[Charlotte]

Hi all, thought it was time for an update.

Going on the advice given by other members, I have decided to patiently work on the commands in the house, rewarding very often, instead of trying to enforce commands which Fred maybe didn’t yet fully understand.

Strange enough, the ignoring of commands has hardly happened anymore for some time already. I’m thinking maybe this may be related to the dog’s trust in me increasing. Early on, I sometimes lost my patience and forced him to do stuff, or even in a worst case I showed him the back of my hand. I stopped doing that though, and I feel that that has perhaps been the biggest contributing factor. I feel so bad for having done that to him!

I have bought an Ecollar, and I’m overly excited that I now don’t have any aversive issues to use it with, and instead I can start just using it in myiy everyday training!

Thanks so much for your support, Logan and Riggan.

[Charlotte]

Riggan, your answer is very extended and very helpful. The way you describe for confirming whether a dog knows a command or not is very nice, and i’ll definitely be using this from now on to check how far I am with teaching a behaviour.

I am quite positive that the simple commands I’m asking him at these moments when he ignores my command, are things he really does know, and he’s just testing me. He just knows that when I don’t have a leash on him (so at home, when we’re not training) that I cannot reinforce the corrections as well as when I do have the leash. But he needs to listen without a leash too, especially when we’re simply being at home.

I think I probably need to train him more often in these situations (just simple short training sessions so he gets to understand that he should listen in the house as well), and maybe I might want to back myself up with an e-collar here… That would show him that without a leash, I am still in charge. But yes, you are 100% right, rewarding him for actions should be happening much much more often than correcting him.

Thanks for thinking with me.

[Charlotte]

Thanks for your reply Logan, this lines up with what I think is the right way to handle this, good to see that you confirm my thoughts.

[Charlotte]

He looks so sweet. Good thing that you still managed to get such a nice pic on that last, sad day.

[Charlotte]

What a nice dogs. Was Toby another breed than the other two?

[Charlotte]

Never will one dog replace another, but I think each one can fill your heart anew.

[Charlotte]

What a terrible way to lose your dog… So sorry.

Did he tear out that fly screen himself? His head fits right in haha

[Charlotte]

What a lovely dog to see. The first part of your story sounded almost like mine; Chester was with me through the same life stages as Samantha was with you, and he also left me on Christmas Eve 🙁

[Charlotte]

Gret pictures, and the one with the mud seems so typical for how you describe your Max haha. Did you get another dog after Jazz?

[Charlotte]

What a nice dogs, and great names. I’m glad that Gibson now fills your heart with new joy. Isn’t it strange and beautiful to see how different each and every dog has his own soul and character?