Magic enters our lives in many different forms. Musical magic, scenery magic, the magic of love ... and then there's the magic of curing your beloved pet of an infuriating behaviour!
Caesar Millan, the guru of dog training, lists jumping up as one of the biggest complaints he gets from clients. It certainly was ours (note the past tense?) Oscar is 7 months old now, and his training is coming along nicely, lots to still work on, but it's coming ... However, the jumping up had reached epidemic proportions. Jumping up at guests who come to visit, jumping up us, and definitely jumping up at the counter and stealing what he can. (He stole a freshly BBQ'd pork chop a few weeks ago - he has good tastes!)
Brenda, his beloved breeder, had agreed to look after Oscar last weekend whilst we were involved with my mother's funeral, which was over six hours drive away. When Ray dropped Oscar off he warned Brenda to watch what she has on the counter as Oscar will help himself to it. "Oh, we'll soon cure him of that!" she replied confidently.
With much on our minds that weekend, we didn't have time to think of Oscar and how he was doing until we were driving to pick him up. We desperately hoped he had behaved himself, and ingratiated himself to his first owner. However, we were unprepared for the greeting Oscar gave us at the door - lots of tail wagging, lots of licks, and the body language of a happy dog. But, he didn't jump up at us! Then, Brenda gleefully led him into her kitchen where she had strategically placed pieces of cheese, and even a small piece of chicken, close to the edge of her counter. We watched as Oscar sniffed the air, but didn't even try to touch them. We were witnessing magic! We felt (and probably acted) just like the clients on Caesar Millan's shows after he has corrected their dog's behaviour - gobsmacked!
After Brenda had enjoyed our astonishment long enough, she produced her magic wand - an empty can filled with 20 pennies. A strong single shake of this can, each time he went to jump up had totally stopped him in his tracks. He hated the noise! Just at that moment, as if on cue, Brenda's mother-in-law arrived for a visit, and we watched in awe as Oscar cheerfully greeted her with all four feet on the ground. Suddenly, he started to jump, but Brenda was watching and a strong shake of the can brought all four feet in contact with the floor immediately. "Amazing" we said to each other, but secretly wondered if this new behaviour would continue when we got him home ...
Now, it must be stated here, that we had tried everything to stop him jumping. Scolding, yelling, squirting him with water (which he loved), clapping our hands (obviously NOT loud enough)... but we were ready to use this can of pennies if it got these amazing results. We stopped on the way home to buy any beverage in the tallest can we could find, knowing we only had small coke cans at the house. Still doubtful, we emptied the beverage (I think it was some sort of energy drink!) down the sink and hopefully refilled it with 20 pennies. Then waited. Oscar was an angel. No jumping up at all. We even tested him by placing food within his reach and watched, penny can at the ready, from the corner of the kitchen - nothing!
I googled this technique and as always there were the naysayers who said it was cruel to scare the dog. But, Oscar is perfectly happy, not cowering or scared - unless we get out the penny can! It's been almost a week now, and I can truly say the can and pennies works. Yes, it's pure magic!
Caesar Millan, the guru of dog training, lists jumping up as one of the biggest complaints he gets from clients. It certainly was ours (note the past tense?) Oscar is 7 months old now, and his training is coming along nicely, lots to still work on, but it's coming ... However, the jumping up had reached epidemic proportions. Jumping up at guests who come to visit, jumping up us, and definitely jumping up at the counter and stealing what he can. (He stole a freshly BBQ'd pork chop a few weeks ago - he has good tastes!)
Brenda, his beloved breeder, had agreed to look after Oscar last weekend whilst we were involved with my mother's funeral, which was over six hours drive away. When Ray dropped Oscar off he warned Brenda to watch what she has on the counter as Oscar will help himself to it. "Oh, we'll soon cure him of that!" she replied confidently.
With much on our minds that weekend, we didn't have time to think of Oscar and how he was doing until we were driving to pick him up. We desperately hoped he had behaved himself, and ingratiated himself to his first owner. However, we were unprepared for the greeting Oscar gave us at the door - lots of tail wagging, lots of licks, and the body language of a happy dog. But, he didn't jump up at us! Then, Brenda gleefully led him into her kitchen where she had strategically placed pieces of cheese, and even a small piece of chicken, close to the edge of her counter. We watched as Oscar sniffed the air, but didn't even try to touch them. We were witnessing magic! We felt (and probably acted) just like the clients on Caesar Millan's shows after he has corrected their dog's behaviour - gobsmacked!
After Brenda had enjoyed our astonishment long enough, she produced her magic wand - an empty can filled with 20 pennies. A strong single shake of this can, each time he went to jump up had totally stopped him in his tracks. He hated the noise! Just at that moment, as if on cue, Brenda's mother-in-law arrived for a visit, and we watched in awe as Oscar cheerfully greeted her with all four feet on the ground. Suddenly, he started to jump, but Brenda was watching and a strong shake of the can brought all four feet in contact with the floor immediately. "Amazing" we said to each other, but secretly wondered if this new behaviour would continue when we got him home ...
Now, it must be stated here, that we had tried everything to stop him jumping. Scolding, yelling, squirting him with water (which he loved), clapping our hands (obviously NOT loud enough)... but we were ready to use this can of pennies if it got these amazing results. We stopped on the way home to buy any beverage in the tallest can we could find, knowing we only had small coke cans at the house. Still doubtful, we emptied the beverage (I think it was some sort of energy drink!) down the sink and hopefully refilled it with 20 pennies. Then waited. Oscar was an angel. No jumping up at all. We even tested him by placing food within his reach and watched, penny can at the ready, from the corner of the kitchen - nothing!
I googled this technique and as always there were the naysayers who said it was cruel to scare the dog. But, Oscar is perfectly happy, not cowering or scared - unless we get out the penny can! It's been almost a week now, and I can truly say the can and pennies works. Yes, it's pure magic!
5 comments:
Wow. That is incredible. I will certainly give it a try on Magnus. Now could you ask the lady how to stop the whining. It is driving me NUTS!!! I can't ignore it as he whines when he needs the toilet. He whines in the car which I put down to excitement at the prospect of a walk. He whines when Kizzie so much as looks at him which I put down to fear. He whines when it is getting near to meal times. However, he whines also when he has been out to the garden and when Kizzie is not around and when he has just been fed which has me stumped.
Good boy Oscar!!!
Amazing. Way to go, Oscar! And what a relief for you and Ray. I'm going to try the can of pennies with Molly and her alarm barking. Yelling at her at the top of my lungs is going to give me a stroke one of these days.
Good luck Sue and Susan - do let me know how you both get on with this method. Oscar still is not jumping up us or the counters, but needs reminding when guests come and he gets SO excited as they arrive!! I stand at the ready with my trusty can ... ;-)
Congratulations, Oscar! We use the water bottle on ours, works like a charm. But I say, whatever works. Labs love water, so that would not be a deterrent. It is the simplest things that work, if we just knew what they were. Right.
Pauline, I know you have a happier household now.
I'm glad Oscar is doing so well. You could alos have an "armed" friend come to the door. If he jumps the friend could administer a quick shake and a strong "NO". It is good to keep Oscar guessing and for someone else to be the source of the correction. |Oscar will wonder "Does everyone have one of those damn things in their pocket!"
Keep up the Good Work!
Brenda
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