lefty's random dog thread.

[BP348]

I agree with Lefty, what you're fighting right now if the fact that the dog has never lived as a "house pet" type of dog. So basically you have to get them used to being inside and that includes potty training the dog.

Just like a puppy you need to walk them and get them used to going outside. So praising after a number 1 or number 2 is really important.

Keep playing with the toys because right now he's learning what it is. I also second the put the food down and leave it for 30 minutes or so. When he gets hungry he'll eat.

 

[NorCal]

YEah, a dog will eat. Just make sure it's got decent quality food and plenty of water. It's when it won't take water that there can be a real problem. BE calm, be gentle with the dog, and take your time.

 

[NorCal]

My pup and my parents dog having some fun:

I guess they're going to arrange a meet and great with a local rancher to give his McNab a chance to court our Bonnly lass. I'll post any pictures of the fellow. Here is Nixie as the morning sun dries the orchard. I'm building a little cabin right near here.

The poor girl had been sick as ... well, a dog the night before. She had either eaten an amanita muscaria or some turned food she dug up. She was gone for 3 or 4 hours and I had looked all over hell's half acre for thinking that she had ran off after something and gotten lost. I found her about 50 yards away from our camp looking wild eyed and crazy under a apple tree. At first I though she was just really spooked but after I sat with her for a while by the fire I realized just how out of it she was. She had the look of an animal on drugs and her body and gums were cold to touch. I took her inside and she slept for about three hours, then got up, and drank about two gallons of water in one sitting, and promptly pissed, puked, and ****. Then another 1/2 gallon of water and slept it off. Once more in morning she puked and then seemed to get her color back. Poor dog.

 

[ItzJimmy]

Should I leave water in the bowl all the time or only when I feed and about to take him out?

 

[lefty]

Your animals should always have access to fresh water. That means a clean bowl every morning and refilled during the day.

The dog is drinking, right?

lefty

 

[ItzJimmy]

yeah hes drinking water. Now all he does is sit in his bed, unless i walk in the kitchen he will follow cause he thinks its feeding time.

When can I start basic training with a clicker, any tips since he seems so bored?

 

[lefty]

You can start training at any time, but I would give the dog time to adjust to his new world. Bond with him. He's not bored.

Why a clicker?

lefty

 

[ItzJimmy]

Seems to be the easiest since this is my first dog.

Any other suggestions?

 

[NorCal]

He might well be following you b/c he's nervous and

with you. Dogs often will follow their master from room to room and if he's still adjusting to the trauma of moving you're the most stable thing in his life. Be nice and give the dog a break. By clicker do you mean a shock collar? Lefty is the man to ask about this but from my (apparently totally incorrect and missplaced guess) limited knowledge they aren't for amateurs and require some skill to use right. Maybe start with a class from a local trainer? If it's a pound dog they will likely offer something and give you a discount to boot.

 

[Rambo]

If its a retired greyhound his life probably consisted of sitting in a kennel all day until he worked out/ran and then going back in the kennel for the rest of it. Sounds like he's just following his normal schedule.

 

[JLibourel]

Originally Posted by NorCal

He might well be following you b/c he's nervous and

with you. Dogs often will follow their master from room to room and if he's still adjusting to the trauma of moving you're the most stable thing in his life. Be nice and give the dog a break.
By clicker do you mean a shock collar? Lefty is the man to ask about this but from my limited knowledge they aren't for amateurs and require some skill to use right.
Maybe start with a class from a local trainer? If it's a pound dog they will likely offer something and give you a discount to boot.

No, clicker-treat training is very different from using a shock collar. I have been instructed in the clicker-treat method, but I don't recall except that you use a clicker to reinforce your command and reward the dog with a treat or something like that. My few efforts to use clicker treat were foiled by my stepson, then much younger, who used the clicker to tease the dog by clicking in his face.

Shock collars have their place, but they're easy to over-use and abuse.

 

[lefty]

Originally Posted by NorCal

He might well be following you b/c he's nervous and

with you. Dogs often will follow their master from room to room and if he's still adjusting to the trauma of moving you're the most stable thing in his life. Be nice and give the dog a break. By clicker do you mean a shock collar? Lefty is the man to ask about this but from my limited knowledge they aren't for amateurs and require some skill to use right. Maybe start with a class from a local trainer? If it's a pound dog they will likely offer something and give you a discount to boot.
Clicker training is a system that uses Positive Reinforcement (1/4 of Operant Conditioning) to mark a desired behavior to the animal. In short, the animal is taught that when they hear the "click" they will get a reward. Typically this is a child's toy but can be any sound. (Cetaceans are trained with a whistle.) This is used in the beginning of a new training behavior to teach the animal what action is necessary to receive a "click" and therefore a reward. Animals can very quickly work out which specific behavior will get a reward and you can use their desire to shape a behavior. The clicker is used as it very quick, precise and doesn't carry the emotional weight that the voice does. Timing however is everything and you can easily be reinforcing the wrong behaviors if you click too soon or too late. The timing of the food reward is less critical. If the OP is interested he should do some reading. Start with Karen Pryor. lefty

 

[NorCal]

Ahh... interesting. Learn something new each day.

 

[NorCal]

Actually just got off the phone with my dad... the Bonny Dog above was just hit by a car (a ******* Budweiser truck) and is in route to the specialist. She is at a vet now but they can't operate. There is head truama of an unknown extent, blood in her eye, and skull/ jaw fractures.
Hope for the best.

 

[lefty]

Sorry to hear that.

lefty