I didn't think my four and a half month old Spanish Mastin puppy, Querida was one of the most intelligent pups I have had the pleasure of knowing, but I need to have a rethink!
She is undoubtedly of the more vocal ones I have owned and she has a very big,deep voice.
Using 'clicker training ' I have been practising two aspects of her education recently, coming to call and not barking (I know one should concentrate on one behaviour at a time ).
Querida has very good hearing and at the slightest sound (either in reality or her imagination )would leap up,and rush out through the flycurtain, onto the patio barking.
I would be left sitting in my recliner grumbling because yet again I needed to put my book down and go out into into the 39°c temperature outside to shut her up and retrieve her.
There are three permanent fixtures next to my chair, a bowl of tasty dog treats , a container of rich tea biscuits and a mug of tea.
Yesterday evening Querida was being even more vocal than usual,so rather than getting up, following her outside and telling her off, I was whistling her back in, (I find the whistle distracts her from the barking), and "click/rewarding her for coming to call.
A couple of hours and many repetitions of this behaviour later, when the bowl of dog treats had been emptied and Querida was being treated with pieces of my biscuits a profound thought penetrated my (NB. not her, slow brain).
I put down my book and focused, sure enough Querida jumped to her feet, rushed through the flycurtain and began barking. I could see her outline just theother side of the curtain, whistled, she spun around, lolloped (she's very gangly at the moment and her big feet throw her legs in all directions) back through the flycurtain and stood expectantly by my chair, tongue lolling out, waiting to be 'click /rewarded.
Who is thick? She had sussed that if she went outside and barked, I would call her in and give her a reward! Hmm, she may not be a Collie but daft she most definitely isn't. !
She is undoubtedly of the more vocal ones I have owned and she has a very big,deep voice.
Using 'clicker training ' I have been practising two aspects of her education recently, coming to call and not barking (I know one should concentrate on one behaviour at a time ).
Querida has very good hearing and at the slightest sound (either in reality or her imagination )would leap up,and rush out through the flycurtain, onto the patio barking.
I would be left sitting in my recliner grumbling because yet again I needed to put my book down and go out into into the 39°c temperature outside to shut her up and retrieve her.
There are three permanent fixtures next to my chair, a bowl of tasty dog treats , a container of rich tea biscuits and a mug of tea.
Yesterday evening Querida was being even more vocal than usual,so rather than getting up, following her outside and telling her off, I was whistling her back in, (I find the whistle distracts her from the barking), and "click/rewarding her for coming to call.
A couple of hours and many repetitions of this behaviour later, when the bowl of dog treats had been emptied and Querida was being treated with pieces of my biscuits a profound thought penetrated my (NB. not her, slow brain).
I put down my book and focused, sure enough Querida jumped to her feet, rushed through the flycurtain and began barking. I could see her outline just theother side of the curtain, whistled, she spun around, lolloped (she's very gangly at the moment and her big feet throw her legs in all directions) back through the flycurtain and stood expectantly by my chair, tongue lolling out, waiting to be 'click /rewarded.
Who is thick? She had sussed that if she went outside and barked, I would call her in and give her a reward! Hmm, she may not be a Collie but daft she most definitely isn't. !
