2009 Homesteading Skill-A-Month Challenge

**Debbie-cat** · 12-29-2009, 09:54 PM

Thanks madhen!

**madhen** · 12-29-2009, 10:00 PM

I think my Dec skill was dog-training. Hard to say whether I succeeded, but Crash does sit reliably and is biting less and learning a few things, so I'm going to say I am successful at getting my dog to do what he should.

**mauimagic** · 12-30-2009, 12:34 AM

You are doing a great job with Crash madhen - your dedication to your animal friends is wonderful!!

**Luckybustert** · 12-30-2009, 02:58 AM

Originally Posted by madhen

I think my Dec skill was dog-training. Hard to say whether I succeeded, but Crash does sit reliably and is biting less and learning a few things, so I'm going to say I am successful at getting my dog to do what he should.

That's great, Madhen! I can get my Mastiff to sit with no problem, but we really need to work more on her training....she can be so stubborn at times, and 200 lbs of stubborn is not a trait I particularly like. Not sure if it was you that recommended not looking at them when we come in the front door to stop them from jumping on us, but that worked very well. Have also stopped making a big deal when we leave and Peaches seems to have less separation anxiety and has stopped stealing my things and running outside with her "treasures".

**madhen** · 12-30-2009, 10:28 AM

I have to do that with Crash, because he is SO excited to see me every morning. I spend the first minute or so just ignoring him, and then, when he calms down and sits on his own, he gets my attention. He knows that he doesn't get food until he sits, so he is often the first of the three to do so!!

I have heard that one way to work on separation anxiety is to do mock exits. Do all the things you would normally do when you leave, but do them in stages. For example, pick up your keys, walk to the door, then walk back and put your keys back. Do this when you are not getting ready to leave, and do it enough so that this one part of your leaving routine no longer bothers the dog. The example I saw involved a couple getting up, walking to a coat tree, putting on their coats, then taking their coats back off, and going back to the couch, all while totally ignoring the dog.

Eventually, you work up to where you are doing the whole routine, walking out the door, then walking right back in, and increasing your time from there.

Happily, my dogs have never suffered from separation anxiety. Chewy gets that way if we are in a strange place. He will go a little nuts, barking and whining and drooling, if I leave him in the back of the truck and walk into a store, or anywhere he can't see me. But if he is home, he is okay with me leaving.