Training and grass question

[Karynk9999]

Hello my fellow Pyr friends! I just have a couple of questions. My two Pyr's are something else I tell ya! Anyhow, they are in that, 'Hey, Mom's not looking, what can we f*&% up!' stage. As a HUGE animal lover, I do not believe in negitive training or hitting or anything of that nature. And I have read that this breed will not put up with it anyhow (honestly don't know why people would train like that anyhow). But my question is, is a loud firm, 'NO!' acceptable? Occaisionally I would break out the, 'Bad boy' or 'Bad girl' but then I feel horrible! So, how loud and firm can you be? Usually, a good, 'No' or 'leave it' will do the trick but on nights like last night - nothing was working.

Second question. I live in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. We usually have wonderful springs and decent summers however it has pretty much been a wet yucky summer. Between that, and the fact that I won't put anything on my grass in the backyard, we have now developed mushrooms! Everyday I use the pooper scooper claw type of thing to pick them up as I am afraid of my babies eating them. HELP! What do you all put on your lawns to kill the weeds and other nastys in the yard?
Thanks!

[TexasKat]

To your first question, I've found it makes a difference not to just use one word for everything. Pyrs understand context so it's good to take advantage of it. Playing too rough? Mine understand "Somebody's gonna get hurt!!!"

• Biting at each other? (Pyr game of trying to swallow each other's head) -- "Kisses, Scout (or Gypsy)". Stops them in their tracks and they lick each other instead (at least for a little bit)
• Crossing the street? -- "Watch for cars." (They stop before walking across the street and wait for the car to go by -- even if it's awhile). Still trying to teach them there may be more than 1 car coming down the road.
• Jumping and too rambunctious -- "Calm".
• One person walking each dog, and one getting too far ahead? -- "Scout, wait for Gypsy"
• Walking them alone? -- "Stay together". It always amazes me that they listen to this but they walk side by side down the street hips and shoulders touching.
• "Out of the street" (Hops back onto the sidewalk), "slowdown", "time to go", "mine", "stay with me" (for when their attention focuses on a potential new friend while out walking).

You just have to be consistent that whatever words or phrases you use are used IN THAT CONTEXT ALWAYS. I've often thought it would be fun to make a list of all of the contextual words and phrases mine have learned in their short (11 months) lives. But the list keeps growing.

Too dry in Texas for mushrooms, but keep yours off any 'treated' lawn for at least 24 hours.

[vin63]

Which ever word you use, I would just be consistent. I use a sharp "Hey!" when my dogs start, or are doing things I don't want them doing.

Yeah, my wife grew up in Highland Park and she would have to walk her dog several times a day, or down to Sunset Park in the Spring. If you do use an a fungicide, be sure to read the warnings/do research and plan accordingly.

[Davey Benson]

Originally Posted by TexasKat

...

• Biting at each other? (Pyr game of trying to swallow each other's head) -- "Kisses, Scout (or Gypsy)". Stops them in their tracks and they lick each other instead (at least for a little bit)

...

That's intersting. My border collie is NOT a licker. She won't lick anything but maybe icecream. However, if she is sitting next to me, I can say to her "kiss, kiss"., and as fast as lightening, she will lean over and give me a tiny little "butterfly kiss" right on the tip of my nose. Where she learned that? I won't ever know.

[Amatrine]

I do not know if it would work there, but we get mushrooms here during monsoon season, and what I do is take a container that hooks to the hose, and spray some bleach water on the ground, after I pick the ones I see, and they seem to not return.

[TexasKat]

Maybe it's the sound of the word?

We used "kisses" as a behavior mod signal to stop the pups from nibbling on us and/or each other with their puppy shark-teeth. It was surprisingly easy to get them to switch from puppy biting to licking using a little peanut-butter. The effects of retraining their behavior from using their teeth seems to have lasted, though their love of peanut butter is long gone.

Yep, ice cream is Scout and Gypsy's favorite treat. Too messy as a training aid, but watching Scout trying to communicate to me that "It's ice cream time!" is worth the reward. Sometimes I think he wishes I wasn't so dumb.

[Tsunibear]

I use the word kisses for them to give me a kiss and no more kisses when I am done receiving them or they won't stop kissing me.

My dogs love ice cream too! It is so funny to watch them eat it. The shar-pei puts it all in his big ole' mouth and then lets it warm up and then drops it to lick it from there. Missy, she gets brain freezes and you can tell she has them too.

[Jewel]

Okay Karynk9999, fess up, what have your kids been doing??

Let see, Bijou was called "no-no-bad-dog" for months as a pup, then she was called "little sh!t" for several months. Actually, yelling at Bijou really doesn't work. She doesn't have good impulse control, which means she'll in most cases give in to impulse and take action accordingly without considering consequences. Bro is different. With his retriever/aussie blood, he would actually mind and remember what he's told not to do.

[Tsunibear]

Originally Posted by Jewel

Okay Karynk9999, fess up, what have your kids been doing??

Let see, Bijou was called "no-no-bad-dog" for months as a pup, then she was called "little sh!t" for several months. Actually, yelling at Bijou really doesn't work. She doesn't have good impulse control, which means she'll in most cases give in to impulse and take action accordingly without considering consequences. Bro is different. With his retriever/aussie blood, he would actually mind and remember what he's told not to do.

Here here Jewel. Missy for awhile was called "I thought I told you no." or "What the hell where you thinking." Yelling at her doesn't do me any good sometimes she will stop and look at me with the "Why are you yelling now." look and others she just keeps doing what she was doing.

I have learned that if I don't yell at her and talk to her like she is a little person she will stop sit and tilt her head at me like she comprehending it and might actually listen for once.

[Karynk9999]

OMG - you all crack me up! I love the names you all have been calling our babies! Yes, mine are a handful! Josie, or Baby Girl as I like to call her is just starting to test the water (she has only been with us 2 weeks). She will go after a shoe or box or the rug or...you get the picture. Anyhow, I will give her a firm, 'No' - she will stop and just as my back is turned, she goes back at it. The little one (boy - half breed) just sits backs and watches - tail wagging with this sheepish grin on his face. Oh, and he loves to get her going at night! Cody will mumble (half bark) and that is all Josie needs - she is off to the races, barking up a storm. And when you look back at Cody, there he is laying down, wagging his tail! They crack me up! I am so exhusted lately but it is worth it!
Oh and thank you to whomever it was who mentioned placing your foot on their feet. I did that yesterday as I was trying to get them to settle and I believe it worked. They actually listened to me. I also found that no words work. I simply give them a command and hand signal and unless they are in the middle of rumpus time, for the most part, they tend to listen. For the most part. Not always.