I have been considering posting up here the past several days because Baxter and I have been having some annoying problems. He's been starting to bark A LOT while in his crate and I know it's not that he's scared or anything because he's never acted that way in the last 3 weeks. I was very hesitant, but my husband convinced me to get a little pressurized air can, and we sprayed it lightly in his face when he started to bark. He seemed really surprised at first, but stopped barking after about the 4th or 5th time. It doesn't seem to hurt him at all, just irritate him mostly. So YAY it is quiet in the home again!  (Makes for a happier hubby)
The second success (yes there are two!) was that I decided to try introducing a clicker into Baxters life. So far I've used it to try to teach him to sit as well as to stop pulling on the leash while we walk. I started using very small pieces of hot dog as a treat instead of bits of his food and he became MUCH more motivated. I think the clicker is really working as well because when we are walking together and he stayed close to me I'd click, and he'd immediatly turn and look at me, waiting for the treat. I think he enjoys figuring out what i'm trying to teach him, too, now that he actually understands it eventually. Before he never quite got it and neither of us was happy.
Anyhow -- sorry for the long post I am just so happy! I feel like we have an avenue that we can move forward on now in his training. |