Comments on: Back To School – Positive Pet Training Hop

By: Lara Elizabeth

Lara Elizabeth — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 18:22:33 +0000

It’s just amazing how well Honey is adapting to your new life on the boat. You’re right that we sometimes need to seek the help of a professional for training challenges. I would like to enroll Boca in another class – maybe something to prepare us for the Canine Good Citizen test.

By: meghan

meghan — Fri, 11 Sep 2015 19:19:44 +0000

Honey is such a gorgeous feature of your boat! 😀

I was just saying the other week that I feel like I’m at the point, with a lot of the things that we’re working on, where I need a professional to watch me, tell me what I’m doing right, what I’m doing wrong, in order to progress. Alas, that won’t be in the cards for a while, so I’m trying to video myself training and figure it out…which is easier said than done when all you have is an iphone camera and no tripod. Fortunately Nala is already basically perfect, so most of the training we do is for fun.

By: Sara E. Martin

Sara E. Martin — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 22:40:33 +0000

Kudos and props to you guys – I’m having simultaneous panic attacks and nausea waves just thinking about living on a boat with my three knuckleheads (one of whom gets just as motion sick as his momma). What a wonderful lifestyle though. And Honey looks adorable in her life jacket!

By: Ann Shea

Ann Shea — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 19:31:41 +0000

I’m impressed. Some people are naturals with training their dog and their dogs are delights to everyone who encounters them. Others of us need help, understanding things about dog psychology and positive training methods. I hope I will have another dog in my life to work with, but for now I’m loving discovering more about dogs and sharing info. (I dog sit, so that gives my puppy love fixes.) Looking forward to reading more about Honey’s adventures, and sharing. (It’s no wonder goldens are used as service animals…their nature teaches us all how to behavior, whether we’re canines or 2-leggers!).

By: Pamela

Pamela — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 14:59:08 +0000

In reply to Kari.

We did lots of training and preparation. But I was amazed to find how easy it was to get Honey to walk the ramp when we took our first test cruise with her.

Apparently there was nothing to motivate her to walk the ramp in training. But once she saw we were going on the boat and the ramp was how she’d get on the boat, she looked like a different dog.

Sorry Leo freaks out at such things. But I wonder if a bridge or dock was keeping him from you if he’d stop seeing it as such a scary barrier?

By: Pamela

Pamela — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 14:57:27 +0000

In reply to DZ Dogs.

Having someone who can help you manage controlled exposure to scary things (people, dogs, objects) is very helpful.

Our trainer has actually set us up with neighbors who needed a non-threatening dog to practice with. (I was so flattered.)

Ziva looks like she’s made for dog sports. If only she doesn’t have to watch out for funky little schipperkes. 🙂

By: Marianne Hovde

Marianne Hovde — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 01:20:58 +0000

In reply to Pamela.

I didn’t mean to imply I know it all 🙂 The more I learn, the more I realise how much I still have to learn, which is why I love to hear about how other trainers solve problems. I follow the blogs of several great dog trainers.

I also attend agility training classes with my dogs, and haven’t told the instructors I’m a dog trainer, because I want to be as open to new learning as possible.

By: Pamela

Pamela — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 22:42:32 +0000

In reply to Blueberry's human. I think you and Blueberry have such a strong relationship that training seems almost superfluous. You both want to do things for each other. :)

By: Pamela

Pamela — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 22:37:44 +0000

In reply to jan. Well, some dogs are pretty exceptional. And I guess your have a pretty quick learner. :)

By: Pamela

Pamela — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 22:37:05 +0000

In reply to Jan K.

The great thing about working on training yourself is that you really learn a lot in the process. It is a great way to build that bond.

And it sounds like from some of your posts that Luke really is improving with his fear of strangers. The tough part is finding gentle, exposures to improve his skills.

Unfortunately, the first opportunity many of us have to practice with visitors is at Thanksgiving dinner or some other crazy occasion. 🙂