I agree...I think I may be reinforcing too quickly. Since I have studied behavioral psych in depth...you think I would understand the power of partial reinforcement! But things don't always carry over as they should...instead I find my self feeling like I should reinforce him every 5-10 strides or so. So thanks for the advice, and I'll search for that article.

yeah "star envy"--oh jeff, sometimes you come up with the best ones!!

but really, i WAS curious, and if it came off as being snippy, i do apologize. heaven knows I'm no expert either <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

OT--in working with my pup on basic "manners" and motivational OB, random rewards really do work, once he gets the concept. like of "sit" gets reward--within one day, he would spontaneously sit to try for the reward. sometimes he got it, sometimes he didn't, but i always praise him.

now he sits at the door when he wants to go outside, when he wants something (it could be anything--attention, MAYBE a treat <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />. this marker training (first time i've attempted it) seems really effective--it's just catching him doing the behavior, then rewarding it right away that's a challenge for me. better now, though--i always have treats in my pockets or at least within a grab.

not even near Heel yet, so i'm not going there, but there's a REALLY good thread in the comp heeling forum that addresses initial positioning/marking--check it out. and i'm not as good as connie, so just surf through...

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.....OT--in working with my pup on basic "manners" and motivational OB, random rewards really do work, once he gets the concept. like of "sit" gets reward--within one day, he would spontaneously sit to try for the reward. sometimes he got it, sometimes he didn't, but i always praise him....

Yes, this happened with one of my very food-driven dogs. Once he learned he had to "sit" to earn a treat (way back), he frequently "sat" very ostentatiously right in my line of sight in hopes of a treat. I'd be sitting on the couch or somewhere and suddenly there would be a dog, sitting smack in front of me, in the most perfect "sit" position, and with a big hopeful face, licking his lips. Cracked me up.

yeah--it's good now, because the bugger is growing so fast he's always hungry--today he even left the CAT to work on getting a treat!! BTW--his favorite treats are dry cat food; better than biljac, better than hot dogs (he doesn't like the texture--spits 'em out).

anyway, it IS comical the way he follows, sits, "fuss" (to him that means "look at me"), platz, come 'ere. but GOOD--cause the best things in life come from me. and he does get his reward <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

next: prey item. but i have to SLOW DOWN. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> he's only 13 wks old, and i'm sure i'm screwing him up somehow.... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Connie, am I wrong or isn't cat food bad for dogs. Doesn't it swell up inside or something like that?

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Connie, am I wrong or isn't cat food bad for dogs. Doesn't it swell up inside or something like that?

Hmmmm -- I hadn't heard that. Anyone else?

I have definitely read that cats can't flourish on commercial dog food with all the grains and non-meat (cats being obligate omnivores), and that many dogs wouldn't do well on cat food as a diet because it's very rich (especially dogs with any vulnerability to kidney or pancreas disorder), but maybe there is more to it. Someone on this board must know. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I have a book called the German Shepherd Dog by Liz Palika that says not to feed dry food that swells to over a third of its original size when it gets wet. The reason being it can cause gas in the stomach resulting in bloat.

Plus food that 'swells' means it's more cheap grain than anything else.