Great information, so again thank you. Id never heard of the NILF training Mara, this sounds to be something worth a look at with Mac.

Ana i think i will buy a harness for him, it makes sense not to disturb him to early in his life with the pressure exerted with a leash and collar.

We'll persevere and any further questions ill pop on the forum. Thanks again everyone.

Not so fast!!! We work for pictures of adorable puppies! Pay up! hee hee

Hehe,

Right you are Jessica, here are some shots of him. I am a photographer so i have lots and lots of him. Think ill need a new camera by the time i am done.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/mrmonkah/MacWolf.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/mrmonkah/MacwithToy.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/mrmonkah/MacFace2.jpg

While im thinking about it, i had another bit of advice for when he is nipping.....

Do the the yelp and stand up and take an 'alpha' stance (shoulders back with a straight face) until he lays down or walks away. Any thoughts on this?



All the best,

Daniel

Edited by Connie Sutherland (11/16/2010 10:40 AM)
Edit reason: change embedded photos to links

Holy moley, that is one adorable puppy!!!!!

Super adorable pup!

Daniel, who is giving you all this 'alpha' advice? You don't want to use social pressure with your amazing quick-learning sensitive pup! Check out this Michael Ellis video on biting:



http://leerburg.com/playem.htm?name=flv/biting-puppies.flv

The key is not to make a big deal out of it, just like ME says. At all costs you should avoid a fight with the puppy.

 Quote: Daniel Gregory

While im thinking about it, i had another bit of advice for when he is nipping.....

Do the the yelp and stand up and take an 'alpha' stance (shoulders back with a straight face) until he lays down or walks away. Any thoughts on this?

Daniel, that has got to be the cutest pup on the planet!

The yelping thing won't work with a high drive puppy (at least, it never did when mine was a pup). Just makes 'em bite harder...

Better to keep redirecting. Some good things to have laying around are:
twisted and knotted up cotton hand towels,
soft puppy tugs,
soft leather bite rag

Remember to give your redirect item some movement, to make it more interesting than your hand, shirt sleeve, or pants cuff.

If the pup gets too wound up, distract with a quick marker training session (he's not too young for that), and put him up in his crate with a stuffed Kong or other fillable toy.

OMG that IS the cutest puppy ever

 Quote: Lynne Barrows

 Quote: Daniel Gregory

While im thinking about it, i had another bit of advice for when he is nipping.....

Do the the yelp and stand up and take an 'alpha' stance (shoulders back with a straight face) until he lays down or walks away. Any thoughts on this?

Daniel, that has got to be the cutest pup on the planet!

The yelping thing won't work with a high drive puppy (at least, it never did when mine was a pup). Just makes 'em bite harder...

Better to keep redirecting. Some good things to have laying around are:
twisted and knotted up cotton hand towels,
soft puppy tugs,
soft leather bite rag

Remember to give your redirect item some movement, to make it more interesting than your hand, shirt sleeve, or pants cuff.

If the pup gets too wound up, distract with a quick marker training session (he's not too young for that), and put him up in his crate with a stuffed Kong or other fillable toy.

I learned that being still makes you less interesting. So for instance if he is nipping at your hand while playing simply freeze; once he realizes and stops nipping mark and treat . Marker training is the best by the way.. IMO

 Quote:

Daniel, who is giving you all this 'alpha' advice? You don't want to use social pressure with your amazing quick-learning sensitive pup!

This^^^

Border Collies by nature want to please and are highly biddable. They are high drive dogs that have been bred for the last century to work with a person and take direction from them - it's in their DNA to try and figure out what is expected of them and how to work in partnership with you

Hi again everyone.

I to thank you all again for the fantastic advice. We've had a day of the Micheal Ellis method of teachng Mac not to bite and it worked incredibly well. Today Mac has been an angel.

Hi again everyone,

Thought id give you an update and ask to see where i should be at with his training.

So Mac is coming up to his 10th week of life and he's getting noticeably bigger.

At the moment were only marker training him for sitting and a little bit of lying down. This means he now sits before eating his dinner and before he enters the house.

Firstly is it acceptable to essentially pretend to have a treat in order to make Mac sit before entering the house? (IE we dont generally take a treat out with us in preparation for him coming back in.) Were using the 'YES' marker like in the Micheal Ellis videos. Also when mac goes to the bathroom were using the 'Be Quick' command as he is going about his business. Am i right in thinking that this command should be given just before he starts to go, or is whilst he is going good enough? (Predicting exactly when he is 'about' to go is difficult)

We dont want to overwork the little guy but we also dont want him to be bored.

My final question is, when is best to start adding the actual commands to the marker, and in what order should the marker and command be given?

All the best and i look forward to hearing your thoughts,

Daniel