The off Switch
- Thread starter Laurelin
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Umm Kim developed one around 2yo I think.
Web sort of came with one but had to taught to find it. He was rather hyperactive and spazoid but I think it was mostly how he expressed anxiety...he had no sense of self-control at all.
Mira has sort of had one since birth but I think a lot of it is training. Her mom is about 6 now and still has no off switch so I knew what we were getting into and worked a lot on self control from day one. We've had our "special" phases but in general she is able to keep a lid on it given a fair chance.
Web sort of came with one but had to taught to find it. He was rather hyperactive and spazoid but I think it was mostly how he expressed anxiety...he had no sense of self-control at all.
Mira has sort of had one since birth but I think a lot of it is training. Her mom is about 6 now and still has no off switch so I knew what we were getting into and worked a lot on self control from day one. We've had our "special" phases but in general she is able to keep a lid on it given a fair chance.
Meg had one installed when I got her at about 1 year. While she adores snuggling and attention, she is very good at what I call "self-directed play time". I don't care what it is - napping, chewing her antler, tossing a toy around by herself, sitting and looking out the window - as long as she is entertaining herself.
I am fairly certain she lived tied out before I got her (she had certainly never been indoors), so I expect she learned young how to keep herself occupied.
I am fairly certain she lived tied out before I got her (she had certainly never been indoors), so I expect she learned young how to keep herself occupied.
Dance came with one. Keira developed hers around 18mths to 2 years old, and Ripley's I've noticed more so recently. He was never bouncing off the walls, but he was still active and didn't like to just settle (though he did if I made him) in the house. Now he's content on his own for the most part just to settle and relax. He just turned 2yrs old in April.
Since the day she was born, honestly. Well, since I got her at 8 weeks old. I've never had to teach Quinn to settle - well, I gave it a command ("go settle") but it's always been there. She's never been the kind of dog to bother you to do something (unless you literally haven't done anything with her in over 24 hours) - if we are doing something she's go go go go go, but she's happy to settle if I'm not doing anything interesting.
Jackson's had a pretty good off switch since I brought him home at 9 weeks old, lol. Luckily.
When I say off switch, I mean he's capable of having a day or two just lounging around the house and not doing much of anything. Though when he is under exercised, it definitely shows. He becomes much more whiny and "do something with me" but he will go away and lay down. He was never like bouncing off the walls in the house ever.
When I say off switch, I mean he's capable of having a day or two just lounging around the house and not doing much of anything. Though when he is under exercised, it definitely shows. He becomes much more whiny and "do something with me" but he will go away and lay down. He was never like bouncing off the walls in the house ever.
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Milo's lack of off switch meant you could run him for hours, he could swim until he was literally to tired to keep swimming, etc. but unless he was in his crate and everyone else was completely silent, he was not sleeping/calm.
I consider a dog who settles with enough exercise to have an off-switch, no matter how much exercise that may be.
I consider a dog who settles with enough exercise to have an off-switch, no matter how much exercise that may be.
Traveler came with the basis of one and I shaped it. He was always good about playing quietly or laying down by me when I was being boring and I just encouraged that a ton. Ready to go at a twitch of a muscle but when I'm boring willing to chill. Was high up on my list of needs when I was looking for a dog and Koolies are known to have them.
While he can deal with days of no exercise he gets very antsy and his settle is more like lay for a second, get up lay somewhere else and so on with lots of staring, whining and barking until he's told to knock it off. He would do more but he knows better.
But when he gets exercise and/or training he's more than willing to chill after or go do more if that's what I want. Perfect for me. All the energy but with the ability to calm his mind and body.
What's been testing this is this spring and summer because he's getting more exercise than ever with long bike rides, swims, hikes, fetch etc all on the same day so he's coming to expect that. But, I've been really strict about how he's allowed to be in the house and it's going pretty well. We were both cooped up because of some crazy weather the last two days and it was all good.
Kaylee on the other hand I would say around 2-3 years old. She just is a nervy dog and that translates to constantly being on edge. She was a terror as a puppy and into everything and never behaving but at the same time she isn't high energy, she was just destructive and nervy. Not fun.
While he can deal with days of no exercise he gets very antsy and his settle is more like lay for a second, get up lay somewhere else and so on with lots of staring, whining and barking until he's told to knock it off. He would do more but he knows better.
But when he gets exercise and/or training he's more than willing to chill after or go do more if that's what I want. Perfect for me. All the energy but with the ability to calm his mind and body.
What's been testing this is this spring and summer because he's getting more exercise than ever with long bike rides, swims, hikes, fetch etc all on the same day so he's coming to expect that. But, I've been really strict about how he's allowed to be in the house and it's going pretty well. We were both cooped up because of some crazy weather the last two days and it was all good.
Kaylee on the other hand I would say around 2-3 years old. She just is a nervy dog and that translates to constantly being on edge. She was a terror as a puppy and into everything and never behaving but at the same time she isn't high energy, she was just destructive and nervy. Not fun.
Yeah I was assuming the dogs in question were given sufficient exercise. So for mine a couple walks some training a some off lead time to stretch their legs and a jog. An hour+ of swimming, agility, and/or in Mira's case field work is a bonus.
Basically dogs who had the edge taken off but weren't actually tired (which is sort of cheating, though wouldn't necessarily stop Mira given the choice).
Basically dogs who had the edge taken off but weren't actually tired (which is sort of cheating, though wouldn't necessarily stop Mira given the choice).
I haven't done a thing with Mia all day (except short 15 minute yard trips where she acts like a loony) and she's been really pretty quiet all day.
Now we're off to the park.
This is so weird (and kinda nice!)
I was looking at a video of her post-park about a year ago and oh boy... she really has matured a lot in a year.
Now we're off to the park.
This is so weird (and kinda nice!)I was looking at a video of her post-park about a year ago and oh boy... she really has matured a lot in a year.
See when Juno was younger she would be fine if she got hours of exercise--but to me that is not really a "good" off switch, because I don't exactly have the time (or the want) to run my dog all day long, every day.
She drove me absolutely crazy when she was like that. If I left the house for even a short period of time, I'd come home to a BEAST who just wanted to go go go go go.
I much prefer how things are now. I don't have to stress about when I'm going to get her out for a run, and how much exercise she needs... she's pretty content now even if she doesn't get out much on weekdays.
She drove me absolutely crazy when she was like that. If I left the house for even a short period of time, I'd come home to a BEAST who just wanted to go go go go go.
I much prefer how things are now. I don't have to stress about when I'm going to get her out for a run, and how much exercise she needs... she's pretty content now even if she doesn't get out much on weekdays.
M
Tempie was never too terrible, but she got a nice off switch when she was about 8 months old.
Boone was born with an off switch. I never even had to work on it. He can be up and going crazy with tug, doing all kinds of tricks, bouncing all over the place after a ball, or whatever at work... And then a customer comes in, and he just curls up behind my register and watches very calmly while I work.
Raja. Oh, Raja. LOL
She has always been my problem child. The Terminator Dog almost never sleeps. But she STILL has an off switch. Took me about 2 1/2 years to get it mostly decent. But she has one. She may never shut her mind off, she may never WANT to settle down... But if I ask her to, she will. It just took a lot of work. Now she can go out and be her bonkers self, but she can also settle down and leave me in peace if I need her to.
Boone was born with an off switch. I never even had to work on it. He can be up and going crazy with tug, doing all kinds of tricks, bouncing all over the place after a ball, or whatever at work... And then a customer comes in, and he just curls up behind my register and watches very calmly while I work.
Raja. Oh, Raja. LOL
She has always been my problem child. The Terminator Dog almost never sleeps. But she STILL has an off switch. Took me about 2 1/2 years to get it mostly decent. But she has one. She may never shut her mind off, she may never WANT to settle down... But if I ask her to, she will. It just took a lot of work. Now she can go out and be her bonkers self, but she can also settle down and leave me in peace if I need her to.
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My dogs have always had an excellent off switch. There are the odd times or places that they don't, however in general they're really good. They could work all day and all night; They have all the energy in the world; But they still can turn off like nothing, most of the time. I want dogs who can run all day and sit by my feet at night, or do absolutely nothing all day and STILL sit by my feet quietly at night lol.
Oh wow. I think I'd go crazy. Now Shamoo, that's my kind of dog!
Boo has had an off switch since we got her and judging by her personality, I'd imagine that she's always been a pretty easy dog. Honestly, she's a really great family dog because she's happy to get up and go when you are, but as soon as you sit down or leave her alone, she lays down and takes a nap or settles and looks out the window.
Boo has had an off switch since we got her and judging by her personality, I'd imagine that she's always been a pretty easy dog. Honestly, she's a really great family dog because she's happy to get up and go when you are, but as soon as you sit down or leave her alone, she lays down and takes a nap or settles and looks out the window.