Drop it!

[Deb's Yarrow and Schatzi]

Yarrow is just shy of 12 weeks now.  She'll be three months on December 10th.  My hands are so sore from all the mouthing and yesterday she broke the skin and left a bloody little gash on the back of my left hand.  I was putting her leash on.  There was no intention or effort on her part, just an open mouth and razor sharp shark teeth.  Anyway that's not news.  Here's what's new.

I've just joined the group Training - Experiences and Mindsets.  In the discussion, Lucy and Annabelle's Mom suggest teaching 'drop it' to sock thieves. I'm right there with you. I have taught Yarrow 'drop it' by offering a treat (her regular kibble) for releasing whatever she had in her mouth.  It worked like a charm! But I think the little monkey has turned the tables on me. 

This is what it think she has figured out in her cute little head - "If I take something in my mouth that is not one of my toys, mama says drop it, and when I let go, I get a reward. So, if I want a treat, all I have to do is take something in my mouth (like mama's pant leg or boot lace, tree bark or a rock) and she will give me a treat for dropping it.'

What makes me think she has figured this out? She looks deep into my eyes to make sure I am looking, and lets go before I even get the words out. She lets go at 'dr...' and sits looking so pleased with herself.

I read that standard poodles (Yarrow's father's genes) can be intellectual snobs who don't suffer fools easily.  If they think they can outsmart you, they will and you'll be in big trouble.

Me thinks I may be in big trouble.

[Deb's Yarrow and Schatzi]

Elizabeth and Nancy, I know you're right (here comes the 'but') but I've tried without the bribe and she ignores me.  We're talking about my pant leg or boot lace.  We attempt to go for a walk and we end up going out for a stand still or stumble around. 

If I move against the direction she is pulling me in, she thinks I'm saying,'Okay, let's play fight.'  and her nippy play escalates. Sometimes, out on the walk she finds something nasty that some other dog walker neglected to pick up. Ugh!  When I say drop it, I mean it. 

I can't try to pet her or say 'Good puppy' while she's in that mood or she will get me with her sharp little teeth. 

She reminds me of a poem I remember from childhood:

There was a little girl who had a little curl

Right in the middle of her forehead.

And when she was good she was very very good

And when she was bad she was horrid!

[Deb's Yarrow and Schatzi]

Just imagine the mischief Yarrow and Traveler would get into we were neighbours.

[Miss Ellie]

Yarrow you are so cute and so smart!

[Bonnie and Kona]

Yarrow and Traveler are both smarty pants! 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Begin transitioning from the treat to praise.  Don't treat every time.

[Elizabeth, Bailey & Bruin]

She does sound like a smarty pants!  Try giving her a treat every other time and give her praise instead.  make it unpredictable so she does not know when she will be getting a treat or some love from her momma.  Try doing every other time for a day then every 3 times for a day and so on.  She should learn that love from mom is better than a treat...

Good luck!

[Pat and Traveler]

Ha!  She's a smart girl!

When I was trying to leash train Trav, those sharp little teeth caused me to drop the treat on the ground when I wanted to reward him for walking along nicely.  Then he'd stop, eat the treat and we'd move on.  One day he was walking along, then just stopped.  I couldn't get him to move--until I realized he was waiting for a treat.  He'd figured out that walking along and then stopping meant treat, so he was just initiating the stop part!  Took a while to work past that one.  lol