Andee Wyatt, The Pet Talker

12/31/2021

I'm sharing this Whole Dog Journal article to help prevent accidental poisoning of pets due to this artificial sweetener in so many of our foods. Have a healthy and happy new year.

Whole Dog Journal‘s mission is to provide dog guardians with in-depth information on dog food, training, behavior, health, and more.

12/02/2021

I want to share with you something I have discovered about communicating with my pets:
DJ, my 11-year-old Sheltie is very smart (really, he is) and sometimes he shows signs of being very human.
For example: For years, I have told him, "Go Pee-pee," when I take him outside to relieve himself. He had always done so, immediately. Then, about a year ago, he started to refuse to go when I gave the command. I scolded and cajoled to no avail. He preferred to hold it until his walk. One day, out of exasperation, I said, in a polite voice, "Go pee-pee for me, please." To my surprise, he immediately relieved himself. Ever since, he will only pay attention if I ASK him to go, rather than tell him to go. I'm like that myself. I hate to be told to do something, or that I have to do something.
I also hate to be told that I can't do something, which leads me to my second discovery about DJ.
Being a sheltie, DJ is prone to barking, especially when he is excited. No amount of scolding, time-outs, sq**rt bottles or "no-no cans" would stop him. I was really getting upset with him (and myself). I'm a dog trainer, why couldn't I get him to stop barking?
Then, one day, I tried something else: He was barking at a delivery person and I said, in a quiet, conversational tone, "DJ, I don't want you to bark. Please don't" And He Stopped Barking! It was a miracle! Now, when he sees someone or something he wants me to know about, he grumbles in his throat, or barks under his breath and looks at me, wanting me to come see what he sees. Then, he comes for a treat for being a good "Watch Dog."
Now, I'm working with Buttons, my 10-year-old harlequin cat. I talk to her as I would a small child and she is responding and learning words.
It feels wonderful to know the animals understand me and are beginning to communicate back to me. We are actually having conversations.

12/02/2021

Hi, all! I'd like to boost my readership. Please, won't you take the time to like, follow and review Andee Wyatt -The Pettalker page? I would really appreciate it.

Andee

11/15/2021

Great parents!

11/05/2021

This is heartwarming!heaartwarming

10/21/2021

Luring and Treat Dependency

I usually carry treats in my pocket or have them nearly, but I don't want to have to rely on treats to get my dog to offer behaviors when I ask for them.

Luring is a simple and effective method for training dog behaviors. Most of us use luring to show a dog what you are asking him to do.

To lure a “sit,” for example, you hold the treat over the dog’s head so he looks up. Dogs usually sit to get a better look at the treat. You mark the behavior by saying “Sit” when he does, then treat as you give a verbal marker, such as “Yes!” or “Good Sit!”

Repeat the process, marking and treating along the way, until he’s sitting when you ask him to. If at any time he stands up, say "Oops!" or “Uh-oh” and have him sit again.

Luring to teach behaviors is just fine. However, if we don’t wean the dog off the lure (called fading) as he learns the behavior, the dog can come to depend on them. He won’t perform the behavior unless you offer a treat.

Wean him from depending on the treat after you know he understands the command. Ask him to sit without showing the treat. It may take him a minute to process this change in routine, but when he does, treat and give the verbal marker. If he does not, show him the treat and give the command to “Sit.” Again, always treat and mark the behavior (“Good Sit”). Repeat by asking for the sit first, always giving him time to figure it out. The idea is to teach him to do the behavior first, then receive his reward.

Dogs will do what they feel rewarded for, so begin to replace the treat with a ear scratch and a kind word. At the end of a training session, you can reward him with a game of fetch or giving him his favorite toy, reserved for that occasion (you want it to feel special to him).

Eventually, I wean the dog from the treats altogether, just giving it occasionally, but always giving the verbal marker and the new reward. You always want to end with him feeling successful and glad he did what you asked him to do..