Archive for the ‘training’ Category

Dogs kept as pets do work. Don’t think we do? I’m on security duty 24/7. That’s a sweet assignment because a dog can sleep on the job and not get in trouble.

Outside the house even pet dogs on squirrel patrol are doing their job.

Dogs can sleep with one eye open and hear intruders to sound the alarm by barking to scare them away.

I do a low “grrrrr” sound if I suspect something wrong, and then bark like a big dog to wake up my parents as a backup plan.

The photo here is me, Corky the shelter dog, as taken a few days ago with me looking up at a treed gray squirrel and sniffing his tiny little squirrel tracks.

Personally, I’m trained to “leave it” if told to ignore everything from trash, glass, or cigarette butts to cats, dogs, birds, or squirrels. Playing off leash I once allowed a squirrel to pass across a large open space of the park where I was playing fetch because Dad said “Leave it.”

Dog training is not always easy to obey.

Squirrels are less trouble in trees, so any of them found frolicking on the ground will be promptly chased up a tree by most dogs. To chase or not to chase is a tough decision for dogs on squirrel patrol.

What started out as a shopping trip for a jingle bell for training me ended up as a cowbell and puppy training lesson for humans. The photo below shows me, Corky the shelter dog, and a cowbell that hangs by the back door that I ring to let my parents know I want to go for a walk.

When looking for a jingle bell to hang on a ribbon, Mom got excited seeing the cowbell and decided on that instead. Dad hung it nose high using a piece of old nylon leash. Here’s how the training began. Each time we left for walkies they’d ring the bell on the way out. Eventually I caught on, and would ring the bell with my snout to signal I wanted out.

Guess what? They’d come running to take me for a walk! The next lesson was teaching them that I wanted out 5-6 times a day! Weak bladder? No. Mom complained that we walked and walked but I would never pee, and said the bell idea wasn’t working. Dad chimed in and said the training works just fine! Corky rings the bell when he wants to go out, not when he needs to go out.

Keep an eye on Corky. He may want driving lessons next!

The photo below shows me close to baby ducks (again). I figured I’d let out my secret for getting close to baby ducks. The photo is cropped for this blog illustration, so follow this link to the baby ducks and puppy pal wallpaper (1200 px wide) for a big version of the complete graphic, or click the illustration here:

The illustration shows a Momma duck with 8 baby ducks looking at me, Corky. Notice the leash is loose so I’m free to move about while Dad was taking the photo, and then realize Momma knows I won’t lunge at her or the ducklings.

The secret to this trust is revealed in the photo insert that shows a big knife used to prepare bread cubes. Besides those pieces of bread just cut on the paper towel, some are already in the plastic bag Dad carries to entice the ducks closer (and closer).

Look in the green grass between the ducks and me and see pieces Dad tossed on the ground. He has taught me “leave it” and “stay”, so he trusts me and so does the Momma duck after getting closer and closer over weeks and weeks. That’s my secret for how you become a puppy pal to baby ducks.

The usual springtime ducklings were late this year as 13 baby Muscovy ducks appeared last week at the canal near home in Kissimmee, Florida. This puppy is almost 2 years old and gets an A+ in training, so I’ve become a well behaved puppy with baby ducks.

The 2 photos shown above are (left) the Muscovy Momma duck in the water at the edge of the canal in a closeup with some of her 13 ducklings, and then (right) a photo of me, Corky the shelter dog, less than a foot away while sniffing several ducklings.

In my dog training the leave it command can be for ducks, squirrels, cats, people, or whatever, so I don’t bark or lunge at the baby ducklings. In just 1 week they learned I won’t hurt them, so they get really really close to my sniffer. Not shown, but very cute: another duckling walked across my tail.

The next Life with Corky video episode “First Doggy Store Shopping Trip” was released earlier on YouTube as well as in the shelter dog video story section of this website. Watch this new episode here or visit Corky’s channel on YouTube to see this plus exclusive Corky videos NOT on this website. (Playtime 01:32 min/sec)

Some visitors may wonder why the site includes a different version with our custom video player in the story section. Those videos have a text transcript of the narration for hearing impaired persons so they may read the story while they watch.

You are welcome to comment here on the blog or follow the link in the right column and comment on YouTube, also.

Curiosity may have killed the cat, but recently I’ve wondered about intelligence in dogs.

Curious, I decided to do research to uncover evidence of the top 10 breeds for dog intelligence. My guardians think I manage to score well in dog intelligence based on subjective evidence and informal tests, yet as a TerrierX (terrier plus mutt) how do I stack up when dogs are compared just by breed?

The brightest dogs by breed according to Stanley Coren, author of “The Intelligence of Dogs” are based on results from a survey of dog trainers.

Being one of the brightest dogs is defined as: Understanding new commands in less than 5 repetitions and then obey on first command 95% of the time, or better. Here’s the top 10 breeds for dog intelligence listed in order:

1) Border Collie, 2) Poodle, 3) German Shepherd, 4) Golden Retriever, 5) Doberman Pinscher, 6) Shetland Sheepdog, 7) Labrador Retriever, 8) Papillon, 9) Rottweiler, and 10) Australian Cattle Dog.

Reference: Dr. S. Coren, Neuropsychologist and Professor of Psychology, University of British Columbia

The closest I can determine my rank is #40 out of 79 based on being a mutt and part Wheaten according to my vet who considered my physique and coloring. Actually over 100 dog breeds were ranked because some were tied including 3 terrier breeds at #40.

Keep in mind intelligence can be one of 3 types. Adaptive and instinctive intelligence are 2 and specific to the individual dog as measured by canine IQ tests. Adaptive intelligence relates to learning and problem solving ability. A third type is the breed dependent or working/obedience intelligence presented here.

I learn quickly for a mutt, so still think my overall ranking when you include adaptive intelligence belongs in the top 10. Follow the link to Dog Intelligence Rated by Breed to find your dog’s ranking if not already listed in the top 10 breeds for dog intelligence.

Call me a mugger. I don’t care. Maybe you prefer thief or pickpocket? Here’s how to discourage this puppy from doing the Corky sneak snack attack maneuver.

You must start with “leave it” when you put absolutely tempting and delicious training treats within reach of any dog.

The photo here is me, Corky the shelter dog, emptying Dad’s clicker training treat bag with my snout buried to the bottom and gobbling up all the snacks like a horse in a feedbag. You can see the top of my head, both ears, and a little of the clicker training treat bag.

How did this happen? On walkies today Dad took some gorgeous closeup pix of mallard ducks near the canal. The photo shown above is us side by side on the tiny cement bench. He was distracted coaxing the ducks closer before he noticed me wolfing down all but the last Bil-Jac liver snack. Dad snapped the photo evidence as he stretched out his arm while aiming the camera towards us.

Dogs don’t get embarrassed and we don’t have to apologize. Humans set the rules, and it’s their fault if they forget to say “leave it”. I did the Corky sneak snack attack maneuver which is what any smart puppy would do. Guilty? Nope!

Did you ever attend a show at a zoo or animal theme park and see fantastic performances? I did, but at the dog park! Yesterday at Fleet Peeples Dog Park I met frisbee trainer Dasha the dog. She was nearly flawless running to chase down a frisbee and leaping at the right moment to catch it in midair as shown in the photo here. The really fantastic performance is what came next.

Dasha is 2-1/2 years old and learned frisbee catching from her guardian, but even more amazing is she now trains humans to play frisbee, too. Yes, Dasha is a dog and expert frisbee trainer. When her human tossed the frisbee she caught it then came to my Dad and dropped it at his feet. She backed up two steps, sat on her haunches, then waited for Dad to toss it next.

Humans are such slow learners. They’re lucky dogs have great patience. Dad was dumbfounded that Dasha brought the frisbee to him instead of Dasha’s guardian. Duh! “Pick it up, Dad!” I was thinking, but he still didn’t get it. Dasha stared at his face and finally barked twice. She barked twice again and the human trainee finally understood.

Dad picked up the frisbee and gave it a toss. Dasha caught it in midair, ran to return it at Dad’s feet, backed up, sat, and then patiently stared. No barking was required as he tossed it again. This was repeated several times until Dad was properly trained.

Dasha the dog, star and trainer, continued to select spectators from the crowd that had gathered. She then patiently trained each human in the fine art of dog park frisbee fun.

At the end of walks and clicker training I’m often treated with doggy fun playing peekaboo.

The game is easy to play. Dashing to the top of the redwood deck I can peek around the upright posts or above and below the horizontal rail boards to look at Dad on the other side. The photo here is extra cute because I’m resting between rails with paws crossed, and have my tongue out drooling in anticipation.

He moves left or right to mix up the correct response and says “Peekaboo” as I follow and then pose as shown in the photograph here. I’m immediately rewarded for stopping where he said “Peekaboo” with a treat depending on what he has in the treat bag for clicker training that day.

The reward could be a small chunk of chicken, beef, or turkey. Sometimes it’s Bil-Jac chicken liver training treats. On some occasions it’s frozen peas which is a bargain for his budget and tasty for me!

The doggy fun playing peekaboo is about more than the game and getting treats. The playful moments add up to a bond over the years that is priceless just like in the commercials. Doggy leash: $10.00. Chicken liver treat: 20 cents. Moments playing peekaboo: priceless.

The photo below shows yours truly, Corky the puppy, obeying the ultimate leave it command as Sam our cat is allowed to eat a stinky treat (they’re the BEST) off my paw!

Your dog’s health could well depend on teaching them “Leave it” and is especially important when encountering dangerous trash while on a walk or other risky objects indoors. With leave it as a dog training exercise your pet can learn patience, too.

The leave it command has protected me many times in the past year since moving in with my forever family. Going for a walk we find the ground littered with dangerous items like broken glass, chicken bones, or other sharp objects, and even cigarette butts. Inside the home, parents need a big imagination to figure out all the things a baby or puppy finds interesting enough to chew.

Referring to the photo above, Sam the cat is very relaxed as he munches the treat off my paw while I obey the ultimate leave it command. In another house with another dog Sam would be in BIG trouble!