You are so right about comparing pups to toddlers, Connie. I know that Ruby was a terror last night, not because she's a bad dog, but because she was in need. Today, my husband made sure he "worked her"- just basic commands and *sitting in the box* - for about 45 minutes and she got more from me when I got home - even though I was exhausted from teaching all day and then a staff meeting. My husband said he sang to her after working with her and she slept like a baby for a couple of hours. Too funny. I would never consider rehoming Ruby - I know I will work this out. She's just way more dog than any GSD I've had in my life before. We will get through this trying time with patience and work and perseverance.

One thing I do see though, is that the minute I start actually *working* her, she calms way down and becomes very focused.

 Quote: kathy gray

.... I would never consider rehoming Ruby - I know I will work this out.

I know you will too!

And that 45 minutes your husband put in -- he gets it, too.

There's always a way. This board is darned good at this stuff. I learned a ton of options here in some of the "storm day" threads that work just as well on days when the humans are exhausted or recovering from the 'flu or waiting for the repair people .... Yes, I need to have a way for the dogs to get structured exercise every day, but when necessary, I can swap out a hunk of that with practicing a nice brisk pace of loose-leash in the basement or garage or hall, alternated with running through the doggy-pushup routine in the kitchen for ten minutes, and then "find it" on the back porch ....

I have a small place, and there is no space in it that has not served as a dog game/exercise/obedience/marker area.

I learned all that stuff here -- all the many ways to burn up the dog's energy and bond/train/practice pack structure at the same time.

And I learned about having little stashes of marker rewards in more than one place ...

But I am having a senior moment. What is "sitting in the box"? Is it practicing the "place" command?

PS

Or is it when the human hides in a packing box while the dog runs madly around the house?

 Quote: connie sutherland

PS

Or is it when the human hides in a packing box while the dog runs madly around the house?

Too funny! Our training school taught it. Our trainer said it has no real practical application, it's mostly to teach us how to train. You put a low sided box/box lid on the floor and with clicker and treats at the ready you click and treat as the dog moves toward the box. The idea is to let them figure out what you want. They look at the box - click and treat. Accidentally put a foot in it - click and treat. Eventually, they sit in it and you click and treat like mad. Now I just put the box on the floor and say "get in the box" and she runs over to it and sits in the box. They told a funny story about a lab who had terrible greeting behavior. Then they taught him *sit in the box* and started showing it off to visitors. Eventually, the day came when the doorbell rang and the dog was nowwhere around. Where's the dog? Sitting in the box in the laundry room waiting for the guests to come see his trick. I'd say that's practical!

We did loose leash work in the kitchen and laundry tonight. Some tugging and fetching inbetween me picking up the piles out the backyard and she's pretty mellow tonight. Although she does have loose stools. I think hubby gave her a few too many treats today

It is known as "101 Things to do With a Box" around here!

Soooo glad your dog wasn't having to sit in box for 45 minutes. LOL!

No no - not the box for 45 minutes! I kind of like Connie's idea of me hiding in the box. We've got some really big boxes around here! We just got a new snowthrower and some other implements. I'm sure there's one big enough for me to sit in. :}

 Quote: barbara schuler

It is known as "101 Things to do With a Box" around here!

Make it 102.

I had a nice big UPS box outside by the door until I could get a chance to take off the flaps and bring it in, and they all "made it their own," I see by the damp rings on one side of it.