Today, Scott Carrino and I had our second training session with Lou, his new puppy sheep@doodle, a designer breed.
Lou is a good student, attentive, focused, and bright. Scott is not a natural or comfortable trainer, his a gentle and sweet man, not accustomed to giving orders or enforcing them.
He uses too many words and believes the dog is sending him signals when he barks and wants to leave the create. We are working on this. Dogs don’t get out of the crate unless they are quiet.
It’s like three-year-olds yelling for Mom and Dad. Usually, it’s the kid’s training the parents and the dogs training the humans.
Scott’s commands are very polite and tentative and he uses too many words. He also loves his dog dearly and is committed to training him. I’m having fun.
We are also having housebreaking problems because he can’t quite keep Lou under control while he’s out of the crate, so he is peeing all over the place. His training was interrupted when Lou got a urinary infection.
Lou has done a wonderful job of training Scott, he has him just where he wants him.
I think he grasped the idea of keeping Lou under complete control at all times for a day two. I think he thinks this is abuse, but I’m getting through.
It’s fun working with Scott and Lou, they love each other, and Scott really wants to get it right, which is all you can ask. We’ll try again next week.
I love helping people train their dogs – sometimes. This one will work out well.
Happy man. Happy dog. ? nice picture.
‘Lou has done a wonderful job of training Scott, he has him just where he wants him.’ That say’s it all.
I love this. My very first favorite dog was an Engish sheepdog. When I was a little girl, living with my grandparents during WWII, there was an English sheepdog named Mr. Pim who lived at the corner. Every day my grandpa and I would take a walk and visit Mr. Pim. I was never able to have an old English Sheepdog as an adult, but I did manage to have five Shelties who were in my live, at different times, for about forty years. I even had a Lab who lived to be two months shy of fifteen. Riley was my son’s dog and when he wasn’t able to keep him anymore, Riley came to me. I had never had a big dog before, but Riley was so well trained, gentle and loving. He was the best. He and my Shelties were great pals. My last two Shelties had Cushings Disease which was really tough on them. It affected their skin and we were always at the vets. One of my vets said, “No more Shelties, Jane.” All of the Shelties she saw had the same problem; Cushings Disease and she suggested that when I was ready I should try another breed. Now, with the support, suggestion and approval of my vets (whom I have used for over thirty years) I have Oliver, a Labradoodle who is now fifteen months old. He is very different, of course, from my Shelties. It is a new adverture on a daily basis.
He would be great at agility, but at my age it wouldn’t work. I had hoped he would be the kind of therapy dog to whom chilrdren, who had difficulty reading would feel safe reading to. I know there are therapy dogs like that, but with his energy I have my doubts. The pandemic seems to have isolated us which isn’t great for Oliver. Anyway, looking at little Lou brings back memories. I have all of your books, look at your blog and try to use your training methods.
Scott will benefit greatly from his choice of dog and from what he will learn from you. He is a lucky man to have you both. Stay well and stay safe. Love to you, Maria and all of the animals in the Peaceable Kingdom.