Dog Walkers/Owners

We've been weakening a bit lately redstar, lifes just not the same without a dog, we'll see.
Its like having a small child again isn't it Kazzie, toys and balls everywhere

 

You are so right Simbad... having never had a dog before, silly me never knew that she would turn my tidy house up-side-down! And what about those muddy paw prints all over the cream carpets . Just like with kids... if it is too quiet, best to check the dog isn't up to anything:

 

Oh, now, Kassie, you are truly not giving Abi fair shot with the muddy paws. If you have a non carpeted entry area teach her to come in that way and have her "wait", use a towel and start with lifting all paws and wipping them, talking sweet to her all the time.
And guess what happens, Thompson did this---- We have a creek on our back property, and of course in the creek and mud he went, then up through the garage in the kitchen, and I'd say, "wait". He would stop, after about a week of the legs wiping. (and this just happened---(I had no idea that he would do this) After about a week, after the "wait" command and he would see me reach for the towel ---he lift up his front paw to get wipped (by himself) then the next one, then both backs alternately. All the time I am talking sweet of course saying good boy etc. Looking back, I would say, for this experience with him it was always same sequence, same wording, same area the towel came from. (same) They get routine, and love it.

 

Lol... I clearly have some work to do! Unfortunately the only way in is across carpets, but she does go straight to the kitchen ready for a towel rub. When I move I'll be making my home a little more dog friendly (this one isn't at all). Your Thompson sounds like the dream dog. I wonder whether Abi is such a challenge because of her strong German line (a trainer said that to me during GSD classes).

 

Ooops kazzie, I remember that look "It wasn't me" , great picture,love it.
We had the strangest thing happen last Christmas, Fudge was a terror for chocolate tree decorations, only put them on 1 year and he pulled the tree over and ate every one!!!!!, including foil wrappers, I learnt my lesson and never put them on again but he remembered every year and pulled it over just in case, he'd give the game away with glitter all over his head and looking sheepish lol, last year was our first christmas without him, we got up Boxing Day morning to find the tree on the floor!!!!! so I like to think he's still around up to mischief

 

Kazzie, from what I see of Abi in the video, I see smart, try to view her as a 3 year old child that needs structure and guidence, trust me this work will pay off. Be consistent, and all about black and white. The thing where she runs to the kitchen for the towel off is only a sign of learning from routine, this is good, and what you want in a GSD. Building routine in wording and action by you only builds a great dog. And only allow her to do things you want her to learn.
Example, my second GSD Kirby, NEVER ate or took food from the low coffee table, I could put steaks out there, nothing was touched, I could be in the kitchen, nothing was touched on the coffee table. He would air sniff however.
So one day, my brother-in-law was visiting. He decides to (without asking) take a morsal of food from the coffee table, (in plan sight of Kirby) and give it to Kirby. I was not quick enough to stop this, the food was in Kirby's mouth, I said to my brother-in law that he should have not done that, he said why? From then on the bridge was made, coffee table was Kirby's land. It took weeks of me working with him to brake him of it, and still I did not trust him anymore. You see, prior to that, he never had that experience of food given to him from the coffee table. The bridge did not exist.

And as your using the same sentance structure around her, you will notice as she puts more and more words together, you will soon, know you have to spell to tell your husband anything. As in, Go to the car and get the groceries out for me dear. The "Go" and "Car" was all my boys needed to hear. Or "Go Outside" , again, by the door waiting, when you did not intend them to go outside.

 

Simbad, chocolate---- LOL. under my tree one year, we had chocolate in a metal box, inside a cardboard box, wrapped in gift paper. Normally, no gifts were ever touched under the tree. That year that box was dragged out, and clawed and chewed on. Lucky he could not get too far. His sniffer got through all of that. That's my Thompson, love.

 

Great stories... I would never have believed that dogs could capture the heart the way they do.

Touching lots of wood... Abi has never taken any food, but it is interesting to learn how 'fragile' this behaviour is. I love the way that, without any training, she respects anything that is NOT hers. Even when her ball rolls close to an object she doesn't own, she'll seek permission before retrieving it. As for word recognition, we've had to spell things for a while now... honestly I am amazed by their intelligence.

Last summer, on a windy day with the odd spot of rain, I took the camera outside with the intention of filming the garden for my in-laws. Anyway, I got side-tracked by Abi... she does that lovely head tilt thing that dogs do. I know I shouldn't repeat things to her, but I have never sent her away for a stick before, so you can imagine my surprise... (lol, sorry another video):

 

WOW, really great. She generally identifies stick, that is wonderful as all sticks. She loves you Kazzie. And yep, the head tilt, ahhh memories. Have you tried the names to toys/object routine yet? Read up on it. Start with one object, make sure she has that name down pat of that object, get another object etc. Then you can put three objects out and tell her which to select for you. In the beginning you use your arm to assist her the direction toward the object you wish. I know in training books they will explain this better.

Here is another, names of your family members, teaching her to go to Sally, or Dad etc.
You could work on her carring things to a person. Start with short distances, of course praises. So this is a two fold, to carry and to go too, you'll have to brake it out separately then later join together. Have you ever gone to an obedience trial? If one is local check it out. (I am not saying taking her, but you just go and see) Not that she could not, you see first. Expecially the GSDs. They also should have GSD clubs around. You are so lucky to have a great dog.

And your yard is beautiful by the way.

 

We've never really tried name games... what a good idea. She knows significant family and friends' names, but I've not thought about what objects she knows. I saw a documentary where a guy claimed his dog knew the names of 2000 objects (wow). From memory, they selected 10 of these objects and introduced a new one and asked the dog to fetch an object which wasn't one of the known names. The dog figured it out so proving logic / deduction was used by the dog.

 

It is amazing and all they need is love, patience and time. The give back from them to us is more than we can imagaine. Did you ever see that tee shirt, says, "I only hope I can live up to the standards my dog believes I am." (close enough)

 

Lol redstar same here the pressies under the tree were never touched except one year we came home to find he'd discovered his pressie, a huge chewy bone(left all the rest) unwrapped it and was having a great time eating it, saw us and started wagging his tail, who could resist,it kept him amused for ages till he'd had enough and buried it in the garden, we had to get him another and keep it out the way till Christmas, bet the tin of chocolates was so frustrating,lol.
Aaaaw thats a brilliant video kazzie, Abi's very intelligent isn't she , know just what you mean about spelling things lol, we did just the same!!!!!
We used to have a golden retriever 'Penny' she could carry eggs in her mouth without breaking them and was a brilliant retriever, you could throw a stick for her in the wood and she'd refuse to come back till she found the exact stick, wood full of em but no other would do,lol.

 

Simbad... will you be getting a puppy or a rescue? and what breed?

 

You're getting me broody kazzie,if we did get one it would be a puppy, daughters just informed me of someone who has some miniature Schnauzer puppies due in January, a breed we were thinking about, still a lot to consider though, not really the right time at the moment.

 

Yep, I know Simbad. Been thinking myself about another, but so much going on, renovating the house and we do travel more now, & my work is nuts. It would have to be a puppy --so the puppy "knows" the cats are in charge (lol) With an adult there would be the work to get him to "love" the cats. The other thing with the last two boys I had, even though I just loved them to death, I was the one that did all the stuff, the combing hair, nail clipping, teeth brushing, vet visits, training classes (and homework) getting the food, keeping his waterbowel full and clean. Cleaning up after him, in the house, walking him. Giving him pill, if needed, all that stuff. So it will really be all me again. Maybe when I retire.