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garyjena

Terrier Terror

07/30/2008 3:59 PM
I need some help. Geigh has been itching alot at night so she wakes up. So I guess she thinks she is a awake she might as well go outside to potty. So she wakes me up and I take her and Boozer outside. They do their business and then something distracts them. Last night it was a frog. I could not get them to come inside for nothing. I tried the "come" command, which we are working on, I tried one of the their treats, I tried pieces of hot dog, nothing worked. I even tried the squirt gun to ge their attention and that didn't work. Boozer was so worked up he was foaming at the mouth. Finally, I got them to be still so I could pcik them up and brought them inside. I was so angry but I knew it was something I wasn't doing that caused this. Also, Geigh hasn't done this in a very long time, I caught her chewing on the blanket on my bed. She and I were laying down watching TV. She had two nylabones and a kong right next to her and she was chewing on the blanket. What could be causing this? She is 17 months old.

www.newrattitude.org Pet Publicist, Adopt A Pet Volunteer Coordinator Database Maintenance HV and TR

bluedog

Rat Royalty

07/30/2008 4:57 PM
I could use some help with the same thing. If paisley sees a squirrel, she has no ears for me... What I do, is I carry treats as much as possible and randomly reward for coming (maybe 60% of the time I give a treat). They never know if they will get a reward. That is working. If I am not in a situation where I will commit to go and get her in the yard (ie late at night in bare feet), then I let her out on a long line so that when I say come, I can make her obey. I never give the come command unless I can enforce it (ie if she is in the yard and I say come, I will go get her if she does not come and she usually turns and starts to come to me - I am always positive when I receive her after saying come - cannot be frustrated). Come is also something that you need to practice, like sit and down, etc. Long line works great for that. Leave it is another good command to teach. I am sure you will get some good advice here... Paisley has gotten so focused on something that physically redirecting her (picking her up or taking her by the collar) was my only option. I have not had her try to escape or run from me yet.

Christine Mom to Michael & Charlotte Moose (lab), Paisley (rattie), Clark & Lois (tolerant kitties)

Duke Lank

Ratterific

07/31/2008 6:43 AM
It's weird you mention this today. Yesterday was so frustrating for me that I had to count to 10 to cool off. Duke has mastered the come command very well. He was doing so great. Then yesterday he ran off twice. My husband wants me to tie him on his lead when he does this. Is that the right way to handle it? He already does not get his reward. However we don't give him one everytime anyway. I don't want him to feel his lead is a punishment. But.... it's better than losing my patience and Duke. Duke's attention was on something in the woods when he ran off. Any advice? Thank you, Duke's mom

Karbear7321

Newbie

07/31/2008 8:38 AM
I'm also having a similar issue! We have an 8 month old rattie named Jack, we just got him last weekend. We are trying to work on training with him, which he has virtually had none of until we took him in. He just does not seem interested in anything we try with him about 90% of the time. We finally found a few snacks that he likes and a few toys that he takes interest in after 15 minutes of trying to get him to pay attention. He is getting better and I have to remind myself that it's been less than a week, but it gets aggravating that we can't get him to focus long enough to work on his training! I'm hoping he will calm down more after we get him neutered and he has had more time to adjust and get used to us. I think part of the issue is that we have 2 cats in our house that he is just dying to meet. They seem curious and will eventually come downstairs if he is being quiet (ha!), but the second he sees them, he just starts lunging and straining and they run away and then there is nothing to do to get his attention back. I'm getting frustrated because I would like the animals to be able to meet and get used to each other, but it seems like it will never happen as long as he keeps trying to chase them every chance he gets! We are trying our best to keep calm and be assertive with him about not going after the cats, but it's a very difficult thing to do! If anyone has any ideas about getting him to focus more or about the cat situation, please let me know, it would be greatly appreciated!

storm

Ratterific

07/31/2008 8:53 AM
I had a similar issue with Rip which I have managed to - if not end - at least minimize. I have an issue with dogs who will not look me in the eye. Always having had large dogs, I have not wanted an unwitting guest to issue an unknowing challenge to one of our large dogs by looking them in the eye, as is a dog's instinct. So, to prevent this, I have always trained them to look at me directly. Rip was very difficult with this. It took three days! of teaching the "look at me" command to get it with him. I take a treat and get his attention, give the command, then pull the treat up to my nose. Rip would look away at the last moment every time - until the last day, when he finally started looking at my face and getting the treat. Now, when he is woefully distracted and I can't get his attention any other way, I give the "look at me" command and he automatically looks. He gets a treat as reinforcement about 50% of the time now. It breaks his obsession for that moment and I can give another command. It's amazing how singularly focussed these little guys can be! Even after moving away from the sight of their distraction, walking past the same spot again eggs on their curiosity to see if whatever-it-was is still there!

Puppy pics at http://stormcarver.com/Family/Dogs.html "There are essential and inessential insanities." ~Tom Robbins

bluedog

Rat Royalty

07/31/2008 4:12 PM
Yes - I need to focus on teaching "watch me" and pulling up to the nose is a good idea. I think watch me, look at me, or leave-it are all good things to teach. I have been half-heartedly doing it but with 2 dogs, I am not as focused as I should be. What I need to focus on is pulling out my dogs individually and working with them. Jack's mom - you might want to experiment with some really fishy/smelly/tasty treats. I found some, when I get home, I'll get the name. They are moist round treats (not hard biscuits). They are small and work great for training. I agree, the singular focus is amazing. Paisley will sit out and stare at squirrels (or the fact that there was once a squirrel in that tree) for a very long time - she is very rigid and still. Dukes mom - is he running off while you are on a walk or just in the yard?

Christine Mom to Michael & Charlotte Moose (lab), Paisley (rattie), Clark & Lois (tolerant kitties)

Duke Lank

Ratterific

08/01/2008 6:17 AM
Duke is running off in the yard. When we go for walks, he's on a leash. Weve been leaving him on his lead again. I'm going the try letting him go this weekend. To work so hard and have this happen. GRRRR! Duke's mom

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