There are others on here who could give you more ideahs than I can. I don't like the squirt water in the mouth when they do something wrong... although, some dogs go nuts over a hose squirting water out and will try to eat it... (Thinks back to america's funnies home videos of a couple dogs attacking streams of water from hose.)

And the dominance thing? I think Leader would be more appropriate. When I watch It's Me or the Dog, Victoria Stilwell will always say Leader. I don't think I have heard her say you be the Dominante one. (I haven't seen all her shows, but I've seen most of them.) And I think there is a fine line between Dominance and Leader.

As for the jumping on people? I think the best way to train that is to no matter what, ignore her when she does it as you've heard. If she jumps on you to gain your attention, turn around so your back is facing her with your arms folded infront of your chest and give her no eye contact, praise or anything that could lead to it being a reaction she gets from you. When she runs infront of you and jumps again on you, just repeat the process. Than when she gives up, praise her for it. It will take a while and you have to be consistant with it. (This would probably be better with no funiture around you and if there is and she jumps on it, just walk away from her.)

But for the jumping on the furniture? I have no clue. What kind of jumping on furniture is it? Is it when you sit down and she jumps up automatically to get attention or is it when she's really exicted and just bounces on everything she can reach?

 

Yeah the furniture jumping is the problem now. We really have no idea at all on how to teach her not to. She don't really jump on the couches but instead, just put her front paw up and try to see what's chewable on the couch. Same thing goes for the dining table where she wonders what are we humans having for dinner. lol.

I really wish to watch that show. But sadly I don't have Animal Planet. Might rent the dvds if I can find them here. Haha..

Yeah I don't really agree on the squirt gun idea too. There's been a debate on it I think. I've seen many people agreeing and quite a number disagreeing as well. I'm just sitting in the middle not knowing which side is right.

 

Personally my dog LOVES water squirted at him, put the hose on and he is in heaven!!!

 

I think that this doesn't actually fix the problem. It only temporarily fixes the issue and the dog will go back when the threat of punishment (the squirt bottle) has been removed....if it actually works cause like BoxLove said some dogs really like it!

I would say it just needs patience and you to "remove" the dog's paws from the furniture and redirect him/her to a toy and reinforce.

 

I agree with Alfi, simply and calmly take the dogs paws off the furniture/table and say "off" its a great command I use in my house often, tho my dogs are allowed on my furniture. Spraying a dog with water is not teaching them anything so I would not use use that tool.

 

ditto the above... the squirt bottle is not really a great idea... i'd suggest a different tbh... IMO any trainer who is pushing dominance theory for training isn't really focusing on the behaviors themselves, i personally don't buy dominance theory, but even the parts that i could possibly swallow, don't really mean much as far as training the dog...

for example... she wants to be on the couch because it is a comfy/fun place for her to be... i'd make it less fun for her... pick her up from the couch, and put her on the floor... give her comfy places to lay on the floor and reward her for using them... play with her on the floor... reward her for coming up to the couch BEFORE she jumps up on it, then get her really engaged with you, on the floor... basically make the floor the really awesome place for her to be, and the couch a boring place where she doesn't get to spend much time...

 

MANY many moons ago, I let my oldest daughter get a kitty. That kitty grew up to be a wonderful old cat too, w/IMPECCABLE manners too. I blame it all on my perfect timing, & the water bottle! When she was a kitty, & she jumped onto the table or countertops, I would make this "psssspsss" sound, & squirt her, &, she would startle & then run like the devil was after her...I had "loaded" water bottles everywhere..pretty quick, all I had to do was utter a "p" sound(MINUS a squirt bottle), &, she would discontinue ANYTHING that she was "about" to do. Many times, I have secretly wished that I could dial the "rainbow bridge" to ask her.."hey, when you were being targeted by those streams of water, did you ever suspect it was coming from ME"?

I babble...I think that the water bottle may be great for kittens perhaps, but, when it comes to dogs??...Nah, I don't think thats the road to take. Like already mentioned before, training the "off" command here is going to be your best friend. A solid "off" at that. This will be a wonderful command that you teaching your dog will come in handy 1000% of the time. While you are teaching this though, be sure to give rewards when your dog DOES give "off" though to help strengthen the command. Time, patience, & rewards will help you teach your dog...I wish you good luck!

 

Ditto Fawkese and Alfi!

 

I don't know how effective it is in the long term, but I can tell you that Gracie hates the water bottle. If I pick it up, she backs away from whatever she is doing (usually trying to get on the couch.) We also use the "off" command at the same time.

She got squirted once in puppy class for barking at another dog...and she has been squirted three or four times here...

As I said, long term, it may not be the best, but I know it gets immediate results here.

 

Personally I would rather have my dogs listen to me b/c they are behaved and respect me not fear me. Quick fixes are not always the best way to go
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Thanks guys.. Nah I doubt its effectiveness since I heard it last week. One thing, my pup's a Golden Retriever. You know how they love water. I haven't tried the spray bottle yet but.. One day I was hosing down her diarrhea and she loved drinking from the stream of water. She thinks its a game. Since the power of the hose is much higher than the spray bottle, I really doubt its gonna work.

I think we're really having a hard time teaching her the "off" command. I can't remember where I saw it, but someone said not to treat or praise her too lavishly or else she'll think its a game and will try to jump even more to get your attention. Is that actually correct? We've been listening to that advise since we started teaching her off. Doesn't seem to have an effect yet. Maybe she don't understand what are we trying to teach her. She's not doing it more regularly or doing it less if you know what I mean. Been 3 weeks or more already.

Another thing is, when she's doing something wrong, (going near the electric wires, digging up mom's veges, eating up mom's veges or biting our clothes), I would use "ah-ah", and when she backs away from these stuff, I would give her a praise, but not in an exciting tone. Just to tell her "yes that's correct, good girl". Is that okay? Or should I use an exciting tone instead?

One more thing is, yesterday we attended her 2nd puppy class. This time, the guy who takes the class taught everyone to use this correction method. No offense but it sounds very "Cesar Millan-ish" to me. Its when if your dog is pulling on the leash, you give a firm but not too hard of a tug. (By the way he's doing it, it looks EXTREMELY hard to me.) The effect should be immediate and usually the dog will respond with a yelp and divert its attention to the person holding the lead. Personally I don't think I'll be using that method, it looks kinda cruel. I wouldn't want someone to do that to me if I'm a dog. lol.. But has anyone tried that method here?

 

I think we're really having a hard time teaching her the "off" command.

You need to tell her off, then maybe have her sit and then tell her yes or click and treat. She will realize that not jumping but sitting is what she receives treats for.

I would use "ah-ah", and when she backs away from these stuff, I would give her a praise, but not in an exciting tone. Just to tell her "yes that's correct, good girl". Is that okay? Or should I use an exciting tone instead?

This is perfect! I used to use an excited tone and realized it just got my dogs more excited and bad behavior came about lol

One more thing is, yesterday we attended her 2nd puppy class. This time, the guy who takes the class taught everyone to use this correction method. No offense but it sounds very "Cesar Millan-ish" to me. Its when if your dog is pulling on the leash, you give a firm but not too hard of a tug. (By the way he's doing it, it looks EXTREMELY hard to me.) The effect should be immediate and usually the dog will respond with a yelp and divert its attention to the person holding the lead. Personally I don't think I'll be using that method, it looks kinda cruel. I wouldn't want someone to do that to me if I'm a dog. lol.. But has anyone tried that method here?

This method is used commonly by people who have not been introduced to positive reinforcement. The way I was taught (none of my dogs pull) is when they pull, you turn the other way and start walking, if you have to keep turning around and take a step then turn and take a step (meaning the dog is running to get in front of you and begins pulling that way) then so be it, eventually the dog will realize pulling towards something is not going to get him any closer to it. I hope that makes sense You can simply tell your trainer you do not want to tug on the leash rather switch directions to divert the dogs attention from whatever is exciting him.

 

i don't think she is understanding what she is being rewarded for with the "off" command...
lemme see if i can dig something up for you on that...

as far as the praise after UH-UH... i would make sure that you re-direct her, then praise her...
here is a good video to teach a "positive interrupter"

as far as the leash training, i would check out this link:


http://www.dogforum.com/dog-training/loose-leash-walking-1683/