[cheesedoodle]

Since we brought Willow home the weekend after Christmas, she has been making wonderful progress. We've been working on making the SIT/STAY command response more consistent, and I have been using treats to do this. Because she started to get stubborn and to be honest I WAS using pretty mundate treats (those little poker-chip-sized dried chicken snaps), I got some higher-end dog treats, broke them in small pieces and stuffed them in my pocket before we left on our walk.

After a couple of rewards for sitting and peeing outside, Willow started to get the idea that the stuff in my pocket was better than before. About 500 yards into our walk, she turns into dead weight on me.

SHE HAD PROACTIVELY SAT DOWN IN ORDER -- OSTENSIBLY -- TO GET A TREAT. SHE WAS SITTING THERE ALL HAPPY, SNIFFING IN THE DIRECTION OF MY POCKET.

That didn't fly. I got her going again and then in another 50 yards got her to sit down again.

But man -- I never had to contend with stuff like this with my border collie.

 

[blueteal]

We told you they are a smart breed..............
bahahahahahaaaaaaaaa

 

[MaxandMe]

hahahhaaaaaa I LOVE IT!!

and Max, when we got him at 13 weeks old we thought we'd use a treat to potty train him.
that lasted ONE day ONLY....as after the 1st time he got a treat for doing both numbers, all other potty walks he'd FAKE a pee and poop running back to meeach time for a treat :roll:

 

[seazr]

willow is not TRYING to train you; she IS training you!! :wink: good luck with that! Oh, and do learn well!! :wink: :wink:

 

[cheesedoodle]

Yeah -- different kinds of dogs are smart in different ways. My border collie could actually remove bolts with her teeth when she wanted to get at something. Willow seems less like a mechanic working dog and seems more like an applied psychologist.

 

[DebBrown]

I am well trained to open the cookie jar and pass out treats. Charlie just sits in the kitchen next to the jar until I notice him. And if I'm working at the counter, I am trained to pass out pieces of apple, squash or whatever I'm chopping. :roll:

Deb

 

[annieG]

Sounds like Charlie and Tanner read the same training manual

 

[Guest]

Maya has me trained to bring home toys from all my extended work trips. This trip it is a Red Wings hockey puck. Hopefully she won't destroy that for a while!!!