Nipping and barking

Pick up pace or slow pace does not mean run.

Anymore, I am not one to first resort to punishment, even negative punishment and then give it an added humphf by showing disgust.  I would expect that closing a door between you and the pup would only make the dog whine, scratch the door, and the pup would have to learn to cope with anxiety on its own....and the behavior the pup develop to cope may not be something you like.....another behavior that would have to be addressed.    Indoors, if this happens, I would immediately give the signal that we are going to go through the obedience training drill, thus strengthening the commands and giving you better control when at the start of this unacceptable behavior.  But don't forget you do have satisfy what the pup wants and after you figure that out, give it to the dog in moderation.

Nope...know better than to run...lol!

I always just try to revert his attention....... and I always fall back on the one command we know so well without thinking twice...and that is sit. He is much slower on all the rest...but we're working on it.

spiritdogs

You can teach him the "easy" exercise.  Get a piece of food, and place it in your closed fist.  Let him mouth your hand, but don't open it until he backs off (this can take a little while, be patient).  As he backs off, open your hand, let him have the treat and say "easy".  Once you practice that a while, he should be able to back off your hand as soon as you say "easy", even if you have nothing in it.  You can then use the "easy" cue to make him back off other parts of your bod. 

So Anne....I sat down on the floor with him ( DH watching ) and did this exercise.  We sat there about 15 minutes....he was intently trying to pry, bite, gnaw, cry, bark etc etc etc...by hand open for the snack. He was sitting in front of me, on me, next to me, laying on the floor etc etc etc.  I wanted until he was done....by then he was pretty much not remembering what he was doing. I said "easy" and opened my hand and he ate the snack.  Did it again...several times.  Yes it did not take as long as the first time...but he actually seemed disinterested when I opend my hand.  DH said " he is much better at WAIT!"

Moral of the story...is I'm not sure I did it right.  I opend my hand and at the same time said "easy."  

So am I supposed to be able to open my hand and say "easy" and not have him touch, or is "easy" the command for him to take it?    Because right now WAIT works with OK for him to do ANYTHING.  He gets OKAY to eat, to go upstairs, to cross the street and several other things.

Hi Dyan,

For me when I do this exercise my intention is to teach the dog the difference between skin and snack.  With the snack in a closed fist with just the tip slightly showing out of the index finger and thumb, I present my hand to the dog.  The dog can get the snack provided the dog does not touch skin.  The dog may do exactly as you say, pry, bite, paw, gnaw....engaged in trying to get snack.  When teeth touches skin I give a slight hiccup sound and slightly tremble my hand, grasping the snack firmly.  Licking or teeth touching the snack gets no reaction from me.  So the dog can get the snack if the dog takes it gently or if the dog does back off and in that moment I praise and give the dog the snack making sure no way teeth will touch my skin.  Timing is very important in order for the communication to take place.

Hi Dyan!

I'm not Anne--but I wanted to add and maybe Anne can correct me if needed.

I think you should not sit on the floor with him.  (I usually stand up and make Willow sit)

Then show him the treat, he can start to take it--if he takes it rough, back your hand away and say, "gentle" or "easy" or whatever your word is.  Then try again. 

I like having Willow in the sit position that way she remains sitting and doesn't try to lunge at the cookie when it's being backed away if she is too rough. 

Oh, wanted to also add--I think if he's taking it with his teeth this would work better, so hold the cookie in your fingers and have him take it from you.  It's different if it's open palm and he's sort of licking it off. 

Do you want to borrow Drizzle.  She is a great teacher and has lots of experience handling fosters.  During snack time where I give snacks to all the dogs in turns, if one gets out of line, she lets them know. 

DPU

Do you want to borrow Drizzle.  She is a great teacher and has lots of experience handling fosters.  During snack time where I give snacks to all the dogs in turns, if one gets out of line, she lets them know. 

In one word!   YES!  Can I????    

Okay guys...but one thing..... Gibby does NOT take food...even little tiny pieces ( such as the kibble that I first purchased for him and changed afterwords so have quite a bit left...and use it for snacks and training ) he takes very gently.   The nipping and barking conversation is while he is looking for attention.   So...knowing that he does take things gently....... is this exercise necessary?  

Lori,,,, I get what your saying about sitting  on the floor with the dog...but do you know how tired I would have been standing waiting for him to not try to pry the thing out of my hand???  

I hear ya, Dyan.  But, he's just going to get more pushy with you on his level--MHO, not a pro at this.

spiritdogs

Do me a huge favor and try the lessons at www.clickerlessons.com.  I think that you will be amazed what he can do!  Long downs are fine, and I do teach them, but they tend to produce a lot of resistance in some dogs that is better handled by simply giving them enough mental exercise to tire them physically:-))  So, if you think he might be that type, get out the clicker - honest. 

Anne,,I pm'd you on this. 

Somehow,,, I must be retarded. I find it hard to coordinate the clicker, the word to use, calling his name and giving the snack. 

Besides...I can't really tell if he is really making eye contact or not when doing it.   He does make eye contact without all of this...but when I bring out the food and the clicker..he wants to watch it.