Training Pets

Archie is a work in progress. He isn't potty trained yet because my hubby works nights and sleeps during the day and I just can't keep up with everything. But he is potty trained to the point when he does go inside he does it on 'Wee Wee Pads' and not the floor. He knows the 'Sit' command and we are working on 'Stay' and 'Come' now.

We just got back from errands and the Dog Whisperer was on. The show was one I watched several years ago. My wife went to Florida while her sister was attending a seminar. But later they went to Disney World. I was hone with Sammy and watched a marathon of the Dog Whisper shows. I learned two thing. One was Sammy was walking me not me walking her. The other was she was deathly afraid of large trucks. And there was a way to fix both.

The first thing I tried was thwacking because we walked a couple miles per day. Normally she would be out near the end of her leash with me dragging behind. So the fix was to talk our normal route but with her right next to my leg. The only time we ferried that was at the places she normally peed. Then right back next to me. We did this ONE time around or 1/2 mile. From that one walk she became a great walker. I would let her walk ahead at time but if she got out to far I would tell her to wait for me and she did. There were a couple times later when she would walk my wife I had to remind Sammy was was in control and she would get back in line. When my wife walked with us she was surprised at how well she walk. with me there.

The second one was the loud trucks. She would just freak out and try to get back in the garage and house. So when I would see a FedX or UPS truck I would lay her on her side on the driveway. Once on her side I would hold her shoulders down and massage her side until she relaxed. Took a couple times but after that the trucks didn't bother her. It was interesting because when you had her on her side she was very tense. Gradually she would be completely relaxed and she would even lat her head down. Once she did that you really didn't have to touch her. So once she was calmed down and it was time to move on she got up like she had been sleeping.

The Dog Whisperer is a great show and for minor problems like above, his little tricks work and work fairly fast. Sammy was pretty good at picking up tricks she was motivated by small treats. Didn't matter how big or small they were, it was a treat and that's all that mattered to her.

I've watched just about ever show he has put out there. For a while our cable company didn't cover his show the new company covers it so we record all his shows.

He gets dogs under control so fast at time. No yelling and screaming or whipping. He shows the dog who is in control. Then teaches the people how to do the same. He has helped outa lot of families. Even me.

I used to watch the Dog Whisperer all the time. Good show.

Archie is still a work in progress. I have never had a dog that pees as much as he does. He still goes on Wee Wee pads inside but now realizes that he gets a treat if he goes outside.

When I worked Sammy around the hood she peed 15 times, naturally just a little to mark her ares but Emory has no need to mark her area and will only go in the yard. But that's fine with me. This morning it took a while but she did all her business on one trip out. So then she gets to run around like crazy. But she did get that much needed treat. after a couple tries she sat for her treat. Then went to the down position for more. I break it in small pieces so I can keep repeating. She's doing good.

As for wee wee pads we wish she would try them for this winter. But she wants to spread them...and does. But we might try in the garage when it gets really cold, but I'm not holding my breath it will work. Another difference between the two is Sammy had to go on grass, not on the driveway covered with snow, she needed grass...So here is a picture of her in her area. I shaped it like a football field and called it The Frozen Tundra. And Emory will go on the driveway if the grass is to wet.