It feels wonderfully GREAT when you are in control while dog walking! It feels doubly wonderfully GREAT when more than 50% of the time the leash is loose. Yes, i'm talking about MuFFin. I have now mastered the right way of correcting her using the choke chain and MuFFin's walk is so much easier. She definitely feel much better than me choking her ALL THE WAY. *slap myself* Dog training is about training the humans!
I was banned from training session earlier on, remember? After that day, i've tried very hard to be firm towards MuFFin. Of coz i jeopardize her love for me too! Whenever i am around, i will take over the disciplinary work. Any possible barkings from her at passerbys will end her up in her playpen for 5 mins. After the confinement, she has to sit and stay while we open the gate fully. The sit and stay thingy, i have to give it to Yida! He really did a good job on her stay. No more rushing out of the playpen like some dogs contracted rabies. Well, there are times she doesn't listen. She will sit when i asked her to but once her butt touches the floor, she stand up again. ARgh... Being firm, i would press her butt down incessantly even if she retaliate. After she know that there's no way i would give in, a stay command was given. Any movements from then will send the gate back to its original position. Positive reinforcement is incorporated in the 'no barking at passerby' training too. The stranger walked pass, no bark, treat! I was damn surprised she never bark at the garung guni even when the uncle turn back to our gate! Big chuck of pig heart was given to her! When the Malay neighbour carried his son over to look at MuFFin, she never bark too! So during their stay at the gate, i kept feeding her treats, praising her! THey were quite shocked she never bark too =)
All these have to be reinforce EVERYDAY. It seemed that she will forget abit the next day. Hope the other family members in the house will stick to the strict rules. The guests in the house problem was not yet solved. We haven't got so many guest to come over. Any friends who would like to help?
Given my very first paragraph, i'm sure you guys have guessed that her heeling improved. HEe *proud* Yida still got the most control over her heeling but i'm truely satisfied with my own improvements liao! Haha... Now she could stay with her leash on the floor while we walk around her, even over her. Cool isn't it? But it was not perfect yet. According to my trainer, she is supposed to ignore any possible distraction without moving her paws. He is quite pleased with the outcome considering that it was the third lesson =) Oh, i can't missed out this detail. My trainer PRAISED me! Muahahhahaahhaahah! He said i have changed and MuFFin knows who is in command now! Wahahahahahahhahaha! *Happiness* My girl no longer run out of the house when the gate is open too!
MuFFin's great improvement would not be achieved without Yida's persistent training! And his guiding on my checkings helped too! We are expecting more good behaviours from MuFFin with our constant practices. ;>
Here's a link to some very interesting dog training video. It's a TV show and the website get updated constantly with new episodes. So keep tune and learn from there too!
It's me or the dogsLabels: Babies, MuFFin
Twinkling@
8/20/2007 09:23:00 AM
