Prince advice

[prosefullstop]

He's a lovely boy, and is settling into his routine very well. Stella and he cuddled up yesterday on the sofa, and she is so happy to see him when I let him out of his crate in the mornings.

A couple of behavioural things:

1. Air humping. Okay, it's completely ridiculous, and it makes me laugh. He's only done it three times and seemingly from out of nowhere, whereupon he walks in circles and humps the air. And yes, the "lipstick" makes an appearance. Do I correct it or just let it pass?

2. Whining at mealtimes and at night when I put him in his crate. I put a cover over the crate, and feed him some green tripe in there to make a positive association, but he still cries for the first half hour. Anything I can do to make him relax in there? He has to be crated, because our apartment is an open-plan loft, and even though it's spacious we're short on rooms/walls.

 

[CorvusCorax]

1 - you can give him a tap or check him on his neck or with his collar and give a 'that'll do' type command, or you can make a sharp noise (I find slapping a lead against a welly boot or an ah-ah! are good) to snap him out of it, then distract him with a toy or treat.
Boys are a pain in the bum

2. Don't give him his meal, put the plate down until he stops whining. As soon as he stops for a few seconds, feed. So he associates being quiet = food. Wait for as long as it takes.
As regards the crate, it is still early days so don't panic, sounds like you have the right idea so far

 

[prosefullstop]

[ QUOTE ]
1 - you can give him a tap or check him on his neck or with his collar and give a 'that'll do' type command, or you can make a sharp noise (I find slapping a lead against a welly boot or an ah-ah! are good) to snap him out of it, then distract him with a toy or treat.
Boys are a pain in the bum

2. Don't give him his meal, put the plate down until he stops whining. As soon as he stops for a few seconds, feed. So he associates being quiet = food. Wait for as long as it takes.
As regards the crate, it is still early days so don't panic, sounds like you have the right idea so far

[/ QUOTE ]

Boys indeed

Thank you, and I shall give both ideas a go. The crate whining is no biggie for me as I wear earplugs, but my husband has taken to sleeping with a pillow over his head.

Tonight is Prince's first obedience class, so I'm going to ask if we can specifically work on his whining around food. Stella is attending, too, and as the instructor said, she is at the level of college graduate, while Prince is a kindergartener

 

[CorvusCorax]

Oh, good luck

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

Such a cute piccy!!!

I have absolutely no suggestions but good luck at the class!!

Get Stella to show them all how its done!!

 

[prosefullstop]

[ QUOTE ]
Such a cute piccy!!!

I have absolutely no suggestions but good luck at the class!!

Get Stella to show them all how its done!!

[/ QUOTE ]

The class is nice and small: a Briard; a Pug/Shepherd rescue; a poodle, and Stella & Prince. To be fair, Stella has done obedience before, so she can do advance things (down stay while you leave the room etc.). Not that any of it's a competition

but her first attempt at agility was quite different, and involved only Stella and a Golden Retriever, who was a service aide to his disabled owner. I'm sure the Retriever could have boiled up the kettle if instructed