MarilynBanister

Just wanted to show you how well Bella is doing with your great advice. True test with deer. 20210209_100814_1.mp4

Interesting you mention feeling safe to potty outdoors. My older 12yr old lab is very protective and makes sure deer, and other critters stay on their side of the fence lol. It is though Bella and Harley have a code. I notice when Harley barks, Bella will run back towards the house...depending on the bark she will run up to the hill (next to house) and stop and watch him...other barks she runs all the way in the house. Many times if he is out there barking she won't even go outside. If she is out alone she stays close to the house, I watch her through the windows. Also...the snow is pretty high here on the mountain and I would not want to squat or stick my butt in it to go bathroom. I am pretty sure she knows when I say potty what it is because when she would go on potty pads, I said potty over and over. At night before bed I tell her to go potty and she goes over there and does her thing. I will start going out with her again and praising her more when she goes outside. I just didn't want to do the wrong thing right off the bat to where I will have a harder time later on. Thanks again for your GREAT advice. I have been telling my friends and family about your training on Facebook!!

Hi again, I live in the mountains with my elderly mother and have a half acre of fenced in land. When I leave for work I have to shut the doggie door and leave Bella with my mom in the house. My mom is scared to let the pup out when I am gone due to coyotes, bears, etc. for now Bella is to small to be out there alone. My mom is not healthy enough to run outside in case of emergency. Bella is trained to go on the potty pads very well in the house. When I am home and the doggie door is open she will go outside and sometimes go to the bathroom. But more often she will go outside, come in and go right to the potty pads. How can I train her that if the doggie door is open, outside is the main place to go? I will be taking her to other peoples houses overnight sometimes and I would not like to take potty pads with me. P.S. The info you gave me on her recall skills off the leash is working GREAT!!!! TY

Thank you so much.....I followed what you said and had the perfect test today!!! What you said really worked. She was doing great with recall until....My older dog hunted up a mole...she ran and grabbed it...I called her and she had the prize so she came to me and did the catch me if you can. I stopped calling her and let her have it (we havent worked enough on Drop It yet) she played with it and I didn't say anything...she finally got bored and dropped it. I called her again and she came and sat down and took her treat. Walking back I did not do any recall, she followed me back home got in the gate with no issues. She even came to me when I was walking and I didn't call her...I just gave her a treat and off she went...like she was just checking in lol. Thank you for all the help!!!

Thank you so much for the response!! Great information for me to chew on. I live on a mountain and always have her in a big open field when I let her off leash with her big brother. She doesn't run far and always stays close, but just like you said... does the Catch me if you can game. I know she was not ready to go back home and wanted to continue to play in the field (even though I have a half acre of fenced in yard, I know they can get bored). I will work with the information you gave me and let you know. Thank you again for the help, much appreciated.

Hi, What do you do when your 5 mth old labradoodle puppy is not overly excited about food, praise or toys? She is very smart (to smart) and learns very quickly. I have been working real hard with her Come here, she does everything perfect on the leash...but off it is another story... most days she is great about it, she will come and than sit..... inside and outside. But when she is in a mood...it all goes out the window. She will come when she wants, get real close and then take off as if it is a game... and to me....COME is not a game it is THE MOST IMPORTANT thing she will learn. I have a 12 year old lab that just me calling his name he will come to me immediately. When she is in that mode nothing will stop her and I have tried running in the opposite direction, treats, calling her in a exciting voice, even showing her a ball and tug toy. Please help, she knows all the other commands very well, but this one I can't figure it out. Thank you, M