What is the present relationship of the kids and the dogs?

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

No, I don't mean praising the dog ... I mean a special word that you might choose in lieu of a clicker.

I can't really see any way to do the social isolation period, or even what you'd be aiming for, really, with your free-roaming dogs (for years) who will never live inside and who, as a very experienced trainer mentioned to me when we emailed about this thread, may not view you and your family as "their pack" in any significant way, even though they sound pretty social.

You have a situation that isn't exactly what most training protocols are really addressing, but that can take huge advantage of marker training for the behaviors you want. You'll notice that even the farm-dog person who replied went straight to marker work for you.

My advice would be to get this http://leerburg.com/markers.htm DVD, the very first and most basic of all the marker videos, and actually very reasonably priced, and watch it. While marker training is touched on in Basic Ob, so much of Basic Ob is about living with the dog. Your way of living with the dog is a little different, again, from what most "house manners, pack structure" protocols are addressing. This is JMO.

But the Marker DVD is specifically about training wanted behaviors, and IMO using the very best method around.

All JMO. I'm interested to read others' takes on this.

Yep! Watch it many times I did! As a farm person also, marker training has done wonders for my In-laws' dogs who are strictly outside. Best commands to teach a farm dog: (IMO) VERY solid recall, sit, down, place, and "leave it" The last one is very handy for skunk chasers Markers will allow you to train commands easily and quickly in a positive manner as long as you watch and follow the instructions given in the DVD.
Also agree that the chicken episode was one of luck, not training. Train a command to redirect (like "leave it") as a back-up.

Ok, just ordered Marker Training.

If our dogs don't view us as part of their "pack" is that OK?

 Quote: Evie Wolford

Ok, just ordered Marker Training.

If our dogs don't view us as part of their "pack" is that OK?

I really don't know how to answer that. Dogs who live outside, on their own, vary a lot in the amount and type of interaction they have with their owners.

I honestly would simply move ahead with marker training and achieving the goals you want (which I view as absolutely reasonable and doable). The marker training alone is going to create (or enhance) a bond that will change your relationship with the dogs, I believe.

If you were having some kind of problem we haven't seen in these posts, the answer might be different.

PS

It's great that folks who have farm dog experience are on the thread. That is a gap in my own experience. LOL

"What is the present relationship of the kids and the dogs?"

The boys love the dogs very much. They play outside around the dogs for between 1 and 3 hours every day. Sometimes they're just doing their own thing (climbing trees, making forts, etc), other times they involve the dogs in their play (attempting to get the dogs to fetch, leading them on leashes, petting and hugging them, etc). The boys do not wrestle or rough house with the dogs (they don't like to). Sometimes the dogs are a little pushy for the 3 year old, but they usually respond well to him telling them "no". Our 1 year old enjoys petting them and they seem to realize the need to be quieter and gentler around him. Our 7 year old is responsible for feeding the dogs every day and both the 7 year old and 3 year old enjoy giving them treats from their hands. There has never been any issues involving food. None of the boys are the least bit intimidated by the dogs.

Thank you all for your advice! I'll try to come back on and update as we implement the marker training. I'm looking forward to working with the dogs! Maybe someday I'll get a puppy to keep indoors and train it in the more traditional way. It's been a dream of mine, but it's not the right time in our lives.

"I'll try to come back on and update as we implement the marker training. "

Oh, you definitely should! This board is loaded with marker trainers. Any questions you have during or after watching the DVD will be answered here.


You're going to have fun. Marker training is fun for the dog and the human. Only meals beat out marker training in my dogs' lists of favorite things.

All I have to do is move toward the bait bag to have three dog faces eagerly pointing my way in the hope that a new command is about to be taught, and each one wants to be first. (I am not exaggerating, and this is not an uncommon attitude for dogs to have about marker sessions. )

Watch: http://leerburg.com/flix/player.php?id=17

 Quote: Evie Wolford

Ok, just ordered Marker Training.

If our dogs don't view us as part of their "pack" is that OK?

CONSISTENT marker training will develop that connection!