paul
Settling in well!
Posts: 72
|
Post by paul on Apr 18, 2016 12:14:20 GMT
Hi all,
I am new to the forum and thought I would start my posting with a few issues I am having with my dogs. Hopefully someone may have some advice for me.
I have a constant problem with Shelby eating sticks. She is fairly well trained but when she gets hold of a stick, she just won't come back. I know I should tempt her with a tasty treat and get her to drop the stick in favour of the treat, but she prefers the stick. I also use a long line on her, but it isn't really ideal because with two dogs on lines it tends to get a little difficult not getting tied up. It is not a massive issue at night because my daughter always walks with me and we control the dogs together, but early in the morning I take out both dogs on my own. Teddy is a year old and when he gets a scent he is off, so I keep him on a long line whilst I work on his recall. Shelby has a shorter line on, which she drags around with her and can be used to hold in one place while I remove the stick from her mouth. It really isn't ideal as I walk with an older lady and I am very worried that she will get caught up in the training lines. There has been so many serious injuries from dogs eating sticks, that I worry a lot about Shelby. I was advised that a squirt of water could be used to distract her, but I doubt I could get close enough for this to work.
Anyway, any advice would be greatly appreciated.
|
|
|
Post by boxerluver30 on Apr 18, 2016 14:23:46 GMT
Hi all,
I am new to the forum and thought I would start my posting with a few issues I am having with my dogs. Hopefully someone may have some advice for me.
I have a constant problem with Shelby eating sticks. She is fairly well trained but when she gets hold of a stick, she just won't come back. I know I should tempt her with a tasty treat and get her to drop the stick in favour of the treat, but she prefers the stick. I also use a long line on her, but it isn't really ideal because with two dogs on lines it tends to get a little difficult not getting tied up. It is not a massive issue at night because my daughter always walks with me and we control the dogs together, but early in the morning I take out both dogs on my own. Teddy is a year old and when he gets a scent he is off, so I keep him on a long line whilst I work on his recall. Shelby has a shorter line on, which she drags around with her and can be used to hold in one place while I remove the stick from her mouth. It really isn't ideal as I walk with an older lady and I am very worried that she will get caught up in the training lines. There has been so many serious injuries from dogs eating sticks, that I worry a lot about Shelby. I was advised that a squirt of water could be used to distract her, but I doubt I could get close enough for this to work.
Anyway, any advice would be greatly appreciated. What treats have you already used? It may just be a case of finding something she finds more valuable than a stick, be it a treat/toy etc. My samson sounds like your teddy, he is part hound so once he catches a scent, especially rabbit he's off. This is why we have issues with his recall, we need to find something that he will come back for. I wouldn't recommend water squirters, if you are having issues with recall it may make her more reluctant to come back if she makes a negative association with the water,and as a result you. I don't use a long line so cannot comment on them, we use a flexi lead. Anyway good luck in finding something that works for her and let us know how you get on. I know what you mean about sticks, my boxer that I grew up with once had to be rushed to the emergency vet as my mum had thrown a stick for him and he caught it lengthways, so it ended up piercing through his throat. Not trying to worry you by saying that btw, he was fine after an operation to stitch his throat back up and bounced back to his normal self.
|
|
paul
Settling in well!
Posts: 72
|
Post by paul on Apr 18, 2016 14:33:38 GMT
Thanks boxerluver30
I have tried all sorts of treats, but they are just not as exciting as a stick. I haven't tried the water spray because she is not allowed to see me do it as like you say, she will associate bad things with me if she does. I think it is pretty impossible to spray water without her seeing me, so not really a great option. The long line does work but it is difficult to work with and also it doesn't really teach her long term that she should not eat sticks. There are a lot of dead branches about at the moment, hopefully she will just get better when there is less around to distract her.
Thanks for the advice.
|
|
|
Post by cazypops on Apr 18, 2016 20:00:41 GMT
Our Jasper is just the same, and he always ends up throwing up after.
The two best ways we've found is to have his favorite thing (ie a tennis ball) to offer him so he forgets about the stick, and also when we see he's about to pick one up we give a stern LEAVE IT! and lots of praise when he doesn't pick it up.
It's took quite a bit of time, but with patience and persistence it's now paying off.
Good luck in finding what works for you.
|
|
|
Post by gypsy on Apr 18, 2016 20:50:02 GMT
Hi Paul. Sticks certainly can be very dangerous for dogs and you are quite right to be concerned! Over the years I've seen several dogs suffer stick injuries like the one boxerluver30 has mentioned, but also more subtle problems too. To give an example, last year at work we had a spaniel present with a large mass on his chest. Intially a tumor (cancer) was suspected, but once the xrays came back the cause was a stick! The dog had obviously chewed a stick at some point and whilst some of it had probably passed through the bowel without harm, a piece of it had also gone down the dog's airway and become lodged in the chest cavity. This had been recognised by the dog's body as a foreign body and the surrounding tissues had subsequently become inflamed and the mass was actually fluid. Naturally surgery was the only option in this case. Just a few suggestions...you could try human food rather than dog treats as this is often seen as more appealing - small piece of cheese, hotdog, sausage etc. You could perhaps do this using a whistle and as part of your recall for both Shelby and Teddy? I use a acme 211.5 gundog whistle but the type isn't really important. Start in the house and pip the whistle before placing Shelby's food down at meal times to build up a positive association. Also walk off into different rooms, pip the whistle and if she immediately returns to you, praise and reward. Go out into the garden and when she's distracted, pip the whistle and if she immediately returns to you, praise and reward. You get the idea. Then when you're confident the technique is working, do it on walks. I also agree with cazypops that taking a favourite toy on walks might work, something noisy maybe that will get Shelby's attention. Keep it in your pocket and pull it out when she picks up a stick or anything else you don't want her to have. As a distraction a loud ''AH AH'' or clap of the hands can be effective. Some dogs, especially retrievers/spaniels, are typical of their breed and love to carry things in their mouths. One of my Springers loves to carry a ball on walks. If I leave it at home he will eat grass, horse poo, ((sticks!)) but if he has his ball he's not interested. These might be worth looking at as a safe replacement for a stick - www.viovet.co.uk/Kong_Safestix_Dog_Toy/c14391/?quick_find=138498&gclid=CP7u47D8mMwCFUKZGwod0EAPvwGood luck!
|
|
|
Post by orpheous87 on Apr 18, 2016 22:27:08 GMT
How do you call Shelby when you're trying to get her to come back/take the stick away? If you sound really happy "What have you got? Good girl!" etc., you might have better results rather than "Shelby! Give it here!" if you get what I mean? My Springer once picked something up while she was a little way away from me and because I couldn't see what it was, I didn't sound panicky or anything when I was shouting her and she came running back with the object in her mouth, no problem. When she got back to me, I realised it was a massive cooked bone that I didn't want her to have but because I hadn't shouted at her angrily, she was happy to give it up for a treat. The difference between that and when I shout "Get here now!" is massive.
|
|
paul
Settling in well!
Posts: 72
|
Post by paul on Apr 19, 2016 12:09:10 GMT
Thanks everyone for the advice. I call Shelby back with the 'come' command and try and keep my voice upbeat. But when I have to remove 10 sticks from her mouth on every walk, I do wonder if my voice is not as upbeat as I think. Currently I keep Teddy on a flexi as I don't trust him yet and what is annoying is often I am concentrating on getting the stick out of Shelby's mouth, once she drops it Teddy then picks it up (Nightmare ). Shelby loves balls, but after a few retrieves the sticks seem more interesting. When she is back on lead and walking home, she will carry the tennis ball all the way home. I do use sausage and liver cake when training, perhaps I should try something new to see if she responds better. I think I will try taking a tug toy out with me, she loves those. The main problem then is both dogs are so excited and jumping up and down that it makes it difficult to even move forward. I think if I keep it only to distract her and not to play all the time, then it could help. Thanks for all the ideas
|
|
|
Post by orpheous87 on Apr 19, 2016 19:58:34 GMT
Would the ball be a good distraction from the sticks? Just thinking that if she picks a stick up, you could throw the ball for her instead - a trade of sorts - as she'll have to drop the stick in order to retrieve the ball.
You could also use one type of treat especially for when she's dropped a stick i.e. that's the only time she ever gets that treat.
Good luck!
|
|
paul
Settling in well!
Posts: 72
|
Post by paul on Apr 21, 2016 8:04:30 GMT
Shelby loves the ball, but after a few throws of the ball she will favour the sticks. I sometimes have to retrieve the ball myself where she has drop it to go after a stick. I will try an tug toy, something that I don't usually give her and only bring it out when she is eating sticks.
I definitely have to change my approach. Until now I have used a short line that she drags around to reel her in when I need to remove a stick. I think I will have to stop using it now though. I walk with a lady in the morning that is 70+ years and this morning she kicked the ball for Shelby, who dashed off, the lead wrapped around my friends leg and pull her onto her back. I felt terrible, she said she was ok and was walking ok, but it is worrying whether Shelby hurt her. I do worry having two big dogs and walking with my friend in case they hurt her in any way. But I enjoy walking with her in the mornings and I think she enjoys it as well. So definitely no long line now, so it will be hard to recall Shelby back to remove the sticks. I will try a high value toy and treat and hope for the best.
|
|
|
Post by cazypops on Apr 21, 2016 19:45:47 GMT
It might be a good idea to teach the leave it command. That way you can stop her before she even picks it up.
|
|
paul
Settling in well!
Posts: 72
|
Post by paul on Apr 21, 2016 21:23:08 GMT
Thanks cazypops. We have taught her 'leave it' and 'drop', unfortunately when she has a stick she ignores the commands. We will just have continue working on these commands in high distraction areas and hope she improves.
|
|
|
Post by cazypops on Apr 21, 2016 21:52:22 GMT
I would paul, our Jasper is almost 4 years old and it's only in the last 6 months that the leave it command were sticks are concerned has started to pay off. Just be patient and consistent, and you'll get there in the end. Just a thought, is it possible to take the dogs walking one at a time so you can work with them on a one to one?
|
|
paul
Settling in well!
Posts: 72
|
Post by paul on Apr 21, 2016 21:58:58 GMT
I won't be able to take them one at a time all the time, but I am definitely going to take them out separately more often. We took them dog training together tonight, which is different to normal, and they were barking at each other because they were separated in class. So it would definitely benefit them to be away from each other occasionally. Thanks.
|
|