whovian
Junior Grey Lover
River (a.k.a Iruska Cool Chic) has claimed me as her "friendbeast"
Posts: 171
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Post by whovian on Mar 3, 2014 17:27:06 GMT -5
Hello! I posted a while ago about all the trouble I was having with River eating food she found on our walks. With your advice about "not letting her run the show" I instituted a no sniffing on walks policy that seemed to work well for most of the winter. But now as the snow starts to melt, there are all kinds of disgusting (read: delicious to River) bits of food appearing on our sidewalks again. Our walks have lately become a constant battle about keeping her from eating food, and she no longer pays any attention to my efforts to pull her away. Yesterday when she found something she wanted to eat (a bit of sludgy lettuce? Poop?), she actually bared her teeth at me when I tugged on her leash. No treats (I've tried carrots, cheese, hot dog, liver and dried chicken) are enticing enough to make her leave something once she decides she is going to eat it. And I am pretty sure that with all of our fighting, her neck has grown sore. Getting her to go out for a walk is now a humungous struggle - she just runs back to her bed and hides. Today I put her muzzle on for our walk, an idea I got here. Virginia greyhounds sees muzzles as a humane way of keeping dogs from eating things you don't want them to eat. While I appreciate that perspective, I don't really want this to be a permanent solution for us. Wearing a muzzle makes it nearly impossible to reward River with treats for good walking behaviour (something I do 20+ times a walk usually). It also, as I am sure you can imagine, gives people 100% the wrong impression of my sweet pup. That said, I am willing to deal with those things if it will stop our fights about her need to "eat all the things." She's getting too territorial about it for my liking, and I am afraid that one day she will eat something that will make her very sick. Not to mention the poisonous salt and antifreeze that's probably touched the "food" she's finding right now. Has anyone else ever had this problem? Any tips on successfully training it out of her? These are the things I've tried so far (none of them worked for long): - The "leave it" command, and treats for obeying it
- Saying "no" or "ah ah" whenever she starts to sniff, then tugging the leash and saying "let's go" while picking up the pace (preventative measure)
- Walking quickly so that she doesn't have time to sniff/find things and still keep up
- Physically approaching her and pulling her head slowly and gently away from the thing she wants to sniff/eat while saying let's go
I expect this last one is what prompted her to bear her teeth and get territorial. Walking quickly was very effective. But then she countered with the "statue" - she simply refuses to move until she gets to sniff what she wants (I still don't let her, but she's statuing more and more often now). Any ideas?
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whovian
Junior Grey Lover
River (a.k.a Iruska Cool Chic) has claimed me as her "friendbeast"
Posts: 171
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Post by whovian on Mar 3, 2014 17:28:33 GMT -5
Second question, how do you fit a muzzle on a greyhound? How do I know when it is too tight? In other words, where should her nose be in relation to the end of the muzzle? And what is that plastic thing that goes in the front for?
Thanks!
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whovian
Junior Grey Lover
River (a.k.a Iruska Cool Chic) has claimed me as her "friendbeast"
Posts: 171
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Post by whovian on Mar 4, 2014 14:42:07 GMT -5
Today: Sidewalk cheeto lying on a bed of road salt. Muzzle 1, River 0.
Yay!
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scarletta
Grey Lover
On FB as "Onyx Can-Do"
Posts: 537
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Post by scarletta on Mar 4, 2014 19:25:07 GMT -5
Well I have had Onyx pick up 2 things off of the street within the last couple of days. One was what looked like a piece of candy bar and the other was a tiny bit of pizza. I was fast enough to grab it out of his mouth but I am extra vigilant now! This hasn't been an issue until your post so I am guessing he read it over my shoulder and thought "What a greyt idea River has!" and decided to try! hehe The muzzle you have sounds like maybe you are referring to a poop guard? The muzzle I have for Onyx fits with a finger or 2's width away from the end of his nose and under his chin is room to slide my finger underneath. He hasn't really worn it much but I hope to have him wear it more once we can get a weekly greyhound run together in my area. I haven't really had the issue you are having with River being aggressive with the "food" she finds. Onyx gets an upward tug on the leash and a firmer "leave it" if he doesn't listen the first time (which is rare) and generally that is enough to make him stop his foolishness. I am not sure what you can do with River being that upset about you taking her "snacks" away. I hope someone else chimes in with more insight. I have never had Onyx "statue" on me yet either (knock wood) so I really have no advice on that front either. I am sure you will conquer this! You and River are a greyt team and you obviously care a great deal about her and try super hard to find solutions to any issues that crop up. I just wish I had some answers for you. :\
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whovian
Junior Grey Lover
River (a.k.a Iruska Cool Chic) has claimed me as her "friendbeast"
Posts: 171
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Post by whovian on Mar 4, 2014 20:40:28 GMT -5
I looked up poop guard and yes, I think that is what the plastic thing is. Thank you! I am now faced, however, with an awkward question: what's the poop guard for? I think I want to know the answer, but then again, maybe I don't. ;D
Sent from my SGH-I747M using proboards
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scarletta
Grey Lover
On FB as "Onyx Can-Do"
Posts: 537
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Post by scarletta on Mar 4, 2014 21:19:11 GMT -5
Technically it's called a "Stool Guard" but most people just call it a "Poop Guard". The Stool Guard prevents the doggy from eating solids (Coprophagia/poop eating can be an issue for some pups!) and also stops them from licking healing wounds or abrasions and prevents the licking of bandages. The doggie can drink water or other liquids, however.
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Post by BirdNerd on Mar 4, 2014 21:54:46 GMT -5
I've pried a few delicacies from Willow's jaws on walks. A few notable ones include discarded chicken bones (scared the becheeses out of me), a frozen solid half eaten hot-dog complete with ketchupcicles, and what looked to be a brownie...I choose to believe it was a brownie...okay it was probably poop. As I've been working with her on training though, she's been responding better to my noises of disapproval which are usually a snap of my fingers and sharp "SHHH", followed by "leave it." I've used that in the house when I want her to leave something alone, and praise / treat her when she does, so outside she's responded similarly. When she's really into sniffing something outside though, sometimes it takes a couple of "SHHHs" and snaps, and occasionally a little upward tug on the leash, but again, as soon as she turns her attention to me, she gets rewarded.
I haven't had to deal with any aggression when taking things away from Willow, but then again when I first brought her home I spent some time establishing that I'm in charge of the food and the goodies, and I decide when they come and go, so Willow seems to understand that if I take it away, it's mine and she can't have it. Sometimes if we're out and she picks something up she'll moan and groan when I take it away, but then I just have her practice some training skills, and she gets cookies and totally forgets about the yummy dangerous thing that I stole from her.
I've also set the expectation that we walk briskly and she stays at my side in a heel position until I invite her to sniff around and look for a place to do her business, so maybe that focus on travelling helps her to ignore potential tasties. I also keep her thinking with surprise halts; I stop, and she's expected to sit, just to keep her mind engaged and focused on me.
I realize that you've already tried most of those things, but that's what works for Willow and me. Hope it helps!
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Post by Mag's Mom on Mar 5, 2014 7:55:37 GMT -5
Once when Magnify and I were walking, he picked up a thing which as I was prying it out of his mouth turned out to be a dead vole (or mouse, I don't know... I was too busy screaming and throwing it away)! I'm glad no one was around, because I truly looked as if I were possessed or something. Usually, I will just pull up on the lead and kind of growl "leave it.." Good luck.
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greytluck
Grey Addicted
Hobbes- Always loved, never forgotten.
Posts: 2,335
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Post by greytluck on Mar 5, 2014 8:42:05 GMT -5
I'd definitely continue to muzzle on walks for her safety as well as yours. You don't need to get bitten trying to prevent her from eating something dangerous.
At home in a controlled environment you should practice " trading up" treats and food until the "drop it/ leave it" commands are well followed. Until then the muzzle is your friend.
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Post by newtothis1 on Mar 6, 2014 20:24:41 GMT -5
Scully has only once picked up something once his walk, he was so fast that I would not have noticed it if it was not red. I had to reach in and take it out of his mouth, it turned out to be a dead Cardinal. I figured out it was a bird when I felt the little bones crunching in my hand. So gross!!!! Now I keep an eagle eye on everything and if I see anything that he might like to pick up, I pull up on his leash and say leave it., He raises his head and walks right past.
I agree with the training in the house to drop it for treats. That sounds like it would be worth effort and could solve your problem.
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Post by Heather (& KC) on Mar 7, 2014 6:57:06 GMT -5
Quite the battle you have going on. She's adapting to your techniques and countering with the statue. Smart girl. The muzzle with the stool guard will work. I'd tend to be on the watch for stuff and avoid it. You just need to see it first. Spring is such a difficult time. So many "treats" are uncovered by the melting snow. Good luck.
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whovian
Junior Grey Lover
River (a.k.a Iruska Cool Chic) has claimed me as her "friendbeast"
Posts: 171
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Post by whovian on Mar 7, 2014 16:12:20 GMT -5
She has been doing really well in the muzzle for the last three days at not sniffing things when I say "leave it," (and I have been praising her like mad) so today I tried walking without the muzzle. As luck would have it, we encountered a large piece of white fish (haddock?) with bones sticking out of it. She grabbed it before I even saw it in the snow - greyhounds are fast, you know? Like really fast.
And then I said, "leave it," and she dropped it! I am not sure if it was because of the mild panic in my voice, or the "training" we've been doing, or simply because it just didn't taste good, but either way she dropped it. I was so proud! She got lots and lots of praise.
Just to practice though, I do want to start playing the drop it game with her in the house. What would you suggest I use? I was thinking of using hot dogs as high value treats because she never ever gets those, but what should I make her drop? She goes for banana peels outside a lot and I don't mind having one of those on my floor. Is that a good start?
Sent from my SGH-I747M using proboards
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Post by newtothis1 on Mar 7, 2014 20:50:01 GMT -5
If you are going to use hot dogs for a reward I guarantee she will drop whatever you put down as a bait. Don't be surprised if she won't even look at the bait though, they really really really love hot dogs.
I use them for hot dog bobbing at my guys birthday party. Dogs that would not even go near the water had their heads in it up to the ears to get those hot dogs.
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Post by BirdNerd on Mar 8, 2014 20:22:21 GMT -5
Yeah! Totally go for banana peels. I drop food (usually by accident) in the kitchen all the time, so lots of opportunities there. I also have a cat, so sometimes Willow picks up her toys, or goes for her food, and those are good times to practice "leave it" as well. I sometimes use her own cookies too. I put a couple on the floor and walk her past them in a "heel", she is usually pretty focused on me now, but in the beginning I'd say "leave it" and treat her as soon as she ignored the temptation. Just make sure you don't let her have the thing you tell her to leave. You can give the same type of treat if that's what's in your pocket, but it should never be ok to go back and take the thing that was forbidden moments before. I pretty much just keep treats on me at all times just in case there's a training moment and I need to treat right away to reinforce the behaviour. I used "leave it" for cat training too, so Willow knows that she is never ever allowed to chase the cat...even if the cat is running like crazy and needs to be stopped for everyone's sanity...kitties are to be left alone Also small yapping terriers, squirrels, bunnies, mice, ducks, pigeons...etc. We look with our eyes, not with our teeth
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