Smarter Than You Think

[woodyblueeyes]

It's a book out that a friend suggested I read. I've gone through four chapters and the information is something very different for us, and it's working wonders with our pups at home.

A break from the traditional standard of teaching your dog militaristically, and the pups and I are fast gaining an added respect and love for each other.

If you, like me, feel that a dog is more than a possession, that he/she is part of the family, pick up a copy of this book and see what you think.

The author is Paul Loeb, and I'm searching for other books of his now.

 

[Renee750il]

I'll have to find that one. My dogs are companions and intelligent friends. I don't want them to be necessarily subservient and slavish, so I've never been terribly enthusiastic about standard dog training. I've always just "talked" to my dogs, and I try to remember that there are times when they have very good reasons for wanting to do something other than what I want them to do at that moment. The only real demand I have is that they must come when I whistle. I even tell them thank you when they do what I ask quickly and they definitely respond. The better my manners are with them, the better theirs are.

Amazing how they respond, isn't it?

 

[Dreeza]

i've been reading that book as well...

but im having a major issue with his throwing technique...
if i throw something at my dog, he things its a chew toy...he doesnt come back to me, lol

any suggestions?

 

[Doberluv]

Oh my goodness! I haven't heard that author's name for a long time. I read one of his books way back when I got my GSD....like 20 + years ago. He had a Weimeraner that he trained to go to the little corner grocery store all by himself and walk to the dog food shelves carrying a hand carrying basket thing. He'd knock a few cans of food into the basket, carry it up to the counter and show the store owner who charged the food to Paul's account. He put the cans in a bag and the dog carried that home. In the book, he explained step by step how he went about training this neat trick. Everyone loved seeing the dog go shopping. I loved his methods and his writing. I wish I could remember the name of that book. Do you know what it is?

 

[Sprout]

My dog is a part of the family, my best friend, too.. but I dont need a book to confirm that for me Sounds neat, though.

 

[Dreeza]

the name of the book is the title of this thread

 

[Doberluv]

I didn't remember about him throwing things at his dog. Like I said, it's been over 20 yrs. I just remember liking it at that time. What are his methods like again?

 

[Dreeza]

he said, to get your dog to come, you should throw something at him (something soft, lol, like a pair of socks)

his idea behind it was that your dog would smell your scent, and be confused...and think that no matter where he is, you can touch him...like its an extenstion of yourself...

ok, so...ummm...what if my dog just wants to chew whatever you throw at him!??


His methods stress giving your dog a spanking as well...like one slap on the behind whenever he is doing something you dont want him to do...he says one slap is all he needs...HA, i was like, hey, if thats all, then ill try it next time oakley bites me...

he just tried to bite me again...its like a game to him..."ooh, i bite, i get spanked, YAY, lets do it again!!!" maybe im not hitting him hard enough, and he thinks im patting him, lol...i cant hit him too hard, i feel bad :\

I just figure if he has been able to train 20,000 dogs w/his methods, including his insanely well trained dog...then his methods must be effective...

i got spanked as a kid, it worked...

he also stresses treating your dog more as a human...like, no one word commands...use sentences...things like that...

 

[BigDog2191]

Sounds like a very interesting book, I'll have to check it out.

 

[Doberluv]

Wow, I don't remember that at all. Goes to show what happens one's memory at my age and after all that time. Hmmm. Well, I'm not into slapping my dog, so I guess I'll have to keep plugging along my way.

 

[Dreeza]

yeah, i am all for doing what works...

unfortunatley after months of my dog not caring about his trachea being crushed, and refusing to walk and BREATHE (he'd much rather choke himself...at one point, i walked like half a block with him just on his hind legs...he had plenty of leash to walk like a normal dog, but he chose otherwise)

so then we got the head halter...he chewed up the first one, so we got another, which he kept taking off...and ontop of that, it was the biggest hassle ever...it was so hard to get it on perfect...cuz it would poke him in the eye, or not allow him to open his mouth fully (which is just evil on an extremely hot day)...so unfortunately we had to go the route of the prong collar

But...it works...and actually, ive noticed when im taking him out to the bathroom (we dont use it then or anything), he is walking 10x better on just his collar...so hopefully we can wean him off the prong collar.

And i actually did test it around my own neck, lol...it doesnt hurt at all (and i have no fur to pad either ) if its not being pulled...when it pulls, it didnt hurt a whole ton either....so, he gets the choice...and *usually* he chooses to walk like an obedient doggie

and yeah, huge tangent i just went off on...sorry, like my dog, im really ADD