a general discussion at the office this morning. How to prevent pups from begging: as part of their general training sit down in front of pup and eat a cookie or a piece of bread or whatever. Eat the whole thing and say "mine. mine" over and over. DO NOT give pup any. When you are done, get up and go away.
Do this until pup does not beg for food.
Co-worker says that now when she is eating something and her dog comes up and gives her the hopeful eyes, she says "mine" and dog walks aawy. Of course, this dawg is a Shar-pei. Dunno how this will work with a doxie!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's the exact opposite with a doxie. Ozzy sits there, looking like he is saying, "What are you doing eating MY food?" He will not beg from Hubby, nor me, but he does try begging from Amy, perhaps because he sees her as an equal in "the pack."
Animal behaviorist Patricia McConnell recommends taking a cookie, standing next to the kitchen counter and very slowly and deliberately eat it bite by bite in front of your dog(s). Ignore them - you're alpha, after all - then dust off your hands and walk away.
Karen :heart:
Karen,
Patricia is a really interesting person. We had her here for a seminar a couple of years ago. Afterwards we all went out to dinner with her. Zack was being a pest when I sat in bed and read and wouldn't stop bugging me. :crazyeyes: She had said to use body blocks and not push him away with my hands. She told me to use my shoulder and butt him with that, so later that night he started in and I did what she said ....he backed off and looked at me like what the heck was that. He did it once more and then stopped and gave up. :thumb: I was very happy and I told her that I only had to do it 2 times and he got the message. I bought several of her books too. She is from southern WI. Actually taught at the University at Madison.
Merion & the ZZ's
Quote from: Doxherding Karen on August 02, 2007, 12:39:18 PM
Animal behaviorist Patricia McConnell recommends taking a cookie, standing next to the kitchen counter and very slowly and deliberately eat it bite by bite in front of your dog(s). Ignore them - you're alpha, after all - then dust off your hands and walk away.
Karen :heart:
yes, that's true, but you want them to learn the command: "mine" as well.
Patricia McConnell also has a DVD of an 8 hour seminar of dog behavior available for purchase. It's excellent and she's very, very good. She seems to use a more passive approach to the alpha concept than Cesar, but at the core, they both come out about the same, as far as I could tell.
Karen :heart: