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Barnyard Buddies:  Scratches a la Puppy  |
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LaLa
True Blue Farmgirl
233 Posts
Laura
Hickory
North Carolina
USA
233 Posts |
 Posted - Apr 20 2014 : 6:19:35 PM
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Gingy is probably just over a year old now. We don't know his exact breeding as we found him on the street hopping up and down trying to get drivers to pick him up. We think he was dumped. And he has the ears of Yoda.
Here's a video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7LhG4RFUXg
So Gingy has small paws. He has a digger's toes -- so maybe some type of small hunting terrier?? The nails are quite sharp despite keeping them trimmed. Lately, he has taken to trying to get my attention by 'digging' my arms with his front claws. I want to teach him this isn't nice or welcome behavior. But... he has this Doggy ADD problem... it's a miracle he's learned to sit at all. If I talk to him, he just starts hopping, and it's difficult to get his attention. I have never trained my own puppy.
Georgi was 2 when we got him, and came pre-trained. All we had to do was learn each other's signals. He was real easy to continue training as well. We've coupled hand-signals with the commands he already knew and added a couple more tricks to his repertoire. The hand-signals came about when I caught a chest cold and temporarily lost my voice -- tried to sign at the dog, and he 'bout beat me to death trying to get out the door to go potty because he didn't understand my personal sign language for "sit".
http://lalauland.tumblr.com
http://lalauland.etsy.com
Follow me on Twitter: @lalauland |
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churunga
True Blue Farmgirl
3950 Posts
Marie
Minneapolis
MN
USA
3950 Posts |
Posted - Apr 20 2014 : 8:41:04 PM
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I knew a dog that hopped just like this. I used to catch it in mid-air. The dog was confused the first few times I did it, then she started liking it. Gingy looks as if she might be some kind of terrier mix. I have trained my dogs with the reward/no reward method. It is simple - if they do that task correctly, they get a treat and kind words. Gradually change from treat to nice pet and kind words, then to kind words. Make certain that everyone in Gingy's life is on board with this. She has to stay, sit and down whenever anyone asks her. She seems like a bright dog and very happy to have a human.
Marie, Sister #5142
Try everything once and the fun things twice. |
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LaLa
True Blue Farmgirl
233 Posts
Laura
Hickory
North Carolina
USA
233 Posts |
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Greendreams
Farmgirl in Training
12 Posts
Lilliane
Surrey
BC
Canada
12 Posts |
Posted - Apr 24 2014 : 8:46:06 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by LaLa
Thank you! I'll try that. Gingy is very happy to have a home and spends his days hopping, eating, sleeping, and playing with toys, or Georgi.
http://lalauland.tumblr.com
http://lalauland.etsy.com
Follow me on Twitter: @lalauland
Hi Lala,
Though it's hard to be sure from the angle of the vid, I'd guess Gingy is part Whippet. Possibly with some beagle. The nipped waist, smooth coat, and narrow pointed toes point toward whippet lineage but I can't tell how deep Gingy's chest is, and his head is a tad wider and shorter and the tail thicker (which leaned me toward beagle-X but could be another flopeared dog) so... I could be wrong. 
However, no matter his exact breeding, he is from working lines. That means he need lots of exercise and mental stimulation. What seems to be ADD is his brain looking to occupy itself. Take him to agility classes. You won't be sorry and he'll love it.
To stop the hopping, put your hand out palm toward him as soon as he starts to hop and say "no", calmly and gently. He may bop his nose on your hand. That's fine, don't get upset. Just be sure to praise him as soon as he stops hopping.
To stop the toe digging, when he puts his foot on you, quickly grab his toes as soon as he starts to exert pressure. If he stops or pulls away, let go. Don't squeeze them or anything, just grab hold of them. It'll take a few goes but dogs mostly don't like their feet held so he should stop.
Good luck!
Lilliane Graie, CH, RA, EOT
If having a soul means being able to feel love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals are better off than a lot of humans. ~James Herriot |
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Barnyard Buddies: Scratches a la Puppy |
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Scratches a la Puppy
