I'm giving him up for adoption if this doesn't stop...
- Thread starter Dreeza
- Start date
I've had gsd's for years, and one thing I can say about them, is they are not stupid dogs. They know what works for them, predictable or not, they can anticipate whats coming pretty darn well.
Another thing is, if your not consistent every single time in whatever your doing, some will walk all over you and push things to the limit.
It doesn't take them long for example, to figure out,,if I go to the window and bark , my owner is going to call me, and give me a treat..SO to get that treat, I'm going to go to the window and bark !
In one post I saw you write, that when your roomate wasn't there, you'd let him bark and whine,,UNEXCEPTABLE,,he doesn't give a fig whether your roomates there or not, you let him bark or whatever, he's gotten away with it.
I also saw you post he lays around on your bed for 10 hours a day..TO MUCH DOWN TIME..
I'd be running this dog ragged, amp up his exercise especially at night. Take him hiking, take him swimming, take him to CLASS, a walk is not sufficient. Start working on a good LEAVE IT, and incorporate that into EVERYTHING.
He knows what works for him. He doesn't know "how" to behave because it's not been consistent..If you can't figure it out, get some professional help..
Key is to be consistent, FIRM and FAIR.
Another thing is, if your not consistent every single time in whatever your doing, some will walk all over you and push things to the limit.
It doesn't take them long for example, to figure out,,if I go to the window and bark , my owner is going to call me, and give me a treat..SO to get that treat, I'm going to go to the window and bark !
In one post I saw you write, that when your roomate wasn't there, you'd let him bark and whine,,UNEXCEPTABLE,,he doesn't give a fig whether your roomates there or not, you let him bark or whatever, he's gotten away with it.
I also saw you post he lays around on your bed for 10 hours a day..TO MUCH DOWN TIME..
I'd be running this dog ragged, amp up his exercise especially at night. Take him hiking, take him swimming, take him to CLASS, a walk is not sufficient. Start working on a good LEAVE IT, and incorporate that into EVERYTHING.
He knows what works for him. He doesn't know "how" to behave because it's not been consistent..If you can't figure it out, get some professional help..
Key is to be consistent, FIRM and FAIR.
It's pretty simple, really. Whenever Oakley is anticipating something, do something else. He's excited because he's anticipating getting up? Don't get up. He's excited because it's breakfast time? Don't feed him. He's begging you for a treat? Don't give him one. Wait until he's calm and disinterested, doing his own thing or relaxing, before you do anything with him.
To do this, you have to be really mindful of what he's expecting, all the time. I'm sure you know that "look" he has when you're holding a treat and he's expecting to get it. I'd imagine that he gives you similar "looks" for a lot of things in life. When you think he's doing that, think hard about what you were planning to do; that's probably what he thinks is about to happen. So just do something else, and wait until he's not giving you that look before you do the thing he was anticipating.
Well, some dogs pick up on a time schedule; other dogs figure out a schedule by watching you and figuring out your patterns.
For example, Luna knows that right after I get out of the shower and I have my hair in a towel, she's not going to get to go outside, so she waits. She knows that when I get dressed, even put my shoes on, I'm still not going to go outside if my hair's still in a towel. In fact, I'm pretty sure she knows that the determing factor in going outside, is whether or not I've brushed my hair. Because no matter what else I've done in the morning, we NEVER go outside before I brush my hair.
She knows that when I come home from work and I've had a good day, I talk to her and take her on a walk right away. But sometimes I come home from work and I've had a bad day, and I plop down on the couch and close my eyes for a few minutes. If this happens, she can come and cuddle with me, but it's going to be a few minutes before we go outside, no matter how much begging she does.
She's so good that when I walk in the house after work, she takes one glance and knows whether or not to jump up right away to go for a walk.
These are the kinds of things you can watch for in your own life. I often say that dogs know us better than we know ourselves. If you're really paying attention, watching your dog is a lot like looking in a mirror.
To do this, you have to be really mindful of what he's expecting, all the time. I'm sure you know that "look" he has when you're holding a treat and he's expecting to get it. I'd imagine that he gives you similar "looks" for a lot of things in life. When you think he's doing that, think hard about what you were planning to do; that's probably what he thinks is about to happen. So just do something else, and wait until he's not giving you that look before you do the thing he was anticipating.
Well, some dogs pick up on a time schedule; other dogs figure out a schedule by watching you and figuring out your patterns.
For example, Luna knows that right after I get out of the shower and I have my hair in a towel, she's not going to get to go outside, so she waits. She knows that when I get dressed, even put my shoes on, I'm still not going to go outside if my hair's still in a towel. In fact, I'm pretty sure she knows that the determing factor in going outside, is whether or not I've brushed my hair. Because no matter what else I've done in the morning, we NEVER go outside before I brush my hair.
She knows that when I come home from work and I've had a good day, I talk to her and take her on a walk right away. But sometimes I come home from work and I've had a bad day, and I plop down on the couch and close my eyes for a few minutes. If this happens, she can come and cuddle with me, but it's going to be a few minutes before we go outside, no matter how much begging she does.
She's so good that when I walk in the house after work, she takes one glance and knows whether or not to jump up right away to go for a walk.
These are the kinds of things you can watch for in your own life. I often say that dogs know us better than we know ourselves. If you're really paying attention, watching your dog is a lot like looking in a mirror.
oops sorry, I meant to retract that comment. I was def exaggerating (sorry, Im so used to doing that in day to day convo)...I was trying to make the point that he isn't some hellion constantly, haha.
Since it is like OBSCENELY hot down here, we have to have multiple short walks...and when I say walks...that also means part-crazy stick chasing time around the pond. Each time I take him outside, he ends up laying down on pooped. The heat really gets to him, so I have to be pretty good about balancing out his walks vs running, etc. I've carried him half a block home one time cause I tired him out so bad (and if he is letting me carry him, he must be friggin TIRED). Since that one time, I've realized I have to be really careful, cause I don;t want him hurting himself. He is the kind of dog that will be laying on the ground passed out from exhaustion, but if a stick is thrown...he runs at full speed to get it.
Anyhoo, that above wasn't all necessary...just letting ya know that he isn't literally sleeping for 10 hrs.
Lizzy - thanks for the explanation! I definitely think Oakley picks up on what I do. I'll def start working to screw with him some, haha. I was actually telling someone how it is so funny how sad & miserable he looks whenever I pull out the hairdryer...cause he knows it means in an hour or so, I am going out & leaving him all by his lonesome for the evening, lol. Poor guy. Thanks!
Since it is like OBSCENELY hot down here, we have to have multiple short walks...and when I say walks...that also means part-crazy stick chasing time around the pond. Each time I take him outside, he ends up laying down on pooped. The heat really gets to him, so I have to be pretty good about balancing out his walks vs running, etc. I've carried him half a block home one time cause I tired him out so bad (and if he is letting me carry him, he must be friggin TIRED). Since that one time, I've realized I have to be really careful, cause I don;t want him hurting himself. He is the kind of dog that will be laying on the ground passed out from exhaustion, but if a stick is thrown...he runs at full speed to get it.
Anyhoo, that above wasn't all necessary...just letting ya know that he isn't literally sleeping for 10 hrs.
Lizzy - thanks for the explanation! I definitely think Oakley picks up on what I do. I'll def start working to screw with him some, haha. I was actually telling someone how it is so funny how sad & miserable he looks whenever I pull out the hairdryer...cause he knows it means in an hour or so, I am going out & leaving him all by his lonesome for the evening, lol. Poor guy. Thanks!
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2005
- Messages
- 25,377
- Likes
- 0
- Points
- 36
OH! :doh: Something that's worked wonderfully for Tallulah -- I learned this from Nikki and Buddy: when Oakley's getting overly excited about something, teach him to go get a toy. I swear, it works like a charm. It works so well that Tallulah does the same thing Buddy does -- when she's getting excited she now goes and gets a toy herself without me even having to tell her. It starts calming her down, and she's got a toy in her mouth so she can't bark 
Yeess! Best thing ever.
I don't think teaching the trick would be too difficult. He already *kinda* knows it (never been officially taught)...but whenever we are going in/outside, I can usually tell him to get his ball or frisbee to bring with him.
The problem is when he is hyperexcitable, he doesn't listen to *any* commands. SOMETIMES he will come to me (usually if he thinks I have treats though). But first I would have to go physically remove him from the situation. Sometimes he will sit too for like 2 secs...but the barking doesn't actually stop.
So it all kinda goes back to my same issue...I just can't figure out how to get around this one issue, and I am SURE there is something big I am missing in my training. I just *cannot* figure out what.
My brain cannot make the connection on how to make Oakley think "ooh, i am excited? Lets go get a toy!"
It's quite simple, really. Have a box for his toys if you don't already (Finn's are all in an old milk crate) and when he's super excited, motion him to the toy box and wait for him to grab a toy. HEAVY praise, play with the toy, omg you ot a toy BEST THING EVER YAY, etc. It can take some time depending on how motivated Oakley is to grab toys of his own accord.
Alternately, you could try getting excited and grabbing a toy from his box and playing with him immediately. That can help his brain establish a connection with excitement and toy box, and then you can work on getting him to grab the toy himself.
I've trained Finn to do this, and for the most part it's great. He's established that when he's got energy to burn, he can grab a toy from his toy box and I will play with him. It's a great re-director and helps his brain to work through his excitement.
Alternately, you could try getting excited and grabbing a toy from his box and playing with him immediately. That can help his brain establish a connection with excitement and toy box, and then you can work on getting him to grab the toy himself.
I've trained Finn to do this, and for the most part it's great. He's established that when he's got energy to burn, he can grab a toy from his toy box and I will play with him.
It's a great re-director and helps his brain to work through his excitement.
I did it fairly directly, lol.
Whenever Tallulah would get overwrought, I'd tell her to go get her toy. Sometimes I had to tell her more than once to get her to focus, but she would, then start looking around for whichever toy she wanted -- or was closest -- and that was that.
She put two and two together: Excited = go get toy.
Whenever Tallulah would get overwrought, I'd tell her to go get her toy. Sometimes I had to tell her more than once to get her to focus, but she would, then start looking around for whichever toy she wanted -- or was closest -- and that was that.
She put two and two together: Excited = go get toy.