Welcome to the board!

It is okay to see him sideways lol thank you just the same I will try to get it right next picture

Thank you Becky nice to be here and still trying to find my way around this site - I have gotten lost a few times already lol

Happy Weekend

Welcome to the board, Mona. First, I want to say how sorry I am that you had to go through the loss of Magic. All of us here know the pain of losing a dog we love deeply. My heart goes out to you.

Each time I have lost a dog and then gotten a new, younger dog, I am surprised all over again at how challenging those youngsters can be! And of course none of us are getting any younger, so I think maybe it really does get harder with each dog!

It sounds like you are making progress, and as you've noted, it's something you have to work at each and every day. Sometimes it can get discouraging when it seems things don't improve in the short term, but then a few months go by and you can honestly say that some things are a little better. That pattern will continue as long as you keep at it with practice, patience and persistence. There is a saying, "Train today for the dog you want tomorrow." He is a young dog, he is in the process of maturing, and you will help him to be the best dog he can be.

You are taking some of the LB classes offered here. That's a great way to start. They have a lot of really good training DVDs, too. And of course there's always the forum here to ask specific questions anytime.

P.S. Rocky is such a handsome guy!

Mona, your Rocky looks so sweet! Does it matter whether we have to bend our heads a bit?

I too think, Mikes advice is great. At least try! As my dogs are outdoor dogs I can't judge if the leash will slip underneath your feet. Depends certainly partly on the ground you have there (carpet, ceramics) and on the force you are able to put on it with your corporal problem.

Also follow Bob's advice about random rewards! I in the beginning I used to mock a bit about him repeating it so often. Thought this was unnecessary, as I finally knew it. Later on I got it how important this is. Knowing doesn't mean enough, being reminded and being really aware of it and checking ourselves helps much more.

Bob, am I interpreting correctly if I use "randomly" not merely for the quantity or quality of rewards, but also for the manner of delivering ? E.g. not always from the same hand or same body position, and also once delivering directly after the release marker and other times making a little reward event like stepping back or making doggie chase the treat and so on?

Does randomly also refer to where we train and how. Once he's captured fully an excercise we should randomly change the place and once iwe combine with other well known exercises not always in the same sequence? Right or wrong, you can at least see, I'm taking this very seriosly meanwhile.

Mona said
"So far I see I have been doing a few things wrong already."

Most of us here still make mistakes.

When we decide we know everything about dog training it will be time to get a gold fish because we're fooling ourselves.

Thank you so much Christina. I will get back to this board real soon but getting geared up for the big holiday around the corner. And yes Rocky is sweet thank you but boy he can be some handful I tell ya. Patience is a virtue with this one

Hahah I like that one Bob and I used to have a goldfish long ago. I am getting better at the yes and pause and good... I have to check myself each time now whereas before I would just say good boy and give him his treat. He really takes it rough and he like devours it without even chewing. I cut the pieces up small too but he inhales it. He is high energy like he drank coffee or something lol

Timing is key and it sounds like your getting it down.

I'm sure goldfishes can be marker trained too. Just can't imagine what release marker would be appropriate for them. No answer needed. Don't own a goldfish.