So I'm sitting here vegged out, and I hear barking outside. Without thinking,
I get up, go to the door, and call out conversationally into the dark, "Is that
my girls barking? I don't think so, young ladies." But they don't come, which
is surprising*. So I turn around...

.... and all three dogs are staring at me from the living room. Mom? Who you
talking to?

*Last year, I got flamed for giving my dogs treats every time they came in, and
yes, it had crossed over the line between reward and bribe. But it was, at the
time, the only way to get the behavior reliably. I did wean off treats, when I
felt it was appropriate for them. And now they might get a biscuit once every
10-20 times they come in. Though they do get rewarded every time - I make a
big deal of what good girls they are. I'm frankly amazed at the enthusiastic
response I get when I call them in now. It doesn't matter what they are doing,
they don't even wait for me to speak if they see me. All three will stop on a
dime, and run in as fast as they can. So I may not have been going "by the
book," but it worked. Neener. :}


Canine Action Dog Trainer
http://www.canineaction.com
My Kids, My Students, My Life:
http://hometown.aol.com/dfrntdrums/m...age/index.html
Build Your Immune System, Lose Weight
http://www.re-vita.net/dfrntdrums

Oh, I've done the same thing...same wording and all...something about
working all day and being in a daze in the evening.
Perry
"Leah" wrote in message
...
So I'm sitting here vegged out, and I hear barking outside. Without
thinking,
I get up, go to the door, and call out conversationally into the dark, "Is
that
my girls barking? I don't think so, young ladies." But they don't come,
which
is surprising*. So I turn around...

... and all three dogs are staring at me from the living room. Mom? Who
you
talking to?

*Last year, I got flamed for giving my dogs treats every time they came
in, and
yes, it had crossed over the line between reward and bribe. But it was,
at the
time, the only way to get the behavior reliably. I did wean off treats,
when I
felt it was appropriate for them. And now they might get a biscuit once
every
10-20 times they come in. Though they do get rewarded every time - I make
a
big deal of what good girls they are. I'm frankly amazed at the
enthusiastic
response I get when I call them in now. It doesn't matter what they are
doing,
they don't even wait for me to speak if they see me. All three will stop
on a
dime, and run in as fast as they can. So I may not have been going "by
the
book," but it worked. Neener. :}


Canine Action Dog Trainer
http://www.canineaction.com
My Kids, My Students, My Life:
http://hometown.aol.com/dfrntdrums/m...age/index.html
Build Your Immune System, Lose Weight
http://www.re-vita.net/dfrntdrums

Oh, I've done the same thing...same wording and all...something about
working all day and being in a daze in the evening.
Perry
"Leah" wrote in message
...
So I'm sitting here vegged out, and I hear barking outside. Without
thinking,
I get up, go to the door, and call out conversationally into the dark, "Is
that
my girls barking? I don't think so, young ladies." But they don't come,
which
is surprising*. So I turn around...

... and all three dogs are staring at me from the living room. Mom? Who
you
talking to?

*Last year, I got flamed for giving my dogs treats every time they came
in, and
yes, it had crossed over the line between reward and bribe. But it was,
at the
time, the only way to get the behavior reliably. I did wean off treats,
when I
felt it was appropriate for them. And now they might get a biscuit once
every
10-20 times they come in. Though they do get rewarded every time - I make
a
big deal of what good girls they are. I'm frankly amazed at the
enthusiastic
response I get when I call them in now. It doesn't matter what they are
doing,
they don't even wait for me to speak if they see me. All three will stop
on a
dime, and run in as fast as they can. So I may not have been going "by
the
book," but it worked. Neener. :}


Canine Action Dog Trainer
http://www.canineaction.com
My Kids, My Students, My Life:
http://hometown.aol.com/dfrntdrums/m...age/index.html
Build Your Immune System, Lose Weight
http://www.re-vita.net/dfrntdrums