So i've primarily started to use positive reinforcement with Zoey. I'm trying to do 'real clicker' training with her, rather than just training with a clicker. So far she's understanding alot. She's getting good at the 'touch it' game, and that'll transfer over to the 'heel' position. On walks I've been using a 'lets go command' and when she comes back in my direction she gets a click. Teaching her that a tight leash means no more forward motion, you have to come back. She's doing ok on that. she has her good days and her bad days. she gets to practice that it least 6 times a day when i'm walking to and from work. When I feel like she isn't focusing ( i.e. too distracted) I just pick her up and carry her the rest of the way.
one thing I've noticed is she's afraid of cars ( natural for being a puppy dumped in the road). First it was 'oh god a car!' and she would try to hide. But in the last few days its turned into hide first , then after the cars go by try and chase it & bark like crazy. I'm not really sure how to get her ok with cars. I've taught her a 'look at me' command but she's too distracted while we're outside. She does pretty well in the house.
In the house when she's doing bad things ( so far nothing huge since she's usually playing with Bella) like jumping on the couch - I just remove her ( if i have my clicker on me I'll tell her 'off' and she'll get off). So i'm just trying to ignore the bad behaviors, if she starts nipping I ignore her. So far that's worked pretty well. when she goes crazy and bites my jeans or robe I tell her 'drop it' and she usually does.
Also how can I exercise her more? So far she's not totally interested in the tennis ball for it to be a game we can play to wear her out. And since we're still working on the walks its hard to get an extended walk. I guess my take on it is, I want her to walk how I want from day 1, I don't want to start walking her where she thinks she can drag me down the road just to wear her out a bit. She does get on the treadmill no problem, but then again she's getting rewarded for walking on it ( not such a bad thing I guess, I just have to make her work just a bit harder for the next treat).
Outside in the front yard there are just as many distractions as there are on the walk ( cars going by, she can hear the freeway), and while the other dogs are walking around having a good time she'll run out to me for a second then turn around and run back to the front door & just wait there. She's not too 'interested' in playing outside.
I tried running around with her a bit while on the leash, but it sends her into psycho puppy mode grabbing the leash and pulling then starting to attack/bite my legs/pants. So I'm thinking that's not quite the game I wanna play LOL I do have books on the way. This is all new to me, I used to do stuff more old school - and I'm not 100% happy the way Bella turned out, and I want Zoey to be a good pup. ( I'm also trying to retrain the other dogs with more positive techniques).
Zoey does understand the NILF stuff, she always sits before coming in, sits for dinner ( in her crate, she loves her crate), pretty much has to sit to do/get anything. House training is going well, she's actually walking over to the door now when she has to go out.
She does want to try to get the chickens - she managed to slip by me one time when i went on the patio to grab something ( my fault) and I thought I had closed the door enough. she chased that poor chicken around the yard and into the field, but eventually came to my recall ( she got rewarded, not scolded). chicken was fine lol, I think she just wanted to chase that crazy thing, not necessarily kill it.
So any suggestions of any of it? LOL