Quote: Heather Perring

We have the processed american cheese squares but I want to try the better stuff too.

LOL.

And yet another who probably feeds her dog better than herself. (If you're like me, but I'm getting better.)

He is getting about 3.5lbs of food a day, split into half because we feed twice a day. He is a big dog and his father was 100lbs, mother was 90lbs.

His build is solid but not fat. We tend to eyeball food now rather than weigh it anymore so if I notice him getting squishier and can't feel his ribs as well we cut back. As of now ribs can be felt easily.

I was referring to the nutrition benefits of "good" cheese vs "processed" cheese. (I'm a cheez-wiz connoisseur, lol.)

My dog loves cheese, too.

I use it as training treats.

Also, I read on here about a "grab bag" of treats (Connie, I think, but thanks and credit to whomever gave the suggestion) and this is an excellent idea, too.

I mix up the cheese with leftover bits of steak, chicken, just whatever. They never know what they're going to get.

 Quote: Nora Ferrell

LOL.

And yet another who probably feeds her dog better than herself. (If you're like me, but I'm getting better.)

Haha..Yeah. Though it kind of motivates me to try and eat better too.

Oh no, Nora, I was answering Connie's question!

Heather,
How old is the dog?
It may be that you have done too much with him and he is bored.
Mix it up a little and make it fun for him.
It may also be that the dog isn't that interested in pleasing you because he is your BF's dog and not yours.
Also, make sure that you aren't saying "sit-down" or as some say "siddown".
The other question I have is, did you teach him to down from the sitting position? If you did, it is a big mistake and one that all too many people make. They should both be taught from the standing position. This way the dog knows that they are separate tasks and different commands. If you trained him to down from the sitting position he is just doing what he thinks will be expected of him next before you can reward him for the sit.
Re-train him on the down only. Re-train on the sit also, but, you may need to use a leash and collar to correct him for downing when there has been no down command.

^^^Rrrrreally? I'll have to work on that.

He's almost a year old. When I mean he does these things, it is for both of us. Eric works with him and he does the same to him.

We've withheld half of his food, tried the cheese. Small eraser size blocks of sharp cheddar. He responds better, but still not very much so. Feeding all his meals in short training sessions.

Eric wanted me to ask you guys about marker training. He doesn't seem to think he is learning anything. This week he is working on down only as to not to confuse him with two different commands. He says how will he learn the commands? He knows only sit and down. When asked to down, if he sits, Eric is trying to ignore him and walk away. The dog shrugs it off, walks away and plays with a stick, he doesn't seem to care that he didn't get anything.

Today he only sat once when asked to down though. But Eric said last time he split exercises and say..did sit for a week then when he thought he was solid he did downs...the dog would sit and when he didn't get a treat, just down. Every time. As in "When I don't get it, I'll just do the other." and he'd get a reward for it anyway, and Eric seems to think because of this he is only guessing all the time-thus the walking away when he doesn't do it right. Unlike my dog, who wanted a reward NOW..so she would figure it out and do what got her the reward the quickest, this dog doesn't seem to care how fast it comes.

The dog still wanders off randomly in the training too.

Just confused here and would love a little help from anyone who has some experience.

Any chance of a video of a session? Any session?

Also, have you seen the Leerburg Marker video?

Do you use a LOM (lost opportunity marker; thank you to WDF) or negative marker (like Ed's nope)?

I don't walk away and end a session because of a nope response.

Okay...going out on a limb...is he white and does he have genetic anomalies? He could have some problems that can't be fixed.

Shoot me later. I have had a brain damaged dog. It is something to think about.

Oh, and "nope" or "oops" or other negative marker that has no harshness attached is preferred. When I switched from no to nope, per Ed's video, I heard my whole voice change. MUCH better when what we are going for is "try again" and not "bad dog."

The new WDJ might have been reading Ed! While they use "oops," they certainly cheered the use of a non-harsh LOM (their term).