Help, Dogs Chewing!!!

[ParNone]

It's been my experience that less time training, but with more frequency is a better approach, then long periods of training time at one shot. When teaching a new command, I've never spent more then 5 mins at a time, but I do train every day. That way they're getting the repetition to learn something, but we're stopping before either one of us can get frustrated or bored. Training always ends on a high that way and becomes fun.

Once they have a command, I just integrate that into everyday life. So for example, once they know what "Sit" means, I'll have them "Sit" before they go outside or "Sit" before they get their dinner. This just takes consistency, not time. It only takes a couple of seconds to say "Sit" and have them do it, before you place their dinner down.

I've been working with my Collie, Gull to learn to weave through weave poles. It's a complex behavior for a dog to learn. I've been in agility classes, where I've found that quite a few ppl train this like 30 mins at a time and they were quite surprised to learn that I only trained this task for around minute a day.

Gull did not pick up this behavior as quickly as my first Collie, Oz and I have to admit I had momentary thoughts that he's just not going to get this. But I stuck to my training philosophy, practice everyday, but only 1 minute. After about a week, out of nowhere, I noticed the lightbulb went on for him. He got the concept. We still have a ways to go to fade out the lure, but I've no doubt he'll get there. And on the plus side, he does it with joy and speed, because of short training times, it's viewed as fun vs a chore.

Anywho, I think people have this wrong view that you have to train for excruciately long periods to get anywhere and I think that actually has the opposite effect. Train everyday, keep it short and fun. You'll be amazed at the results.

Par...

[beyond_me]

Thank you ParNone!!! I can totally see how that would work. If you sit ther and keep trying to get them to do something and they don't get it, it gets very fustrating.
Also I do spend all my time that I can with my dogs. I do have to work to make money to keep them though. This weekend they were not left home alone at all. I swear the weekend was all about them. And that is what I try to do all the time I can. I work an hour aways from home so that is 2hours and then usullay we work 9-11 hours, but when we come home I spend most of my time with them. I have to give Spaz her meds, give her a bath every other day, and give my other dogs their attention, cook dinner, and try to keep things organized. I know everyone has things to do, but I don't know where you got that I don't want to spend time with my dogs. I just work a lot, but other then that I am with them most of the time!!! Also I don't want them to clean the house (even though I tell them that if they wanted to they could) I mean just something that doesn't have to do with food that will keep them busy. Just a question, doesn't have to be something that can have an answer, just something I am wondering.
I worked at a dog day care and I have met many dogs that have had training and are worst them my dogs will ever be. Also I haven't really had any good reason to get a behaviorist. A family rescued a golden and took it to day care a couple of times, then over the weekend I guess the dog nipped on of the kids. The first thing the behaviorist told them was to put the dog down. Not try to find a home with out kids, not work with the dog. So they put it down before they even told us (people at the day care that could have helped to find a home). So I'm not ready to go spend money and have nothing change. I know trained aren't only traing there dog but also the owner, so I just need some advice and I can do it myself.
Also DD what makes a person not fit to have a dog?

[VTJess03]

I can totally relate to the time at work thing. I am working 1-1/2 hours from home right now, 5 days/week, and my Saturdays are being taken up with 4-H leadership, (new) obedience class, and trying to catch up on housework. Sundays are for church, and Sunday afternoons are for my husband and my critters. I do the 5-10 minute approach at least 2 or 3 times each evening, and at least 1 or 2 times in the mornings before I leave. Pretty much any time I'm home, I work my dogs in.

For example, I'm fixing dinner and my dogs are at the other end of the house...I call them with my recall command, and treat them if they come like they're supposed to.

If it's bad weather, I'm usually home with them because my job is an outdoor job (construction-related) and I don't have work if it's raining, etc. This does allow me to work with my dogs more often than some people who also keep 12 hour days. (actually, last week, I logged 17 hours on one day).

I just want to encourage you that you can have obedient, loving dogs that behave when you're away, even if your job keeps you gone most of the time.

Also, I find that if I leave them with something to do (rawhide chews or something) they usually leave them alone until I get home again, then take them out to finish the activity...it's strange, but that's the way they act.

[beyond_me]

I just got them 10 Hooves, and gave them 5 last night. They haven't chewed anything up so far this week!!! My husband was determined to leave things in the back yard, so he had to work on Sunday so I went through everything and dog proofed everything that I could.
Also they have been doing a lot better with manners. My husband has been working with them and it is working really well. The thing though is they listen to him, not so much me, but I'm working with them to. I just can't get the voice right that gets them to listen like my husband can. They are use to me cheering them on when they are good, not really getting them to stop doing things that they shouldn't, but they are a lot better. Thanks for everything!!!