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From: Frederick Pedrotti [mailto:fpedrotti@smittys.com]
Sent: Saturday, April 28, 2007 8:11 AM
To: steve@familydobes.com
Subject: Thoughts on training

Steve I read the emails on training and the news letter.  I thought I mite pass on what has worked for me.

On biting:

I have thought Baron to soft bite by holding a treat in my fist and letting Baron lick my hand while opening my fingers slowly.

I find replacement to work well, though replacement should be more desirable than my hand or arm.

If the dog is really misbehaving and testing me for alpha, I pin him by the neck and roll the upper lip over a canine tooth and press lightly to the point of discomfort.

Jumping:

I have used two techniques for dogs that jump on you. Dobermans are so fast that one of them does not work.  One is that when the dogs jumps, step lightly on the rear paw.  That works fast on most dogs, but dobes are too fast.  By the time they jump they are down before you can react.

The other and works well but seems to take longer is raising a knee in the dogs chest.  Baron does not jump on me but will with others and others need to do the same.

Staying:

The big thing I find is havening the dogs attention and keeping eye contact.  I start with feeding.  I put the dog in a siting position and have the dog wait for an OK.  I move to putting the dog in a sit and stay keeping eye contact and walk backward slowly holding a treat, then stop 30 or 40 feet back.  I stare the dog in the eye and eventually give a come command.

It's neat to walk out with the food cup and watch the dog assume the position.

Getting dogs to leave things alone:

Drop a treat on the floor. When the dog goes for it, cover it with your foot.  Wile  the dog sniffs and paws at your foot  give your command to leave it, or no.  Once you have the dogs attention treat the dog.  Still working on this one with Baron, he snagged a pork chop off the kitchen counter last week.

Interactive play for dogs when you are tired:

Rope, tire and a tree.  Old motorcycle tiers work well, but I found a small tire at Pet Smart and added a tug rope in the mix. Picture attached.  Wares dobes out and will ply with it for hours. Real good for persistence training.

Thanks ! Steve.

Fred