Puppy training

[neveryourmask]

When we were teaching Jovi the basics (sit, down, walk on the lead), we got a lot of different instruction on how to handle it, and I feel like we could have done much better. There was negative reinforcement used (loud voices, choker chains) and confused positive reinforcement (human voices that fluctuate too much, no alternative behaviour shown

Comments

[madamjuggernaut]

We used to smack Buster's nose with a pointer finger, but he was much smaller. nowadays if we hold up a finger threateningly he is like 'T_T' and stops, or listens. the ow thing works too, most of the time, but if for some reason it doesn't, I would suggest doing that, and then giving her a light flick/smack on the bridge or tip of her nose.

Always make sure that when you push her away though, push down on her nose, not from the sides. maybe even as far down as that she will be looking at the floor instead of you, or something else.

[neveryourmask]

Yeah. The problem I'm finding with swats is that when she is really eager, she will see that as play and go harder, but so does the ow technique, depending on the context. If it was just placid nips and bites during gentle-rough play, it'd be easier, but she will start the leaping up and snapping thing to get us to have fun with her. Redirection works unless hands are more fun than squeaky toys, and I also don't want it to come across as reward, so ow/push has to be used anyway.

The push thing is also good advice, I've been trying to work out how to do that.