggly 85 pound ball of snuggles when someone touches him.  Ok, looks at him.  Ok, thinks about him.

Luckily, this effervescent quality can be tamed without being wounded.  This is one thing I love about positive training – we aren’t punishing a dog for being friendly!

So how do we turn a Labrador shaped Tigger into a dog that greets calmly and politely?  Read on!

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No Excuses

Posted on by HandsFullDogTraining

This one isn’t really about dog training.  Okay it kind of is, but kind of not.

The header pic says it all.  Take a look.  I obviously don’t have it all solved.  I have an ugly box of packaging stuff under my pretty desk.  I have kid toys on the floor.  There’s a DEER ANTLER on my floor.  There’s a sweater in the dog bowl. The baby is still in pajamas.

But, there is also a quiet, happy Labrador safely tethered close to the baby, but out of reach.  Together, but safe.

There are good solutions in the midst of sometimes-chaos.

I’m a human being with both successes and failures.  And that is normal.

What got me thinking was a little fuss I saw yesterday on a Facebook group that I’m a member of.  It’s a fitness group, and a couple of those NO EXCUSES “inspirational” pictures were posted.  You know, like this:

No Excuses
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Ranger Learns to Read

Posted on by HandsFullDogTraining

After a long training session yesterday, Ranger was worn out and didn’t feel like playing with the boy for very long. The kiddo was a bit sad. Luckily, with creativity, you can create win/win situations with kids and friendly dogs who are having introvert moments. I asked my son if he would like to read Ranger his reading lesson book, and it was just the right answer.

This is a great way to integrate canine and human family members that doesn’t require unwanted attention being pressed on an already tired dog. Look for solutions that meet everyone’s needs when possible, but of course safety always wins if push must come to shove.

Problem Solving Step Two: Choosing a Solution

Posted on by HandsFullDogTraining

How do you solve a problem like Mariiiiaaa?

In The Sound of Music one of the beautiful things is how individual differences and family dynamics are respected and become the basis for the “solution” of how awful Maria is as a postulant. She may not ever make a proper nun, but she is a wonderful governess, mother and wife.

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labrador and boy

An Antidote to “Come”, Part II

Posted on by HandsFullDogTraining

As I noted in Part I of today’s training, we are re-training Ranger to come when called on the cue of “Here, boy!” instead of “Come” so that any negative associations he has with “Come” will not impact his response.

This is an easy cue to teach with children, and it’s important that Ranger listens to the kids if he does manage to run away on their watch, so we’re including my son in this session.

We need to head two things off at the pass – nipping at the treat in excitement (recalls should be VERY exciting!) and running into the child. Read More

injecton

An Antidote to “Come”, Part I

Posted on by HandsFullDogTraining

Everybody wants a dog that comes when called like Lassie. Remember the old TV show? She’s delicately drinking from a pond when little Timmy calls her and she bounds away on the double, even leaping over a fence to obediently make her way to her beloved boy.

But what do we actually do with the very important word – “come”?

“Come here boy, time to go in your kennel.  See you in 8 hours.”

“Come on, lets get your nails trimmed.”

“Come – COME.  Bath time.”

“Fido, come! Time to leave the dog park.”

“Darn dog got out the door… COME! Why aren’t you coming? You KNOW what it means.  BAD DOG! GET OVER HERE!”

Darn right she knows what it means. Read More