Manners Minder

[Linds]

So, I'm considering getting one of these but wanted people's opinions.

The reasons I'm considering this is because while I'm at work the dogs are crated, which would be fine if no one was home because they are quiet then. But, when people are home and out of the room they are rather vocal and my sister is about ready to kill them. So I would like to set one up outside the crate to allow my sister to reward remotely for quiet.

I also would like it for when people come home to reward AWAY from anyone for calmness.

So, who has one of these? Do you use it for other things? I would like to use it for more than two things if possible since it's not the cheapest. Do you recommend it?

[CaliTerp07]

I had this:

http://www.cleanrun.com/index.cfm?fu...&ParentCat=675

Lucy would. not. leave it alone. "OMGTHERE'SFOOD!!!! MUST CLAW AT IT FOR HOURS EVEN WHEN MOM SHOVES FOOD UNDER MY NOSE TO TRY TO DISTRACT ME". I ended up having to give it away to a friend because she just couldn't focus when it was on the ground.

[Taqroy]

I have one. I used it a lot for being quiet on the mat while I worked a different dog and some for rewarding being quiet in the crate. My biggest issue is that mine jams a lot. I'd say every 10 to 20th reward spin it jams up. So if your sister is using it she's probably going to have to fix it on a regular basis, which may be as annoying as vocal dogs.

I'll come back to this thread after I've had coffee because I'm sure I have more to say. Lol.

[Linds]

Yeah Taq, I was reading in a few places it jammed. Did it matter what kibble you used? And do you know when it jams? She'll be using the remote from the other side of the house so if she can't tell when it jams it'll be a bigger pain.

[Shai]

I used TOTW and Eagle Pack kibble in mine. The first before the recalls, the second because that is what Cookie eats and I was using it for her. I've never had a jam...both are medium size kibbles. I have teensy Nutrisca at home i could put in to see if it jams on smaller stuff.

I've had mine for several years now. It took my dogs a little while to learn that it wasn't another Nina Ottosson toy and that scrabbling at it is not okay. Webster especially was certain it was a food puzzle toy and if I would only leave him alone with it for a few seconds he would conquer it. So it's only out if we're actively working it or they cannot reach it.

[SaraB]

Mine came with two different disc sizes for different sized kibble. I use the tiny Halo cat food in mine and it would occasionally jam but not very often.

[BostonBanker]

This is irrelevant to your question, but I'm trying to figure out how they are going to get the treat from the Manners Minder when they are in their crates.

Beyond that, I'm useless We have one at the place I do agility, but I think Meg would believe it was run by a demon. Gusto would disassemble it probably.

[Shai]

Originally Posted by BostonBanker

This is irrelevant to your question, but I'm trying to figure out how they are going to get the treat from the Manners Minder when they are in their crates.

Beyond that, I'm useless We have one at the place I do agility, but I think Meg would believe it was run by a demon. Gusto would disassemble it probably.

The tray is removable -- if you unsnap it, the food just falls to the floor. Or, if it's on top of a wire crate, it falls into the crate

And yeah, it's a supervision- or separation-only sort of thing. I can't even leave it on top of a crate if Webster has access to the room or he'll walk across the top of the wire crate to have at the MM.

[BostonBanker]

Ah, thanks! I was picturing it somehow rigged up to shoot into the crates like a BB gun and was baffled.

[Shai]

Originally Posted by BostonBanker

Ah, thanks! I was picturing it somehow rigged up to shoot into the crates like a BB gun and was baffled.

lol I have this suspicion that Didgie would find that very reinforcing lol