Doggie Training
We are nearly done with the dog training course at "Mystic Moon" kennels, out west of town on Grand Avenue past the golf driving range, near where Microsoft will soon build a taxpayer-subsidized server farm (and near where there was some excitement this week). It has made a great difference in Brownie behavior.
It has taught us two basic principles that make for successful training:
1. Dogs like treats.
2. Dogs hate squirt bottles.
You get them to do things you want to by rewarding them with a treat when they do it. For example, you give him a treat when they sit and say "good sit" so he connects the sound "sit" with putting his butt on the ground while keeping his paws down.
You stop them from doing bad things by squirting them - for example, when they bark in training class at other doggies.
We graduated to advanced concepts like "down":
and "wait," as in "wait to come through a door until I say OK":
In other news, the lawnicide is proceeding nicely, and Rob and I will re-seed Saturday. We will skim the dead lawn with a low-set mower, then prepare the ground with a power rake we will rent at Tru-Value. Then we will put down the seed, turn on the sprinkler, and await the new lawn. Vickie and Dan will be up in Champlin, MN at a marching band competition. It's in Vickie's old high school area; her high school isn't in the competition, but her school's arch-rival, Irondale, will be, so it is a chance for her to fight the old fight once again. Go Valley Marchmasters!
Rob and I expect to reward our lawn restoration efforts by watching the Cubs beat the Dodgers Saturday night to take a 2-1 lead in the playoffs. As for last night's debacle, we will speak no more of it. Go Cubs!
It has taught us two basic principles that make for successful training:
1. Dogs like treats.
2. Dogs hate squirt bottles.
You get them to do things you want to by rewarding them with a treat when they do it. For example, you give him a treat when they sit and say "good sit" so he connects the sound "sit" with putting his butt on the ground while keeping his paws down.
You stop them from doing bad things by squirting them - for example, when they bark in training class at other doggies.
We graduated to advanced concepts like "down":
and "wait," as in "wait to come through a door until I say OK":
In other news, the lawnicide is proceeding nicely, and Rob and I will re-seed Saturday. We will skim the dead lawn with a low-set mower, then prepare the ground with a power rake we will rent at Tru-Value. Then we will put down the seed, turn on the sprinkler, and await the new lawn. Vickie and Dan will be up in Champlin, MN at a marching band competition. It's in Vickie's old high school area; her high school isn't in the competition, but her school's arch-rival, Irondale, will be, so it is a chance for her to fight the old fight once again. Go Valley Marchmasters!
Rob and I expect to reward our lawn restoration efforts by watching the Cubs beat the Dodgers Saturday night to take a 2-1 lead in the playoffs. As for last night's debacle, we will speak no more of it. Go Cubs!
posted by Joe at 5:50 AM
1 Comments:
Good old Brownie! As long as my dog does a few things that she's told to, I'm happy enough:
1. Do "your business" outside - most important of all time
2. come in when told
3. go out when told
4. don't pull on leash when walking
5. don't jump up on people
6 stay off the furniture - the furniture is for people
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