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ASKBLACKJACKPage 8 Return to Page 1
Hi
, Hi Scaredy It sounds as if it's possible your new baby was abused, but it's also possible he was just not "socialized" properly. In either respect, the answer is pretty much the same. You need to find a local obedience person or animal behaviorist to work with you. A scared dog needs a special kind of love. They need you to show them love, but at the same time, to be firm with them. The first step should be to get him where he's used to the leash. Get a piece of clothes line, and put a clip on it, like what is on leashes. Cut the line so it's only about 6 inches long. Leave it on him while you play with him. Feed him with it on. Make it something special. Gradually increase the length of the line, after a week or so, until you can get it up to a decent length as with a leash. During this time, it's just dragging behind him (with supervision of course, Mom's gotta watch so the line doesn't get caught on something), and teaching him it's ok. In time he will learn the leash is something special. With alot of love and firmness, and some training, it sounds like you will have a wonderful baby, no matter what his age. Start working in quiet tones for now, and later get him used to other things, and try to remember to not have too many sudden movements. If you have guests over, for now it may be best to put him in another room so laughing and carrying on doesn't frighten him. Just remember to not "coddle" him too much. When he gets scared, teach him to do something in place of being scared, like sit/stay or something like that. That will give him a way to "respond". Remember, most doggies are scared because they don't know what is expected of THEM. Once he knows what is expected, his fear will decrease. Good luck, and gentle hugs for that boy! ~ Blackjack Нитяные шторы Blackjack: Dear Audie, Wow, welcome to the world. :) It's always fun to talk to babies, because that is what you are so far, and it takes a LONG time for a baby to begin to be house trained. :) It takes at least 6 months or more before a puppy is considered house trained. In your case, I'm not so sure a verbal cue would be any better than a visual signal, because your owner might not hear it. Either way, if your owner wants to try a verbal cue, all he needs do is teach you to speak on command. He needs to find something you really really like, and then tease you with it, and when you bark trying to get it, say "Good Speak". Then, once you have done that for a week or two, he should be able to say "Speak" and you would speak. Your owner should keep you on a leash, attached to their waist so you can't get into any trouble around the house, and can't have any accidents. Then, when he finds you about to go potty say "NO" really sharply and run you outside. When he wants to see if you are ready to go potty, he should say "want to go potty?" and stand by the door. Then say "Speak if you want to go potty", and wait till you speak before opening the door. As for the kennel, as long as your owner keeps the kennel near him or her, and praises you when you are quiet by letting you out or saying "good quiet", you will learn the kennel is a good place. Tell your owner they can feed you inside too, and put fun toys in there, and you will want to go in more. Good luck! ~ Blackjack Dear Blackjack, Dear Jack, Yeah, it always seems tough to stop chewing on those fun things. Tell your mommie she needs to only give you SUPERVISED visits with the couch. And, if she sees you start to go for it, say "NO", firmly, but not shouting, and give you a toy. When you start to chew on the new toy, she should say "GOOD Jack, what a good boy, chew on his toy". That way you can learn what is GOOD to chew on and what is not. Most of the "damage" done by puppies is when we are left alone too much, or unsupervised. We are just babies at 12 weeks and we have to be TAUGHT what is good to chew on and what is not. Since you are also teething, it might be good if mommie gave you something that makes your teeth feel good, like a frozen washcloth, or frozen kong toy with peanut butter in it. It will help your gums feel better. ~ Blackjack Hi Blackjack my name is Magnum I to am a black lab. My Mom has een taking me to obedience training it has been 3 weeks now it is a six week course. We have been working hard but my one problem is I don't pay attention to her most of the time. I am interested in everything around me more than her commands. What should she do with me to make me more attentive? Thanks for your time Magnum Hi Magnum. I have the SAME problem. Mommy says I'm a really silly boy, and that I just don't pay attention. So she uses TREATS to keep my attention right now. I LUV that, because I LUV food. I bet you do too! I don't get the treat unless I do what mommy says. I still have problems with the stand for exam though, because I just gotta get the wiggles so much. Mom says I will eventually grow out of it, and she just keeps working at it. I don't know HOW she can be so patient, because others sometimes get really mad with their doggies when they do this. But I can't help it... I just LUV those people! Mommy says the best thing to do is not to push you beyond your "capabilities". I know what that means! That means if you can be attentive (big word eh?) when people are within 50 feet, then you do that until you are VERY good at it! Then, move the people in closer, about 40 feet, and so on, till you are REALLY Good. The more your mom is POSITIVE on this and gives lots of praise and treats, the better you will be. :) We labbies can be a REAL handful eh? :) ~ Blackjack |