EXTRA Treats! How to get them EVERY time!

Hi Pack - Cora here -

Do you think you're getting all the treats you want?  Few of us do, if my pee-mail is any indicator.  Brutus, a Shih Tzu, recently complained that his humans would only give him treats when he did "tricks" for them.  He was so upset about this that he might leave a little "Shih Tzu" in one of their favorite shoes sometime soon! I pee-mailed back to him to be patient and suggested what I'm going to share with you now.

Don't settle for Trick Treats! Are we in the circus?  Unless you're a celebrity dog in film or television, save the tricks for when they work for YOU. The best times to get treats are:

• When other humans visit
• When you get home from the vet's office
• Whenever you adopt the "attitude"

I love other human visits, especially the little humans and the new humans.  Sometimes when bigger humans visit, who've been around my humans a lot, they will pat my head or stroke my beautiful fur and then completely ignore me for the whole visit.  No treats then.  I will adopt the "attitude" for my humans when they leave. (more on that later)

Little humans, on the other hand, no matter how often they visit, love to give me treats! Lots of treats!  This is when I do my tricks.  The little humans have some strange control over my humans and when they ask to give me treats, I get treats! Sometimes, I get two, three or four times as many treats from these little ones!  Word of warning, though: These little humans sometimes have no control over their paws and can poke you in your face or pull your tail. Don't get upset.  There's nothing better than a sticky pizza kiss and hug for your troubles.  I know.

If you're like me, you see the vet at least every six months.  It's awful.  Last week I went.  They stuck sharp teeth things in my hip, made me get on this metal floor, rubbed off my front claws and, to make matters even worse, bit my other hip with a really long tooth! It really hurt.  When I got home, I went to the place that is dark and cool to lay down because it doesn't have a blanket on the ground. (bathroom) I slept until Mary came home from work. She's more trained than Paul, as you can tell.  Anyway, Mary pet me and talked to me and I could tell that she was very sympathetic. I got 2 Trader Joe treats, a squirrel and a couch, and two Pill Pockets although one of them wasn't so good.

Okay, so now it's time to talk about adopting "attitude". I mentioned this before, but if you feel you're not getting the love you should, turn your back on the humans.  When they offer you the rawhide "chewie" or some other lame toy, just walk off into the next room and lay down facing away from them.  No tail wag.  No acknowledgement whatsoever. It drives them nuts! They'll run through everything they can think of to make you happy again.  Once they get to the treat you really want, then you jump up, tail wagging and reward them with a nice nose kiss or loving lick. Trust me, it works!

Remember, they threw the ball. They can run after it. Speak?  Only when you have something to say. Do tricks?  I don't do tricks.  I have people for that.

Cora                        

If you have a problem with your people or even other dogs, drop me a line in the comments box below and if it interests me, I'll give you an answer.             

One of my favorite small humans!  Treats!

Next - Walking Strategies

You know, it's hard out here for a pooch

Hi Pack - Cora here. I'm a 9 year old Shepherd mix. Besides Shepherd, there's some Rotweiler, a little Chow, everything to make the statement, "Don't push me!" For the past five years, I've been service dog to the Rolands. I could tell you what I did before that but then I'd have to bite your face off. Just kidding. Well, maybe. As you can tell by my picture there, I don't take pictures. My humans wonder if it's because I'm in a witness protection program or something.  Yeah, it's something like that.

Anyway, we used to live in a house and then we moved to an apartment. Living here, I've gotten to know a lot of dogs and seen the problems they have with their humans. And since I helped my humans finish their book - I mused them - I decided to do this blog and share my experience with training humans.  Before you shake your head and say, "Wait! You're a dog! You can't type!" You're right! I have people for that.

Cora

If you have a problem with your people or even other dogs, drop me a line in the comments box below and if it interests me, I'll give you an answer.

Up next - Treats - How to get them

PS from Mary (one of Cora's humans) - Although this blog shows me as the author, Cora "approves" every post. 

Cora

Getting Treats - Do's and Don't's

Hi Pack - it's Cora -

On my walk this morning, I received some pee-mail from an anxious Airedale Terrier who asked for advice on getting some better quality treats.  Seems his humans go for the bargain brands that he's not crazy about.

First, you have to realize it's not about doing tricks.  Some dogs "fetch" an assortment of stupid items - balls, sticks, flying disks - I don't chase things.  I have people for that. Some dogs eat a lot of human food and don't get dog treats at all. While I like the occasional human food snack, I maintain a balance of high quality dog food on a strict schedule with strategic treats throughout the day.  It took careful training, but my humans now understand that I cannot be expected to focus on their safety without my Trader Joe treats.  I especially like these because they are nutritious, not too heavy on calories and come in the shapes of wonderful things like squirrels, shoes, couches and bones! Whatever your favorite is, make sure to reward your human with behaviors they understand and appreciate.

Just wagging your tail isn't going to do anything but get you a pat on the head. If you want to insure the continuance and quality of your treats, do things like sniff the perimeter of your home, huffing and making little noises as if you are giving your approval.  Or, my favorite, stand by the door and give a quiet bark and warning growl, then look back to make sure they noticed.  Showing them that you're "on the job" ups your treat value.

If they ignore you or give you less than quality treats, sit facing the wall, any wall in view of your humans, and don't look at them.  Don't acknowledge them in any way.  Sigh often.  When they come to you, and they will, to see if you're all right, look at them with your saddest eyes.  Then, when they give you the poor treat, sniff it and turn away.  Do not give in to temptation!  Do not eat it! Believe me, turning that treat away will ensure that you get a better treat!  Remember though, when you do get the treats you really want, reward your humans with the "guarding routine" or put your head on their lap with happy eyes and then lay contentedly at their feet.

Most importantly, don't give up!  People are not as smart as dogs.  Give them time and they will learn. My people did.

Cora

If you have a problem with your people or even other dogs, drop me a line in the comments box below and if it interests me, I'll give you an answer.

Next time;  Getting EXTRA treats!