Comments for Natural Dog Training Blog http://www.naturaldogblog.com harness your dog's prey instinct and have the happiest dog on the block Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:59:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 Comment on Dog Training: Part Three of Teaching Your Dog to Sit, Lie Down, and Stay - The Stay by Marion Justice http://www.naturaldogblog.com/blog/2007/12/dog-training-part-three-of-teaching-your-dog-to-sit-lie-down-and-stay-the-stay/#comment-1912 Marion Justice Wed, 30 Jul 2008 11:53:42 +0000 http://www.naturaldogblog.com/blog/2007/12/dog-training-part-three-of-teaching-your-dog-to-sit-lie-down-and-stay-the-stay/#comment-1912 Thanks for the explanation, Neil. I understand what you mean about fading the box, generalising the stay and reducing criteria when any of the stimuli are changed. Do you find that starting with the box really makes a difference to how well the dog learns the stay as opposed to teaching the stay without the box to start with? I'm just thinking that if you don't use the box in the first place then there's one fewer stimulus to fade or generalise, but perhaps the box provides an 'anchor' for the dog in the initial stages. Thanks for the explanation, Neil. I understand what you mean about fading the box, generalising the stay and reducing criteria when any of the stimuli are changed.

Do you find that starting with the box really makes a difference to how well the dog learns the stay as opposed to teaching the stay without the box to start with? I’m just thinking that if you don’t use the box in the first place then there’s one fewer stimulus to fade or generalise, but perhaps the box provides an ‘anchor’ for the dog in the initial stages.

]]> Comment on How to play tug of war with your dog - and have the happiest dog on the block. by Neil http://www.naturaldogblog.com/blog/2007/07/how-to-play-tug-of-war-with-your-dog-and-have-the-happiest-dog-on-the-block/#comment-1910 Neil Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:44:39 +0000 http://www.naturaldogblog.com/blog/2007/07/19/how-to-play-tug-of-war-with-your-dog-and-have-the-happiest-dog-on-the-block/#comment-1910 Hi Claudia, I think your instinct to let go when the growling begins is a good one. You'll probably find that over time (and with doing OTHER exercises, particularly the pushing exercise), your dog's tolerance for the game will increase. That being said, maybe your dog's just a growler! Give it time before you come to that conclusion. Ultimately it can be a judgment call on your part - slowly building the intensity of the game, and paying attention for any signs that it's stressing your dog out (which would be bad) versus continuing to be a fun, stress-relieving activity. Thanks for coming by! Hi Claudia,

I think your instinct to let go when the growling begins is a good one. You’ll probably find that over time (and with doing OTHER exercises, particularly the pushing exercise), your dog’s tolerance for the game will increase.

That being said, maybe your dog’s just a growler! Give it time before you come to that conclusion. Ultimately it can be a judgment call on your part - slowly building the intensity of the game, and paying attention for any signs that it’s stressing your dog out (which would be bad) versus continuing to be a fun, stress-relieving activity.

Thanks for coming by!

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