[cigwyllt]

I've seen first hand how different dogs will react to a distraction/deterrent such as a squirt bottle. I had a battle with my girls - the Patterdale was very stroppy around my older mongrel - yapping in her face and stressing her out. So I thought I would try the squirt bottle. The Patterdale thought it was great fun and my poor old girl, the one I was trying to protect, threw herself to the floor and refused to move. I had the same sort of thing with a rattle bottle - Ojo just wanted to bark louder than the rattle and Toffee refused to walk past me while I had the evil thing in my hands!

In the end I solved the problem with positive distraction and a house line for those times when Ojo just won't listen to me.

[WorriedMom]

So after trying the squirt bottle... I realized it only worked as a distraction and did not teach him my ideas on what is right/wrong (in terms of chewing, biting, etc).

I tried a new method. Clicker training. WORKED WONDERS IN 3 DAYS!! Clicker training, positive reinforcement, and timeouts (when absolutely necessary).

For anyone having any issues with their new puppy... try clicker training.

Anytime he would be chewing on something not correct. I would say no, move his head away, and offer him a new toy. As soon as he would take the toy, I would click and treat. Within 3 days he hasn't touched a shoe, or couch. And the only time he bites is when he wants food or has to go potty and I am somehow keeping him from it by playing with him. Also, he only mouths me. I went home ot visit my parents and little brother, and he played so lovingly with them. Also, he would wait at their front door by day 1 to go potty ( thanks to click and treat).

If he got really rowdy and mouthy or did not listen the FIRST time I asked him to stop something... he would get a timeout in the bathroom for about 2 minutes. He would come out and be an angel.

First time, took him about 2 hours to go back to his normal behavior. By day 4, I didn't put him in the bathroom once.

I got rid of my pennies in a can and squirt bottle.... they are in the trash. I am a 100% fan of clicker training and positive reinforcement!!

It's not that I am against it, it's just that I have noticed a huge improvement over such a short time with this method. He is only 12 weeks old, and I am very impressed!!!

With the biting, if he bit me I would say no. If he stopped I would clikc and treat. Then I'd even tease him a little by playing with his face, touchign his nose, if he was good, click and treat. I use this tool to teach him almost anything. ITS AMAZING!!!

I've even noticed him WORKING for clicks. I taught him when he comes to the couch to sit down if he wants attention. Sometimes, he will come sit (click and treat). He will walk away and come back. If I don't click and treat, he'll try laying down. Then he will come and offer me a toy. It's the cutest thing!! But it's better than jumping on me or biting the couch or my feet for attention!!

[Todd]

Originally Posted by WorriedMom

So after trying the squirt bottle... I realized it only worked as a distraction and did not teach him my ideas on what is right/wrong (in terms of chewing, biting, etc).

I tried a new method. Clicker training. WORKED WONDERS IN 3 DAYS!! Clicker training, positive reinforcement, and timeouts (when absolutely necessary).

For anyone having any issues with their new puppy... try clicker training.

Anytime he would be chewing on something not correct. I would say no, move his head away, and offer him a new toy. As soon as he would take the toy, I would click and treat. Within 3 days he hasn't touched a shoe, or couch. And the only time he bites is when he wants food or has to go potty and I am somehow keeping him from it by playing with him. Also, he only mouths me. I went home ot visit my parents and little brother, and he played so lovingly with them. Also, he would wait at their front door by day 1 to go potty ( thanks to click and treat).

If he got really rowdy and mouthy or did not listen the FIRST time I asked him to stop something... he would get a timeout in the bathroom for about 2 minutes. He would come out and be an angel.

First time, took him about 2 hours to go back to his normal behavior. By day 4, I didn't put him in the bathroom once.

I got rid of my pennies in a can and squirt bottle.... they are in the trash. I am a 100% fan of clicker training and positive reinforcement!!

It's not that I am against it, it's just that I have noticed a huge improvement over such a short time with this method. He is only 12 weeks old, and I am very impressed!!!

With the biting, if he bit me I would say no. If he stopped I would clikc and treat. Then I'd even tease him a little by playing with his face, touchign his nose, if he was good, click and treat. I use this tool to teach him almost anything. ITS AMAZING!!!

I've even noticed him WORKING for clicks. I taught him when he comes to the couch to sit down if he wants attention. Sometimes, he will come sit (click and treat). He will walk away and come back. If I don't click and treat, he'll try laying down. Then he will come and offer me a toy. It's the cutest thing!! But it's better than jumping on me or biting the couch or my feet for attention!!

Glad to hear things are working out for you! All dogs are different and different training methods will work differently for each individual dog. Looks like your dog is reacting to clicker training and that's great! I recommend this type of training frequently for recall but it sounds to me like it may be worth a shot with other behavioral issue as well. Thanks for sharing!

[WorriedMom]

Yes I mostly use the training for recall games like
Find it
His name
Touch
Come here
etc (all of which he has mastered!!!)

But I noticed if when he isbeing mouthy, I say no, he stops, and I click and treat, he doesn't mouth me anymore.
Also, if I click and treat a lick instead of a mouth, he has started using that more to get my attention instead of opening his mouth!


If anyone has any other clicker training ideas please share!!

[Todd]

Originally Posted by WorriedMom

Yes I mostly use the training for recall games like
Find it
His name
Touch
Come here
etc (all of which he has mastered!!!)

But I noticed if when he isbeing mouthy, I say no, he stops, and I click and treat, he doesn't mouth me anymore.
Also, if I click and treat a lick instead of a mouth, he has started using that more to get my attention instead of opening his mouth!


If anyone has any other clicker training ideas please share!!

Here are a few links and vids I'll throw out there regarding clicker training;

Dog Clicker Training

Karen Pryor Clickertraining

Mary Woodward's Clicker Training Lessons

clicker training for dogs clicker training for obedience

Clicker training - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Clicker training - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Clicker training - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Clicker Training Your Dog

dog clicker training - Google Search

dog clicker training - Google Search

YouTube - dog clicker training

* I think everyone should at least purchase a clicker. You can get them at pet stores for often only a couple bucks.

[reeskujo]

As Yogi has stated different methods work on different dogs..I've had a few training classes where there would be one or two dogs that would bark through the entire class and then get all the other dogs started..It would make it impossible for any of my students to hear anything I was saying..I would break out the squirt bottle and with the owners pernission would give them a squirt while giving them the quiet command and after a few times doing that all I had to do was say was quiet and they were.

I also used it on my Husky when she was a puppy...She was very difficult to train simply because she was so strong willed but the squirt bottle was one thing that would make her stop whatever bad behavior she was doing of course it was always used along with a command..It only took a week or two and she would either stop when I gave her the command or I simply had to pick up the bottle.

Let me add that it never made her afraid of water...In fact she absolutely loved the water to the point that if I didn't close the bathroom door when I took a shower she would try and jump in with me!

I've also used clicker training in my classes with great success again it just depends on the dog and what works or doesn't work with them...A lot of times it's trial and error until you figure out what works best with your individual dog.

[WorriedMom]

yes i agree. A LOTTT of trial and error!! Luckily they are known for their unconditional love even if we mess up a few times here and there along the way!