Nannyplum, we have similar problem with Bruno, he has never really learnt any manners with food.
He is still like a six year old puppy where food is concerned, and I am finding it hard to teach the old boy new tricks. Atleast Otis has got the 'wait' in his head when its dinner [wish Bruno would get that one ] he foams at the mouth still, when food is prepared, anyway when he has a treat I do a down [he has to go down flat on the floor] I do a fist and wait a second or two then open hand flat, am trying it with sit but he is harder to control doing that at the moment.
Also, if you turn it into a little training exercise ie, just a few minutes a day and plan out what you want of him, either a 'wait' or 'sit' or 'down' and treat with the 'gentle' he might get his head into the thinking mode.
John is right though, up the food slightly, and use the treats for good behaviour.
He still needs to put on a few kg so he has treats on a regular basis.
Maybe I've got this wrong, but that concerns me slightly. Treats are not good food and should not be used that way. Adjust his build by adjusting his food level, and use treats strictly as a treat.
Regards, John
Yes, you have got it wrong !!! Of course I'm not using the treats to put on the weight John. He gets enough good food and treats, as you say, are treats AND are used for training purposes occasionally.
When we trained Indi she was a snatcher and was quite bitey towards getting the treats. We would hold them between our 2nd finger and thumb and if she snatched roll the treat into the palm of your hand and close your fist and say No Gently/Nicely depending on your key word as soon as she sniffed or licked or did some nice behaviour the treat go rolled back out between our fingers and reinforced with gently/nicely and then she took it and would go good girl good nicely/gently! Took practice and even now Indi occasionally and i mean Occasionally snatches and we roll it into our fist and she realises she cant get it then and must do it nicely! It takes persistence but it will happen!
Try not to worry Nannyplum, it is harder to train an older dog, who for all we know has been at starvation point many times in its life.
I have had a few tears tonight as Bruno who has been with us for 2 months now, still thinks each meal will be his last, it is sad, but he is a happy boy the rest of the time, just does'nt know how to behave when it comes to food.
Mischa learnt as a pup to be patient, and will sit there for as long as it takes, but these poor chaps have a long road ahead before they realise you will always feed them whatever.
I am hoping oneday that it will click in and it will fall in place, I know it takes time, so am trying to enjoy each day as it comes and taking note of what he has achieved, but I slip sometimes like today, it is sad .
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum You cannot attach files in this forum You cannot download files in this forum
] he foams at the mouth still, when food is prepared, anyway when he has a treat I do a down [he has to go down flat on the floor] I do a fist and wait a second or two then open hand flat, am trying it with sit but he is harder to control doing that at the moment.
.
