@Connie, I was wondering about the trash. Like "setting him up" like I read about on the e collar stuff, ..... for the purpose of teaching him one time to not to mess with it, so that I don't have to worry about if the cabinet door is shut or not. He stays in whichever room I am in all the time, but I do not need him in trash ever, so was just curious.

Connie already has some real nuggets of wisdom in this thread.

I might even have "The dog doesn't think in terms of convenient" tattooed on me.

For the trash issue, I didn't even have a kitchen trash can until my dog was a year old. I kept a bag under the kitchen sink and took it out every day. If something was dangerous (like cooked chicken bones) I took it out immediately. I still do that.

I'm not saying its the only way to go, but its definitely easier when you have so many other house rules to teach.

I'd also recommend a prong collar. If he's big enough to pull your arm off, he's big enough for a prong collar.

 Quote: danielle keith

@Connie, I was wondering about the trash. Like "setting him up" like I read about on the e collar stuff, ..... for the purpose of teaching him one time to not to mess with it, so that I don't have to worry about if the cabinet door is shut or not. He stays in whichever room I am in all the time, but I do not need him in trash ever, so was just curious.

He's a puppy, and puppies will get into trash. Save yourself some aggravation and keep it where it's a sure thing that he can't get into it or do what Lauren does and take it out every day. IMO it's not worth damaging your bond with him by setting him up to give him a hard correction for getting into the trash.

I agree a million percent.

Even with a pre-owned adult, I simply lock up the trash or take it out every day until s/he has the house routine down pat, and I have had a couple of dogs who even after a long time, I closed the closet door on the trash when I went out. This is not an issue I'm going to choose when I choose my battles.


eta
I wouldn't even consider e-collar work for this. JMO.



Edited by Connie Sutherland (02/25/2011 01:58 PM)
Edit reason: eta

 Quote: Tracy Collins

I'd also recommend a prong collar. If he's big enough to pull your arm off, he's big enough for a prong collar.

Yes, as Betty and Tracy say, this might be very helpful to you.

http://leerburg.com/fit-prong.htm

http://leerburg.com/prong.htm


It's not a tool I use for up-close dog reactivity, though. It can be inflaming in that situation. That's why I was asking if up-close dogs were the only pulling/lunging triggers.

Edited by Connie Sutherland (02/25/2011 02:02 PM)
Edit reason: add links

 Quote: danielle keith

I don't mean at all to be offensive or ridiculous, I just don't understand if this lunging thing is something to "correct" or to work through with reward, and what kind of collars or corrections are suitable for a 6 month old puppy.

To me, it is something to be trained and controlled - not corrected until he is trained. The prong collar will help immediately for most dogs. With some dogs, it can cause a heightened reaction if corrected for something when they are already "up" as in they see a dog they don't like, they start going nuts, you "correct" and that correction escallates their response - so just be aware of this when you first begin using the prong. The vast majority of dogs simply quit lunging/forging ahead - it is wonderful!

Are you familiar with Marker training?

"I don't mean at all to be offensive or ridiculous"


You're not. You're asking good questions.

Thanks, I will definitely look into the prong. You do think that it would be okay for a rookie to use one as long as it wasn't for correction purposes? Like BAM, he lunges and hits the end of it and learns not to do it without me even having to "have my arm ripped off and be dragged into the road?" hahahahahha... I'm sure my German neighbors love watching when the dog goes nuts, my hair is flying around, I'm getting drug into the road, dog is barking, and better yet, the entire length of his longcoat from his head to his butt stands directly up on end and he looks like a hyena. Its hilarious. I can only imagine how crazy we look out there when these things happen. It's not that often, but when it does, man, it hurts. "look at zee american vit her German Shepherd" hahahahahahahahaa.. I can imagine them all laughing at me out their windows ......

What should the schedule for training and actual training look like for a 6 month old dog? What should he and should he not be capable of doing?

I won't ever push the trash issue. It's not a problem under the cabinet, and it goes out all the time, so like you said, there is no reason to push it. And I will avoid all the dog situations that cause bad reactions in the future. and do desensitizing... THANK YOU GUYS!!!!!!!!! Especially for not being hateful

 Quote: danielle keith

having to "have my arm ripped off and be dragged into the road?" hahahahahha... I'm sure my German neighbors love watching when the dog goes nuts, my hair is flying around, I'm getting drug into the road, dog is barking, and better yet, the entire length of his longcoat from his head to his butt stands directly up on end and he looks like a hyena. Its hilarious. I can only imagine how crazy we look out there when these things happen. It's not that often, but when it does, man, it hurts. "look at zee american vit her German Shepherd" hahahahahahahahaa.. I can imagine them all laughing at me out their windows ......

Hahahahahaha! I love that picture in my mind! It reminds me of the first time I tried to walk my husbands Husky when we first met.

Then he went to "boot camp"