Tinker_Belle
Well-Known Member
This is the second time I've done this. I did not C&P last time and the internet closed down on me 
. So, it is not quite as indepth as the last one!
A few of you may remember that a few months ago, I was running in to recall problems with Harley when other dogs were around. Well, we have successfully overcome this hurdle
.
I decided that clicker training was the best route to go and it has been fab. He now comes back to call when other dogs are around, even if they are playing .
He also is a very affectionate boy. Last week we were at the park and he decided that cuddles were a far better option than playing so hopped up on tot he bench when I sat down, rested his head on my shoulder for a few minutes and then laid down on the bench and out his head in my lap.
He is a very friendly boy and will greet everyone with wagging tail and grinning face but took a very strong dislike to a man the other day. This man was very chatty and nice but each time he tried to approach me, Harley growled and had his hackles up and was stood in front of me (he never does this, he usually stands to the side). It is not behaviour I would tolerate normally but as he has only done it once before (last Winter!) then I figured that there may have been something not quite right with this man.
As for recall, whenever I do call him back, he sometimes thinks it is great larks to gallop towards me at full pelt, tongue lolling and tail going and then swerve to avoid me at the last minute. Occasionally, I wince at what a near-miss it is but as he mostly comes to call like a gentleman, I can forgive him.
He knows full well he is not allowed on the sofas so has devised a plan.... He will reverse up to the sofa and park his bum and hindlegs on it but keep his forelegs on the carpet, technically, he is not on the furntiture that way you see
.
His other plan is to 'creep' up and have cuddles. He will cover his eyes with his paws as of course, if he can't see me, then I can't see him
.
Since his chocolate raid a few months ago, he has developed a taste for it and now does his 'cute' look and cupboard love every time he so much as gets a sniff of chocolate. He has failed on every attempt to get some so far. I learnt from my last mistake 
.
If all goes to plan, we will use him as a stud dog but are still not decided yet. We have a year or so to make our minds up as Setters mature slowly (yes, tell me about it!) anyway
.
He is crazily oversexed at the moment and takes the doorbell going or the letterbox clanging as a chance to hump our poor Spangle senseless but I am getting there with that too. A firm 'NO!' usually gets him behaving again.
The second hurdle to overcome is to stop him getting bored when he is told to sit and wait. His latest genius plan was deciding that last week, we had waited too long at the crossing so he would prepare to walk out in to moving traffic. He got a hasty pull back and a firm 'Sit!' 'Stay!' command. I always have my wits about me with him and traffic and this just confirms it for me. He has the attention-span of a drunk gnat
As exasperating as he can be, he fills me with laughs and joy each day too. I love him to pieces and probably do spoil him a little but he is very well behaved so I can't be doing too badly.
I was told today that "you spoil him. And he knows it too!" . But he is disciplined and well-behaved when it counts so that's all that matters to me.
I will add pictures in a minute or so.
. So, it is not quite as indepth as the last one!A few of you may remember that a few months ago, I was running in to recall problems with Harley when other dogs were around. Well, we have successfully overcome this hurdle
.I decided that clicker training was the best route to go and it has been fab
. He now comes back to call when other dogs are around, even if they are playing .He also is a very affectionate boy. Last week we were at the park and he decided that cuddles were a far better option than playing so hopped up on tot he bench when I sat down, rested his head on my shoulder for a few minutes and then laid down on the bench and out his head in my lap
.He is a very friendly boy and will greet everyone with wagging tail and grinning face but took a very strong dislike to a man the other day. This man was very chatty and nice but each time he tried to approach me, Harley growled and had his hackles up and was stood in front of me (he never does this, he usually stands to the side). It is not behaviour I would tolerate normally but as he has only done it once before (last Winter!) then I figured that there may have been something not quite right with this man.
As for recall, whenever I do call him back, he sometimes thinks it is great larks to gallop towards me at full pelt, tongue lolling and tail going and then swerve to avoid me at the last minute. Occasionally, I wince at what a near-miss it is but as he mostly comes to call like a gentleman, I can forgive him
.He knows full well he is not allowed on the sofas so has devised a plan.... He will reverse up to the sofa and park his bum and hindlegs on it but keep his forelegs on the carpet, technically, he is not on the furntiture that way you see
.His other plan is to 'creep' up and have cuddles. He will cover his eyes with his paws as of course, if he can't see me, then I can't see him
.Since his chocolate raid a few months ago, he has developed a taste for it and now does his 'cute' look and cupboard love every time he so much as gets a sniff of chocolate
. He has failed on every attempt to get some so far. I learnt from my last mistake .If all goes to plan, we will use him as a stud dog but are still not decided yet. We have a year or so to make our minds up as Setters mature slowly (yes, tell me about it!) anyway
.He is crazily oversexed at the moment and takes the doorbell going or the letterbox clanging as a chance to hump our poor Spangle senseless but I am getting there with that too. A firm 'NO!' usually gets him behaving again
.The second hurdle to overcome is to stop him getting bored when he is told to sit and wait. His latest genius plan was deciding that last week, we had waited too long at the crossing so he would prepare to walk out in to moving traffic
. He got a hasty pull back and a firm 'Sit!' 'Stay!' command. I always have my wits about me with him and traffic and this just confirms it for me. He has the attention-span of a drunk gnat As exasperating as he can be, he fills me with laughs and joy each day too. I love him to pieces and probably do spoil him a little but he is very well behaved so I can't be doing too badly
.I was told today that "you spoil him. And he knows it too!"
. But he is disciplined and well-behaved when it counts so that's all that matters to me.I will add pictures in a minute or so
.
