Training

[mdeven]

Ok, I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say, most of you probably don't "know" me....
I've been in a wheelchair for about 30 years now.... Technically, I'm a quadraplegic.... I drive a truck, build engines and do some metal fab (welding too).... I've even flown airplanes.... Basically, I'm crazy....
I lost my bestest buddy, Jake, a while back (12 1/2 years).... Well, I wanted to get another dog soon.... I looked into those "service dogs".... The big shots that do that are in Orlando....
They said the Application Process takes a year.... Then you have to go there to the Sea World Complex and spend two weeks at school (at your expense).... After that you pay for the dog....
After that, I stopped thinking about Service Dogs....
Next bright idea!
I got a puppy.... We're both still alive.... She's 11 months old now.... She's an all white German Shepard.... I've fed her Iams "Smart Puppy" since I got her at two months.... The shit does NOT work! I'm thinking about petitioning the AKC to rename her a Polish Shepard....
She can't fit under the chair anymore, thank God.... She does like to get behind me and push sometimes though.... Usually at the wrong time....
The reason for all of this is to invite suggestions on how to train her to do a few things....
First, close a door....
Mark

[BirdieMod]

Good to see you bud!

Puppies are a handfull and take alot of time training. I found it is easier if they have other well trained dogs to watch and learn from. If they have any dog training programs were a group gets together owners and their dogs it really seems to help speed up the traing curve. I also have seen stuff like 4H kids that want to train dogs in the 4h programs that sometimes will pick up your dog for the classes and then bring them back after each class, It helps them get 4h credits and you get your dog trained aslo.
Birdie

[mdeven]

I also have seen stuff like 4H kids that want to train dogs in the 4h programs that sometimes will pick up your dog for the classes and then bring them back after each class, It helps them get 4h credits and you get your dog trained aslo.
Birdie

Wow, that's pretty cool info.... I never would have thought of that....
Mark

[fubr]

If weight becomes a problem I heard on the radio this am that they put peanut butter in the dogs ass so he will be more motivated to clean himself.? Go figure..


My dad has been blind for over 50 years and I have been around people with those seeing eye dogs a lot, and I can tell you a properly trained one is hard to live without once you become accustomed to it.
I am sure he has a few contacts on places that train them not just the eye dogs but all...I will check with him.

[lefty]

If weight becomes a problem I heard on the radio this am that they put peanut butter in the dogs ass so he will be more motivated to clean himself.? Go figure..

I'd hate to have that combo sticking to the roof of my mouth!

mdeven, glad to see you got a friend onsite. I've never been partial to pets, but my family has. I understand.

There should be some kind of training program offered out there for him. I'm sure the good people here will have some info on the right avenue towards that.

On a side note, anyone heard anything regarding Cimba?

Cheers and God be with you!

[woods]

Ok, I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say, most of you probably don't "know" me....
I've been in a wheelchair for about 30 years now.... Technically, I'm a quadraplegic.... I drive a truck, build engines and do some metal fab (welding too).... I've even flown airplanes.... Basically, I'm crazy....
I lost my bestest buddy, Jake, a while back (12 1/2 years).... Well, I wanted to get another dog soon.... I looked into those "service dogs".... The big shots that do that are in Orlando....
They said the Application Process takes a year.... Then you have to go there to the Sea World Complex and spend two weeks at school (at your expense).... After that you pay for the dog....
After that, I stopped thinking about Service Dogs....
Next bright idea!
I got a puppy.... We're both still alive.... She's 11 months old now.... She's an all white German Shepard.... I've fed her Iams "Smart Puppy" since I got her at two months.... The shit does NOT work! I'm thinking about petitioning the AKC to rename her a Polish Shepard....
She can't fit under the chair anymore, thank God.... She does like to get behind me and push sometimes though.... Usually at the wrong time....
The reason for all of this is to invite suggestions on how to train her to do a few things....
First, close a door....
Mark

You also need to check into your local chapter for the disabled. Alot of them have the means to train animals or at least point you in the proper direction. As we all know, most disabled people live on a very tight fixed income. I know there are programs out there i just cant put my handon the name.

explain something to me if you are a quad, how the heck do you do all this stuff? was it before your got hurt? or are you doing those things now? just curious

woods

[alsouthster]

Hi mdeven,

Here's a C&P from the RCMP police dog site lol...cops tend to know their dogs.
The RCMP also sells dogs, but those are ones that don't make the K9 cut as they are too dumb or don't have the right temperment...but might make good pets. The dogs get evaluated at 7 weeks and then three or more times over the course of the first year to see if they got the right stuff...

Some Do's and Don'ts

The following are recommended principles to achieve successful dog training.

[alsouthster]

Some Do's and Don'ts
The following are recommended principles to achieve successful dog training.
• All dog training must be founded upon educating the dog, that is, developing instincts and drawing out accidental and acquired habits.
• Situations and contacts must be interpreted entirely from the dog's reactions and abilities, and not the human's.
• The dog is not to be fooled. It has a sense of humiliation as well as a sense of pride. If the dog has been taught to do certain acts, do not give it the command and then trifle with it. At all times you must let the dog see what you are doing. Always is the dog to understand that when you say certain things, it is to do certain things.
• Success must be at the completion of an act of training. The dog is to understand that at the end, a certain thing will take place. For instance, if it is tracking, it must find the person tracked.
• Commands always should be given in the same words and with the same tone of voice and speed of speaking.
• Anticipate the dog`s actions. Think ahead of time and give your command before the dog acts or moves.
• If the dog goes one step wrongly, do not repeat this step but return at the beginning, for the dog must be taught to consider only successful acts in their entirety.
• Reward or punishment should follow quickly after every act. To punish a dog at any other time than instantly after the wrong act is cruelty rather than a part of training, for the dog does not connect the punishment to the act.
• The dog has a single-track mind. Teach one specific thing at a time. This does not mean that a training period cannot include a half-dozen different tasks.
• Give the dog a moment's time for carrying out your command. To demand instant obedience is to confuse the dog.
• Have patience. The dog is not a human being. The dog probably is more successful as a dog than the handler is as a human being.
• Develop a bond. All future training depends upon this.
• Remember that a dog cannot ask questions, neither can it understand all you say. It knows only the words, the commands and the names you teach it.
• The success of a handler depends on being able to make a dog understand what it has to do and then to instill that into its brain until it becomes instinctive.
• Always use kindness.
• Be decisive, firm, and most of all, be sure that you know exactly what you want and how it should be done.
• Never try to teach a dog anything until you yourself have a thorough knowledge of how to teach it, and a clear mental picture of each stage.
• As far as possible, always have your dog with you. You cannot train it all the time, but it will become accustomed to your actions, words, and surroundings which will help to make the training easier. When basic training is over, however, the dog should be housed in a kennel, not made a house pet of.
• Never allow other people to pet and fuss over your dog unnecessarily. You are the dog's handler and it must look to you for everything.
• Your first thought is your dog.
• You must always finish a training period on a good note. Never leave off if the dog has done something wrong. Correction is essential.
• Never put your dog away for the night with a cross word. End the training period on a happy note and see that the dog has mastered the obstacle - and knows that it has done so - before you "good night".
• Do not punish the dog while you are angry or lack control of yourself.
• Do not lose your temper while training the dog. If you do, the dog will lose some of its respect for you.
• Do not chase the dog to catch it; it must come to you or follow after you.
• Do not coax the dog to you and then turn upon it with punishment. You will regret the deception.
• Do not nag the dog; do not give orders to it constantly; do not pester it with your shoutings.
• Do not punish the dog for failure to obey unless you are certain that it understood fully what you commanded.
• Do not praise the dog for doing a certain act, then at a later time, scold it for doing the same act.
• Do not permit anyone to give commands to the dog while you are training it.

[Bandit5906]

There are many ways to get pre-trained dogs, from many groups. I don't know how you got hooked up with the group you mentioned.

Look for local groups: Canine Partners for Life is a good one. I have donated several dogs to their cause.

Following the (additional)list of do's and don'ts:

At the completion of training always put the dog in his/her crate to absorb what has happened in this session (15 minutes is best).

Punishment should come within ten seconds of the mistake. After fifteen seconds you are just getting even and the dog learns nothing positive.

Have a program of what you wish to train the dog: what you want to accomplish!

Have a local successful school train you or sit in on classes where they train so you can learn.

The previously mention group has classes for each of you and/or both!

I've been traing dogs and horses for 35 years now and been a National Field Trial Champion (well, the dog was)
four times.

Note: I disagree with the concept of keeping a dog in a kennel. Yes the kennel gives the dog a sense of purpose, but the house and crate are little different than a kennel. If you use the crate as above after training you will create the same atmosphere as the kennel and have companionship as well especially if it is a bitch as you have.

[mdeven]

explain something to me if you are a quad, how the heck do you do all this stuff? was it before your got hurt? or are you doing those things now? just curious

woods

Right now! I used to scuba dive before.... That's something else I want to do again....
My doctors call me a super quad.... That and fucking nuts....

Thanks for all the great ideas....
I was thinking more about some ideas about one trick at a time....
I want her to push the door closed.... Then we can work on cooking dinner or something :D
Mark

[BirdieMod]

Dogs instictively want to please the owner so play off that one step at a time ( Well most dog's). Keep some treats handy and when they do what you are asking ALOT of PRAISE and a small treat.

They make remote radio controlled training collars that beep and if that doesn't work zaps them, Probably just what you need Mark, Another remote!!! LOL...

Now this scuba diving stuff shit I am baffled................................

[Bandit5906]

Dogs instictively want to please the owner so play off that one step at a time ( Well most dog's). Keep some treats handy and when they do what you are asking ALOT of PRAISE and a small treat.
They make remote radio controlled training collars that beep and if that doesn't work zaps them, Probably just what you need Mark, Another remote!!! LOL...
Now this scuba diving stuff shit I am baffled................................

The remote electric collars are often used for training dogs in the field (prior to that we used shotguns) and I have never used one for speciality training.

The door closing is a simple task and would be a good start after heel and down. Even though the bitch is already 11 months old I would not train her for more than 15 minutes per time and maybe 3 times a day. Stick to one task until that is mastered and after going on to another go back to earlier ones for reinforcement every session.

Keep it short and sweet: even though their attention span is longer than ours (15 seconds) a couple of minutes is the most you can expect out of them.

Use freeze dried liver for treats. Not messy, cheap, most dogs love it. It is the #1 choice at dog shows.

Keep it fun for her and you and remember the first step is the hardest. Each task (although more difficult to accomplish) will become easier. On the more difficult tasks the initial training should try to break the task into smaller tasks and then combine two into one.

Your dog may not be up to Andy's standards, but the shepard is quite capeable for what you have in mind (except for scuba diving, of course).

[wheelr]

If you want to train your dog, food is the prime motivation for them. they will do anything for their favorite snack! the key is getting them to understand the cause and effect of the situation, they obey= snack, once they finally grasp this concept, it is like a lightbulb going off in their head, and they will learn new tasks almost immediatly! My stubborn Dalmation would absolutly not stay with me when walking in the woods, he would always run away and not return when I called him, so i started carrying an open package of hot dogs in the cargo pocket of my B.D.U. pants, and now he never leaves my side! The key is to never give in, If they don`t perform or obey, - no snack, its very simple, and it works! If you notice, all animal trainers feed their animals a reward if they perform. a can of vienna wieners will get you much farther than a scolding or a beating! you have to be the Alpha Male, but you want them to love you more than fear you. try using some hotdogs or vienna sausages with your dog, he will be stubborn at first, and whine and complain when he doesn`t get the treat untill he listens and obeys but after that, its easey! dogs like to work, and their job is to get food. good luck!

[Bandit5906]

Of course Wheelr knows that "Alpha Male" is an oxymoron: only females can be Alpha and the best a male can hope for is to be #1 beta male (there are no Alpha males in the canine community)!

I'm amazed: I did not know a Dalmation could be trained, although a Dalmatian trains well (I know I'm nit-picking, ha-ha).

Yes! The food suggested will work, but it is hard to prepare (if you are handicapped) and messy to carry: Liver treats are already prepared and tidy to carry.

Dogs are very smart and really do wish to please. Also, once they learn something they know it cold.

Case in point:I went to China in Feb. and left my Westie with a friend. When I came back and collected him "Russ" said all went well, but he had to train him to heel (something I had not bothered with). I thought no more of it until one day in June I was annoyed at his stopping to "scent" everything along the way and I commanded he heel. Stopped what he was doing and came right over and heeled the next two hundered yards like he had done it all his life! I was shocked (Russ isn't that good a trainer, ha-ha).

As you start this process keep us informed. You can see a lot of us have opinions and experience in these matters.

BTW: I have taught two dogs (I have needed to do it for two to date) to recognize the onset of a seizure (something dogs can do well in advance of). Dogs can also predict the coming of an earthquake in advance by about 24 hours!

[alsouthster]

Never trained a dog to shut or open door, but I think this C&P has the basics. there may be other methods someone else might know
I've always have had huskies, can be very stubborn....or maybe I was a bad trainer. Most were good at fighting other dogs lol, and all but one knew how to pull a sled without any training at all




The shutting and opening door trick can be taught to all dog breeds. The only consideration maybe would be asking small size dogs to close large or heavy doors which are beyond their physical capabilities.
In teaching this trick select a door that swings easily on its hinges drive a nail, or simply stick with double sided a makeshift hook on your door at such a distance above the floor that the dog can just reach it by standing on his hind legs with his forefeet resting against the door.
Open the door a few inches, place a small piece of treat on the hook and call your dog’s attention to it, saying “Shut the door." In reaching for the treat the dog will place his forefeet on the door and this will close it. If preferable the treat can be balanced on the door handle, and shutting the door will jar it to the floor, when he should be allowed to eat it and be petted and praised.
After be has done this a few times you can advance him in his lessons by placing the treat in position while he is in another room, then call him in and say “Shut the door," directing him toward it, and if he does not go, show him the treat and encourage him to get it. In time he will understand the order and will close any door that is shown to him.
Finally, teach him to close the door without having any reward in sight, but after he shuts it in response to your command reward him with a treat. In the first lessons you need not be particular about having the door closed tight, but in later stages, insist upon its being done before any reward is given.

[Bandit5906]

Another method is that as the dog knows you are going out he/she will go over to the door and force it closed (even though he will want it open). Simply convert it and reward it! then increase the amount that the door is open. It takes very little time: maybe four sessions over two days!

Believe me the dog will be happy with the results! Every time he/she gets it right you can see it in the way the dog acts. Each success makes him/her want to do more to please (make sure when outside training there are no distractions like rabbits,other dogs, or other animals to intefere in the training).

Yes, Huskies are great fighters! They don't have to be taught that! Terriers are great fighters also (18# dogs with 20#...)! Why do you think to get the "Champion" status they have to go down a GroundHog hole and bring one out and kill it! Talk about a "sport"!

[mdeven]

A bunch of great suggestions guys.... I'll give them all some thought....
What's the big deal about scuba? The major differences are buoancy compensation and locomotion.... My arms work pretty good.... Webbed gloves and no fins.... Just a little slower....
Also, I happen to be a GREAT cook....
Mark

[cojones]

AND THEN THERE'S THE REST OF US THAT KNOW YOU ONLY TO WELL FUCKER! The big thing about scuba Mark is to come visit me and really see something like the reef! Your always welcome here.:)

[Twostep]

Good Lord, D, did you have to special order that avatar? That thing looks too much like kinfolk to me:eek:

Mark, you can probably scuba dive in your backyard right about now, eh?

[mdeven]

Shoot, D prollaby got more than me....
No thunder.... No lightning.... Not even dish fade....
Downtown flooded a little.... But, then again, it floods when the crack heads piss on the Battery....
Mark