New To This Site...just Introducing Myself

Khya

Khya

Active Member
Hi everyone,
My name is Pauline and I live in Perth Western Australia and I have two dogs. Max my dear old rescue dog that I have had for 8yrs is approx 10 or 11yrs old and is suffering from stiff joints and is on medication. He is a Shepherd cross Rotty and he is the most beautiful dog that anyone would wish to have and I love him dearly. My other dog is a 2yr old female German Shepherd whom I adopted only 7 weeks ago. She was rather neglected living with a busy family with young children so they advertised her and I brought her home for a trial with my older dog and things have worked out fine. I am just starting group obedience class tomorrow with her as she needs socialising both with humans and other dogs as she doesn't seem to have had any training previously. I have also started learning clicker training and things are going well so far. I am looking forward to being part of this forum as you all seem a friendly bunch and I might need a bit of guidance from time to time. Regards
Khya\'s fisrt couple of weeks at her new home 024.JPG
 
MaryK

MaryK

Honored Member
Welcome!:) I just adore German Shepherds, your dogs are really beautiful.:love:

Any questions, just start a thread, and we'll be only too happy to help.

Clicker training is awesome. You'll be amazed at how quickly your dogs will learn!
 
Khya

Khya

Active Member
Wow thank you soooo much for your very warm welcomes. I feel part of the family already lol. All your fur friends look so beautiful and well loved. I took my new little girl to her first obedience group class yesterday and she did really well considering that she is quite reactive towards other dogs. We were there an hour early to register for the year so by the time class started she had become more settled being around so many dogs. It can only be a good thing and I am really looking forward to being part of her progress. Now can I just ask for a little advice....I know that there is a thread somewhere re the same thing but my new girl is anything but gentle taking her treats from my hand and I would like to teach her 'gentle' if at all possible. I have said 'ouch' when she has really hurt me to let her know to be more gentle but it hasn't made any difference at all. As I am doing C&T I am feeding her her breakfast as treats when we go for our morning walk so I would really love to master this one. I C&T her as we are walking for loose leash and by the time I have finished my hand is really sore. I guess I could wear a pair of gloves but we are in the middle of summer here and often have 40deg days. I go to a paddock that is sandy so I don't want to throw the treat on the floor. Any suggestions would be really appreciated. I am not sure if I should have started a thread for this one or write it here as I have but if anyone out there can put me on the right path that would be great. Regards
 
MaryK

MaryK

Honored Member
What I do with a 'rough' dog is to hold the treat in the PALM of my hand and feed like you would a horse, at the same time saying' gently'. She may well knock the treat off at first if she's really rough, just ignore that don't try to retrieve the treat but don't say anything either.

I don't worry to click for this, just hold the treat and use the cue 'gently'. Also, make the treat fairly largish at first (yes I know small treats) so she can get a good 'hold' on the treat without nipping the palm of your hand. Then as she learns to take gently, diminish the size of the treat until it's the normal small size.

I use this method all the time when walking my boy Ra Kismet, who will at home take treats so gently I can give them holding the treat in my mouth, but as he now over reacts at times due to being attacked he can take a little roughly when aroused on his walk.

When you're walking along, keep your hand closed with the treat inside, until you want to give it to her then simple open your hand palm up.
 
LeviTheOutlaw

LeviTheOutlaw

Well-Known Member
Levi was rough taking the treats. What I did was get a peice of a treat that I could pinch between 2 or 3 fingers, so that he couldn't get it. I would hold out my hand in front of him but I wouldn't let him have the treat until he stepped back and stopped trying to chew my fingers off. I would use the word "gentle" and it didn't take very long before he got the hint. Now it's so funny, cuz he will curl his lips up and very carefully try to take the treat with his front teeth.
 
MaryK

MaryK

Honored Member
Great idea in the vid Tamara, will remember that one when I'm dealing with a new puppy, or even an older dog, who snatches.
 
Khya

Khya

Active Member
Thank you so much I will be trying that. I did do some research as to why she should be doing this and I read that the behaviour can start when young children feed them as a puppy. When the pup tries to take the treat the child pulls the food back towards them. Maybe it is a fear thing coming from the child but what it does do is make the pup lunge for the food which is what my newly adopted shepherd is doing. I know that she came from a family with young children so maybe the behaviour came from that...I guess I will never know. But it does hurt somewhat when a 2yr german shepherd lunges for a pea size treat and takes all four fingers too hehe. I will start making my treats a bit larger I think. Thanks again for the advise its much appreciated.:)
 
jackienmutts

jackienmutts

Honored Member
Hi and welcome, your dogs are just beautiful! Thanks for giving your newest a second chance (bad manners and all :LOL:) , lots of us on here have rescues (waving hand here, both of mine), and with lots of patience and love, you'll have another great dog! :love:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top