cammidge

I wish I knew more about training a support dog, and I really wish hubby was more on board with it. He just thinks I'm insane - why don't you just get a trained service dog? Answer; because it takes six years at the very least, and at least $10k to train them. I don't have either. So what if it costs me a bit to get a professional trainer to give me some tips?

Don't forget the doggie music! I depend on that for Bracken and his thunder phobia - loud enough to drown out the noise.

I totally have this, but hubby reluctantly agreed to abide by the trainers advice - and now he corrects me! So be careful what you wish for. Get a force free trainer to come to your house (preferably) or go to theirs for an outing, and learn some of their ways of doing things. I now have great hopes for Sable, who is being trained as my support dog and balance aid (for my MS).

Yes, watching for the signs, the digging/scratching, then out for a pee, then kennel up. With or without kibble. She sleeps a lot.

Kongs, and crates. I've always used Kongs, but first time crate user.

Update; next day. Watched like a hawk for the signs of trouble. Digging, on the cushion, which also can be done lying down, so it looks like swimming practice. This is done close to the threshold of tiredness, so into the crate with a kong filled with peanut butter she goes (oh and the bully stick). A few small cries, then sweet silence. This goes on all afternoon, apparently. What a tired out pup!

Thanks, Jennifer. Love your tongue lashing idea!

Yes, definitely cranky. It makes me so sad that I did this. I feel absolutely terrible. I hope it's not going to affect her. I just reacted waaay too strongly. Thank you for your great ideas.

My ten week old puppy (Italian Mastiff x Rottweiler x Bouvier) is giving me the work out. She is mostly okay, has learned the tsst! noise means stop whatever you're doing NOW. However, when she's tired and over threshold, she just gets out of control, leaping at me to BITE me, not just nibble. Today, I lost it, and gave her a very harsh correction with the leash (rope around her neck) which made her yelp (mostly with surprise, I'm sure, as I've never corrected her like that). She's now gone into hiding. Was that too harsh? Am I ruining my beautiful pup? PS: I'm somewhat disabled, with MS, so she's got the advantage. Any ideas? Other than this issue, she's very quick to learn, in the less than two weeks here.