Hi Everybuddy, we have had a good week.
Its been hot and we did lots of this.
When it was cool in the evening we did lots of this
in the paddock.
Then Rory came a running. WTF?
Rory, did you see a snake?
Rory, did you see a snake?
Outta the way, crazy dad on a bike!
Hehehe, dad you are funny.
Next day, hey what's happening?
Stand Off! Penny might be small
but she can look after herself.
Then a few days later, we were reading the blogs and this happened! Dead faint. They love a girl who wears her heart on her er, well, check out Ruby from Rottrover.
Hehehe.
See ya everybuddy and have a great weekend.
No worries, and love, Stella and Rory
P.S. We had a computer glitch last few days, so here is a photo of Tyler cause we missed his Tyler Tuesday.
Hi All, Carol here. Just wanted to ask advice or comments from anyone on some obedience stuff with Rory. We started three weeks ago and the dogs have been fabulous. Their confidence in large groups and with people and other dogs is terrific. I am extremely proud of both of them.
Rory, being the large boy he is, can be very slow to sit when we walk in the circle and are asked to do a stop/sit. He much prefers to just stand alongside me. Even with a food treat he would rather stand next to me. He doesn't move around, pull or anything, just stands quietly next to me. Of course I don't want to physically push him into a sitting position because I don't want to injure him in any way.
He sits very well at home when waiting for his meals, when I am giving them treats at home etc so I know he can do it. I really don't care if he always stands next to me quietly if we are out as long as he doesn't bother anyone. He is very good at 'dropping' too for a treat at home and when we have been out for coffee he is happy to drop at our feet and sleep.
Should I ask the trainer if we can adjust the training to meet his needs and instead of a sit/stay we could do a stand/stay. Any comments would be appreciated.
I am not interested in any more than basic obedience and having a well socialised dog that I can walk with confidence anywhere we may be. He is already coming along so well with this. We have been training on a nearby road that has a dog barking at the fence and he will ignore it and do his stand/stay without problem. Have I answered my own question? Its our dog, and we do what's best for him, right? Yes of course. Anyway any comments would be appreciated. Thanks all and have a wonderful weekend. Life in our little part of the world is good. No worries, and love, Carol
Hi guys, just found your blog and love it! And a special hi *wave paw to Rory. Of course. :)
ReplyDeleteFinn & Kai
This is interesting, I will be curious to see what people say. Finn doesn't sit when I stop walking wither, unless I do our sit hand signal to her. I tried over and over to reward that behavior but she just never does it.
ReplyDeleteI would love to give you some answers Carol, but I think you need to talk to "big dog" people. I have observed that at obedience training with Rubie she has a good friend (Weimaraner) and he is reluctant to sit too. Sometimes his butt never quite reaches the ground and he is in a awkward kinda "zen squat". I think for the purpose of obedience training you will find it difficult unless he sits..... you need to pull aside the trainers and pick their brains I guess.
ReplyDeleteGood luck, Rubie's mum
We have been reading all about the very hot weather you have been having. Could you send us a little bit of warm please :-)
ReplyDeleteMolly, Taffy, Monty and Winnie
I think that as long as Rory is doing what YOU want and need fur him to do... THAT is FINE.
ReplyDeletePerhaps he doesn't like to sit on "different" surfaces.
Sorry you had some computer troubles.
I love the pictures today. Esp. Dad on the bike!!
hehehehe... I'm glad you like my heart butt!! When we took obedience the trainer told mom to pull up on our collar/leash and sort of touch our back right above our tail and it seemed to work to get us to sit. But we agree with Frankie - if Rory is calm and relaxed just standing at your side that's OK we would think...
ReplyDelete-Ruby
Those flying ears! Just too cute.
ReplyDeleteAnd Rory is starting to look like a Dane. He is beautiful.
We just love the picture of you sleeping back to back. It looks like you're having a difference of opinion!
ReplyDeleteLove ya lots,
Maggie and Mitch
HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY !!
ReplyDeleteI think that if Rory is doing what YOU Want and Need fur him to do... THAT is all that is impawtant.
Do you know Honey : bighoneydog.com ? We bet her human could help you with this question. Our only suggestion is to have some extremely special yummy treat that you only use when trying to get Rory to sit. There could very well be a time when that stand/stay isn't enough for the moment. It is worth trying to get that sit/stay to work for you.
ReplyDeleteGreat pics, looks like lots of fun times at your place.
Woos - Phantom, Thunder, Ciara, and Lightning
Love Stella's bouncing ears!
ReplyDeleteWhen Darwin doesn't sit when we ask her to I'll sometimes just tap her back side near her tail and she'll put her butt down, nothing hard just a tap tap reminder. I think if he's standing and focused on you then he doesn't really need to sit. Hsin-Yi would probably have the best advice.
Good for Rory.
ReplyDeleteDon't you love those cool mornings and evenings. Of course, we've been having a rather cool summer, so it hasn't mattered much. We suppose that as school goes back next week, we'll get the hot weather!!!
Hope you had a happy Oz Day.
XXXOOO Daisy, Bella & Roxy
Looks like it's been a fun week for all!
ReplyDeleteLove all the fun pics :)
ReplyDeleteStewey
Do what is comfortable for you both. Our Quinn is like Rory he stands and follows the stay without issue but for him the public "sit" makes him nervous (maybe something from his days as a stray). If he stays and you are not taking classes for competition I think you have answered your own question. I don't know how many times momma has told dad to sit down and he says "I'd rather stand, I've been sitting all day!" BOL!!
ReplyDeleteLove the paddock romp photos, makes me want to go to the Park!
Just love the 'ears' in photo number three today.
ReplyDeleteAs for obedience, my first dog never ever would sit on command, and I eventually decided to just leave it and it wasn't a problem. Bertie, by contrast, learned to sit reliably, anywhere, in about a nanosecond. Horses for courses I guess.
Cheers, Gail.
Oh dear.. obedience isn't really my thing hehe! I lie down to the command sit and pretty much ignore "down" but sometimes I sit.....
ReplyDeleteHi there Carole & Co.
ReplyDeleteMy first comment about your 'obedience' dilemma with Rory is this:
Teach Rory what YOU want to teach him and leave the rest.
Having said this, I do believe that there are great benefits to getting your dog to "Sit" on command - there may be a moment, somewhere in the future, when it may be essential/life saving to get him to sit. It is at that point that your efforts will pay off.
I also think that consulting 'Big Honey's' owner may be valuable. She has a wealth of training experience with Great Danes. Also, have you considered the possibility that there may be a 'medical' reason why he's not wanting to do this for you, or is it just stubbornness? Sometimes dogs ail and it becomes uncomfortable for them to obey a command (He may be telling you something...just check)
My own tip (if YOU really want to teach Rory to sit)is the following:
You need to make it really worth his while to obey your command. Find the yummiest of treats, hold it firmly in your hand (while he is standing next to you) and bring your hand slowly over his snout toward his back. If you position your hand (with the yummy treat) over his ears where he can only just see it and lure him backwards, he'll have no option but to sit at some stage. At that point, open your hand and allow him to receive the treat. (But remember, the treat MUST be something REALLY WANTS! i.e. his reward)
Hope this helps. He's getting really big now...wow!
Sending lotsaluv
MAXMOM IN SOUTH AFRICA
ps....NEVER FORCE HIM!
ReplyDeleteWe thought that Ruby's heart was so cute too!!!! Great photo of the dogs' reaction!
ReplyDeleteAs for Rory, it seems to me like the goal of sitting when you stop is to keep your dog calm and from pulling all around you. If Rory can stand-stay reliably, then I'd say that you should modify the program so that he can do that. Perhaps he finds sitting to be uncomfortable for some reason. Our trainer always says to adapt to what a specific dog prefers... so I believe that she'd encourage you to work the stand-stay or to try a down-stay when you stop, since Rory seems not to like sitting.
I agree with most of the others!! Do NOT make him sit and sit and sit!! I had a German Shepard and we took two Obeisance classes and he ended up with hip troubles and had to have surgery for it but in the end it was what took him to the bridge!!! Do not make Rory sit very often!!! PLESAE!!!
ReplyDeletexx, Zoie & Fern
Great pictures! I am not very well trained, not that I cause any trouble, but I never learned basic commands. Sorry, I can't help!
ReplyDeleteYour pal, Pip
I don't know what to tell you about getting Rory to sit. Thor always sat down any time he wasn't moving, but sometimes he would decide to wave a paw at someone. But I'm sure he's a great boy, because the giant fellas always are nice and calm.
ReplyDeleteYou guys gave us some great pictures there! Hope you had a fun Australia Day!
xoxo Marjie
Hope you had a happy Australia Day, and that your P.M. is recovered from her ordeal. Did they arrest anyone?
ReplyDeleteLove the photo of Rory & Tyler. To us, it means they've got each others backs. Guess Abby is out of luck, with Tyler being [understandably] smitten with Ruby.
Rory is at the fast growing adolescent stage and it could be that sitting in the context of the walking hurts his joints, although if he readily sits at home it could be more like a social aversion to sitting around so many other dogs. We agree with the majority that unless you're doing competitive obedience or something, why is it important? As long as you and he are happy, that's all you really need. You can always work on it later, when he's older, if you decide you need that skill.
Jed & Abby
Looks like you have been busy!!
ReplyDeleteSomething in that busy certain made you run Rory! :0
Hmm Rory, why aren't you sitting while your out and about?
Our human thinks it might be a cross between being a bit stubborn (people normally call us Danes dumb, but our humans thinks its more because we are stubborn and are good at playing dumb!), and not used to doing it in different environments - dogs aren't that great at transfering commands into different environments. It's probably not the joints if he is doing it at home.
You have already had lots of suggestions, but our human will give hers a well...
Get lots of tasty treats and practice sitting in all sorts of environments, obviously not continuously. At the begining of a walk get him to sit, and then throughout the walk stop and ask him to "sit" as well, give him a tasty treat each time he does it. This way Rory learns that "sit" means sit everywhere, not just at home. Also to help with the little bit of stubborness that might be going on. Make sure when you ask him to "sit" he does do it. Otherwise you are teaching him that he can refuse, that also maybe why he isn't doing it when he's out. Once or twice he hasn't and you have let him get away with it, so he think's he can just refuse.
I'm sure you'll get there, keep working on it!
~Laura and Lexi and Jasper the Danes