training a lhasa apso

 When we brought Peppa into our lives, we knew it would be necessary to get her used to grooming. So we did our best, and she's used to being up on the table getting special attention (and extra special treats) every evening. Fortunately, she loves it. We did come up with the theory that she had seen her mum and dad being groomed and thinks it's part of being a grown-up dog. Who knows what goes on in the clever little head?

She's more clever than we thought she would be, and has trained her people pretty well. Here are some of the favorites:

1. Jump appealingly up onto the human's legs and allow said human to stroke your head and tickle you behind the ears, at the same time slo-w-ly, quie-t-ly stealing a handkerchief or  tissue from their pocket. If tissue, tear it to shreds and enable them to get some isometric exercise bending to collect the shreds. If a handkerchief, mouth it dramatically as if you're going to swallow it and might subsequently need to go to the amazingly expensive Animal Emergency clinic. Wait until the human races to get you a super-nice treat and willingly 'give' the hanky to them in exchange for the treat, and get praised for being so co-operative.

2. Whenever you see a baby gate left ajar, race into the forbidden room and ostentiously wait in the doorway for the command to come 'this way' and receive a treat for your obedience.

 

 

3. Go out into the backyard and bellow at the top of your voice at any movement in the adjoining apartments and wait for the command to 'come'. Race in and get a treat. 

I suspect she's working on a few more commands for the humans to obey. I'll report when she has us even more under her control. 

Oh, and now that I have a close look at that photo I posted, I think I'd  better get off this computer and do that grooming. Obviously today was a rather exciting and messy playday.

 

dogs and vegemite

Penny could have told Jimmie Fallon how to eat vegemite on toast, without seeing Hugh Jackman do so.



She, like any true-blue Aussie dog, loves her toast with vegemite. (Or peanut butter, for that matter.)

Even if her humans are miserly with the bread. (Bread isn't really good for her.) That's her teensy piece on the edge of the plate.

But she's willing to go through her routine of tricks to see which one will be randomly rewarded on this occasion. She usually does a couple of spins, one direction after another, to see whether that earns a response, then backs away, tries a short 'speak', takes a bow, or gets up on her hind legs (wonderful to see she can do this now, after her cruciate surgery five years ago).

Today, it was the hind legs raise that got the tiny reward.

positive thinking and dog training

Jaana, in Estonia, the winner of Honey's Dancing With the Doggy Stars competition, has begun writing about her training methods. I read with interest her post about the need for the human partner to think positively.

I've learned in the past that if I get stressed about what I want Penny to learn, it goes badly. My reason for trick training with Penny is to give her a chance to use her intelligence and to have fun, so I agree with what Jaana has said.

exciting new way to have fun with your dog

Penny and I have always enjoyed working on tricks. But today my horizons have been extended. I've seen two links on Johan's blog - links to video clips where dogs 'act' out a whole story, by putting together lots of tricks. I think these two are wonderful!

In the first, Ymer, the Swedish Valhund goes on a mission to discover the butcher's secret recipe for sausages. (I love Valhunds! They are so intelligent and so cute.)



The second one involves a very clever Rhodesian Ridgeback.



All I have to do now is script a story - not too hard;
decide which tricks and short clips would suit it - not too hard;
review Penny's known tricks or teach some new ones - not too hard...

and learn how to use iMovie properly - VERY HARD!!

dog training at night

Penny's finding that attending classes at night in the open, in the scary, scary dark, is quite different from working inside a building.




We're having great fun, and Penny is learning that it's not necessary to throw a wobbly every time someone walks past our training spot. It's great to see that in only two weeks she's learned to deal with ambient noise and passing strangers, and can pay close attention to me as we work.



(I'd like to thank Cody's mum for every one of the photos on tonight's blog!)





The darkness didn't slow her down going through the lovely new tunnel.



But there certainly is a scary effect when dogs are photographed in the dark!



We had a race to see who could put the most toys into a bucket.



Penny would have done quite well if she hadn't made a few withdrawals as well as deposits.



I'll have to admit our opponent ran rings around us!