Adrienne
08-02-2005, 08:34 PM
Just wondering if anyone has any ideas about how my two year old Logan can help out with the dog training, he is pretty limited verbaly at this point so he can't give to many commands but he loves to play with Gunnar and I of course want Gunnar to view him as a "leader" of his pack. I do have him give the dogs treats and he can tell them to sit but is there anything else we can do?
Doberluv
08-03-2005, 02:35 AM
Does Gunner do automatic sits for things? Can you (ahead of time) teach him? What I always did with Lyric was tell him to sit before I'd set his bowl down. It was a ritual. Then I just stopped using the word and I'd just stand there holding his bowl. He'd stand there and look at me like, "wass up b*****? Why aren't you giving me my food?" LOL. I'd stand and be silent. I could just see the wheels turning and finally he thought it over long enough and sat. Then I set the bowl right down. I don't do any of that anymore because he's not a pig about his food and doesn't rush in toward the bowl when I set it down, so I just set it down for him....there's no need with this dog. He's so NOT "dominant." Anyhow, so if you could get a few automatic sits for a few different skills, your two year old could stand in front of the dog holding the bowl until the dog sits and then he can set it down. You'd be right there helping anyhow. Then maybe he could walk, holding the leash in the living room. You could tell your son to stop. When he stops, the dog must sit. And then your son can give him a treat and a pat. Again....you'd be having to supervise and help him so the dog doesn't get confused too badly. LOL. Your son can control your dog's toys. You and your son can ask for a sit and then let your son give the toy and maybe he can give a pat and a giggle. Dogs seem to recognize our laughter as something good and often take it as a reward. Well, I bet others will have some good ideas. Sounds like a good thing to do with your son and dog, although I must say, I never did anything special with my toddlers and my GSD and Lab. Those dogs absolutely adored the kids and were wonderful with them. My kids were a little older when we got Bonnie, my choc. Lab but were babies with Ajax, my last GSD. They really didn't act much like leaders until they were older and bossy....like around 4 or 5. LOL.