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Doesn't do well with "NO"

AmazingGrace
February 20th, 2009, 07:22 PM
Just wondering if anyone would have to a solution on how to make my 9 mo. old Saint Bernard not think the word "NO" is a joke. If she is ever doing something that we do not approve of we will usually give her the long drawn out name call (gggggrrrraaaaaaccceeeee - NO). In which she follows this up with barking at us, jumping back and forth and continuously doing was she was advised not to do. She thinks this is a game. Help me get her to "get the message".

growler~GateKeeper
February 21st, 2009, 12:50 AM
What tone of voice are you using with the drawn out name and the no? Do you use the same tone when giving other commands (sit, down, stay), how does she respond then?

How does she respond if you use a different word? Depending on what her action is: Leave it, that's enough, uh-uh, off, let go, release, drop it........

hazelrunpack
February 21st, 2009, 09:20 AM
Sounds like she's learned that if mom and dad aren't right there, she can do what she pleases. So for a while, you'll need to be very diligent. Don't give a command that you can't back up. You can try to distract her with something while you're on the way over, but don't give the command till you get there. (This means you're going to be high-tailing it around the yard for a while. :o) The idea is to never let her get away with something you can't enforce.

Of course 'come' you have to give from a distance, and that means she has the chance to get away with disregarding you. If you know she heard the 'come' but she's not coming, follow it up immediately. Only give the command once, then begin to follow her around the yard. Don't run, don't chase (that's fun for her), but just follow her. If she changes direction or speeds up, change your trajectory so that you're on an intercept. When you catch her, no scolding, just grab her collar and bring her to where you gave the command. You'll see improvement pretty quickly. The first improvement I see is that the dog in question sees me coming and decides not to delay the inevitable and comes to me. And then they start paying attention to the command again.

Practice, practice, practice. Practice her 'sit' and 'stay'. Practice her 'down'. Practice 'leave it'. Doesn't have to be a long practice session each time, just short refresher courses, multiple times a day.

We feed our dogs twice daily. After the meal is an excellent time for a little practice. Especially with the younger dogs who are prone to turning off their ears. :D Every meal we practice a different command...sometimes it's 'stay', sometimes it's 'back up', etc...

But also practice outside. You're trying to establish obedience as a good habit. :thumbs up Patience and persistence really pays off...especially with rebellious teenagers (and at 9 months that's exactly what she is...the rebellious teenager :rolleyes)