Dear Carlene,
I have only been watching since the Disney Pups were born, but I have rarely missed a day in that time. I know that you get plenty of email with complaints about every possible thing.
I was watching earlier when intervention was necessary in the kitchen. You handled it quickly and affectively and professionally. Thank you.
I’m sure we CP’s are a distraction at times, and a pain in the butt at others, but the cameras and the pups do provide such joy to so many. I sense from reading the comments, and the mail at mail call that by in large the viewers are a decidedly “senior” group. Many are disabled or of limited mobility themselves, suffering from loneliness, boredom, and that special crankiness that seems can only be really perfected with age. Indeed, I expect I will get myself banned from chat one of these days when someone mouths off a little too vociferously.
So, know that I and I expect most all of us, appreciate the opportunity to share in it, more than words can say.
Ed !
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the CP's have come a loooooonnnnngggg way frfom calling me at 2am to complain about the birds in the barn
but i still could start a file of obtuse comments.
many cp's are a huge help-- like watching my slowcooker to let me know the instant it is not on the corner of the counter. i have lost 5 slow cookers over the past 5 years.
we are doing well.....there are soooo many sane camera people out there who can manage teh "shall we call her" department at 2am....
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i did have a complaint about my handling of the aggressive pup... but that is exactly what the mom's wouold do if they were here-- that is where i learned it... very impoirtant is thegrab teh skin on the neck and push it to the floor and release --- surprise snap and quick release before the pup knows who did it. then have teh "who me??? attitude to complete the exercise.
teh quick snap looked like i was beating the pup- when i was just delivering a surprise- heck these pups knock each other over far worse... the trick in the whole thing is to have the pup concentrate on what happened just before he got flattened...
this is a huge training piece of information...FYI... in my opinion.... ....
dogs operate on an understanding that "B" was caused by "A"-- they do not deal with C=D=E events....
i think theri mind goes like this...
"i was enjoying biting my sister and something knocked me over... i looked around after and i could not see why i got flattened,, so i just better avoid that biting activity again."
this is exactly why you must never hold them down and verbally give them a lecture "i told you not ot do that " it is totally wasted and makes teh dog thnink that " biting the sister was fun... no problen there --- but then i fell down and this person held me down ... the "A" and "B" get shifted one step away from the behavior you are trying to correct as you become the villian "B"
in teh basic training of dogs you want to stick to the "A" causes "B" and don't complicate matters..as they learn to communicate with you, you might be able to get to "C" or "D" but to start it is teh basic "A" to "B"
"i bark at the postman and he goes away" - is anotehr of my favorite A causes B demonstrations.
the yuppy puppy gumball machine is teh best example--" if i push teh lever -- my treats fall into the noisy dish"
( now----- do you want to think about las vegas and the lever pulling people who are stimulated by the quarters falling in the metal tray????----
i never approved of standing a kid in the corner- i think "time out" is abusive to a kid. because as punishment it gets too far away from the "A" which caused the problem. further more if i stood my kid in the corner, i would probably forget where i left them...
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while i am at it.... i have never had any success using my muscles to teach a dog anything.... if i need t to teach a dog to roll over- i have had zero success rolling the dog over onto his back and around..myself-- or picking up a foot to push teh handle on the yuppy-- teh "A" is pick up the foot the "B" becomes "i don't like her picking up myu foot" and the dog's mind nevr gets to the fact that we pushed a lever...
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i had anothre training lesson, but unfortunately t i forgot.. for nowl
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I just have to comment on your Dane story. I have a Dane. She is fabulous! With zero training on how to be a service dog she has turned herself into quite a great service dog. My husband had a leg amputation one year ago. From the day he came home from the hospital our Girl Mocha has been by his side. She will put herself in his way if it appears he is going to fall. She walks beside him close but not so close he will fall. She listens without hesitation to anything her Dad says and acts accordingly. Mocha is going to be 7 in April and we worry she is getting old but she has lots of love and lots of protective instinct to take care of her Dad. When they walk she does not need a leash, even if another dog or other animal is nearby she will not leave her Humans side.
I have to tell you that I did not train her to do these things but I learned from reading your stories just what a Dane is capable of. If they are loved they are capable of anything! I appreciate all of your stories and the constant education you provide all of us out here in Cyber world. I only live in Haverhill so not far from you. Some one of these days I hope to visit your farm. Big poop doesn’t scare me! LOL
Thank you for all you do for all of us and for Danes in general. I think you are just wonderful!
Brenda
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some people are good trainers and just don't realize it..
