How much attention and training is too much?

"Clicker, clicker, all day long.

Clicker, clicker, just a-singing a song."

To the tune of "The Thanksgiving Song."

"I'm a clickin to the east

I'm a-clickin to the west.

I'm a-clickin for the things that I like the best.

Just a-clickin.

Just a -clickin."

To the tune of "Strokin".

Training is anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes, no more, often just once a day. Maybe twice on a day off. More importantly is the timing of some training. And it's not clicker every day, just for new behaviors, though when I started with the clicker, I used it to sharpen up what I had started with lure/reward. Other times, it is specific training in a circumstance.

Though I would like to spend more time training and re-conditioning his reactions at the vet I must admit that I am only able to get there a few times a year. So, with a clicker and smoked brisket, it took about 3 visits to go from having to drag him into the observation room to having him walk in. Nothing's perfect but we're a work in progress.

Yes, he gets alone time. I do almost all the training. I have to be at work by 7:00 am, wherever that happens to be. And I usually don't get out of work until at least 3:30. I usually have to stop at the store or get more gas or whatever.

When I do get home, the first thing he does is eat. He won't eat a full portion (for him) unless I am there. But anyway, sometimes, we play, sometimes a little training, sometimes, he just wants to sit in my lap. So, I make the training as effective as I can in the short amount of time that we do it.

Yes, here, we like to talk about training, our use of the clicker, our ideas about this or that aspect of training, what training we like, don't like. That, for me, is going to keep happening until I am kicked off of this forum.

Wow Ron. I hope you don't get arthritis in that clicker finger of yours

Sorry, I couldn't hear you over the sound of my clicker.

Arthritis runs in my family. Grandma has OA, Mom had RA. I had a torn intermedial cartilege in my left knee that was treated with a brace and arthritis med, for a while. I don't know if I ever rejuvenated some cartilege or not. That knee is still loose but I have high tolerance for pain. There have been days where I'm held up by neoprene and and coils.. Neoprene back brace, one knee brace purely for heat, the other one with springs in it to provide support. After you get over the hill, it's all down hill and you pick up speed.

mudpuppy

are you SURE they need "down time"? what are they supposed to be doing in this "down time"?  mine are either sound asleep or doing stuff, either with me or with each other. I've never seen one "just relax".

A picture is worth a thousand words.  For those that have never seen a dog just relax, now you have.  I definitely would say my dogs are enjoying down time.  I would even go far as to say they are enjoying a nice sun bathing session.

DPU, that picture is so sweet! My crew definitely just "hangs out" sometimes, too.  

Sasha and Eko love to hang out in the back yard and chill. Sasha is big on sunbathing, and Eko seems to feel the same.