[nagdu] Picking up things that aren't toys

[Julie J.]

If a toy is easily at hand I would trade for the toy.  otherwise I kept tiny 
treats in my pocket that I'd use for the trade.  Eventually, they understand 
the game and will wait if you don't have a toy or treat at hand.  And then 
later they stop picking up stuff all together.

When Monty was younger I taught him to locate things on the floor that I had 
dropped.  He was really good at it.  Then I either got less clumsy or forgot 
that I had taught him this skill and didn't use it for a long while. 
Yesterday I dropped a carton of mushrooms in the kitchen.  Monty was right 
there and I tried to get him to show me where they went, but he just stood 
there and wagged.  He didn't go for the mushrooms, so that was good. 
Crawling around on the floor to find all of them wasn't any fun though.  I 
don't know that I'll revisit the skill though.  So much to do and keep up 
with and only so many hours in a day.

Julie
Courage to Dare: A Blind Woman's Quest to Train her Own Guide Dog is now 
available! Get the book here:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QXZSMOC
Visit my new website on developing courage and living authentically:
http://www.falling-up.com
-----Original Message----- 
From: Tracy Carcione via nagdu
Sent: Sunday, January 04, 2015 9:43 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: [nagdu] Picking up things that aren't toys

Krokus picks up lots of things that aren't his toys, like my shoes, hats,
papers, anything.  Really, I don't mind if he carries things around, but
then he starts chewing on them, and that I mind a lot.
At first, I scolded him and told him sternly to come so I could take the
thing away.  Predictably, he didn't want to come.  So I started calling him
cheerfully to come, and praising him when he did.  That way, he gives me
what he's got, but he doesn't learn not to pick it up.  I've heard of
trading a toy for the thing he shouldn't have.  How do people manage this?
Do you pick up toys and carry them around, waiting for the dog to grab
something non-toy?  Is there some other solution to this problem?
Tracy


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