Problem solving
- Thread starter Tom
- Start date
smokeywolf
Well-Known Member
Psychology is fun.
I don't interact with the public too much anymore, but do apply psychology to the 4-legged critters.
Back when I was training horses, I was at a friend's ranch, he had a 10 month old Polish Arabian filly. They always had trouble getting a halter on her. Chase her around the paddock for a half hour or throw a rope on her. I grabbed a halter, stepped through the bars and walked out to the middle of the small paddock. She went to a corner, prepared to lunge to the opposite corner when I went toward her. Instead, I stood in the middle, looked at her for a full minute, then turned my back to her. Females can't stand being ignored. Within 3 minutes she was nudging my shoulder with her muzzle. When I shewed her away, she couldn't stand it. Walked around to the front of me, I stroked her and slid the halter onto her head.
Many animals, including horses and dogs, see being ignored as a punishment. She would always choose the halter over the punishment.
We always eat in the living room in front of the computers or watching the TV. About 5 years ago, Timber, the goofy wolf wasn't eating his dinner. It occurred to me that, while his dinner was being served at the same time as ours, his was in the kitchen. I set up a spot in the living room for him to eat. That did it. We would all sit down to eat, Timber would look around, I'd say, "Let's eat!" and he would dig in.
Tasha had at least a dozen different chew toys and squeaky toys scattered around the living room. She was rarely playing with them. About 2 months ago I grabbed a plastic bin and threw all her toys in it. She now loves "toy shopping" in "Tasha's Toy Box". She spends a couple of minutes nosing through her toy box, picks a toy and chews/plays with it for 20 minutes or so.
I don't interact with the public too much anymore, but do apply psychology to the 4-legged critters.
Back when I was training horses, I was at a friend's ranch, he had a 10 month old Polish Arabian filly. They always had trouble getting a halter on her. Chase her around the paddock for a half hour or throw a rope on her. I grabbed a halter, stepped through the bars and walked out to the middle of the small paddock. She went to a corner, prepared to lunge to the opposite corner when I went toward her. Instead, I stood in the middle, looked at her for a full minute, then turned my back to her. Females can't stand being ignored. Within 3 minutes she was nudging my shoulder with her muzzle. When I shewed her away, she couldn't stand it. Walked around to the front of me, I stroked her and slid the halter onto her head.
Many animals, including horses and dogs, see being ignored as a punishment. She would always choose the halter over the punishment.
We always eat in the living room in front of the computers or watching the TV. About 5 years ago, Timber, the goofy wolf wasn't eating his dinner. It occurred to me that, while his dinner was being served at the same time as ours, his was in the kitchen. I set up a spot in the living room for him to eat. That did it. We would all sit down to eat, Timber would look around, I'd say, "Let's eat!" and he would dig in.
Tasha had at least a dozen different chew toys and squeaky toys scattered around the living room. She was rarely playing with them. About 2 months ago I grabbed a plastic bin and threw all her toys in it. She now loves "toy shopping" in "Tasha's Toy Box". She spends a couple of minutes nosing through her toy box, picks a toy and chews/plays with it for 20 minutes or so.
RicinYakima
High Steppes of Eastern Washington
You have the dog thing figured out! Bulldogs are the same way.
fiver
Well-Known Member
our idiot dogs have a toy box in the house too.
they also have a spot outside for them.
Jax won't alloy any of the toys to leave either place so I never have to pick anything up.
worse yet is when she goes over to Littlegirls house she puts all her dog's toy's in a pile and won't let them play with them either.
yeah,,,,dog's a butthole.
they also have a spot outside for them.
Jax won't alloy any of the toys to leave either place so I never have to pick anything up.
worse yet is when she goes over to Littlegirls house she puts all her dog's toy's in a pile and won't let them play with them either.
yeah,,,,dog's a butthole.