[nagdu] Impulse control

[Tami Jarvis]

Tracy,

They totally know when we're not expecting trouble and can act on the 
flash to cause some. Loki has reminded me of that a few times lately, 
now that we're doing some indoor public access and busier outdoor 
venues. As long as I have some attention on him, he's getting downright 
reliable about doing exactly what he's supposed to do without reminding. 
So I relax and get to shopping or chatting, and notice I should have 
been paying more attention to my pup. Needless to say, we're sticking to 
relaxed venues where there's not a lot of trouble for him to get into 
while he's learning what his best behavior is supposed to be and how to 
stick to it. Grocery stores and restaurants remain in our future, though 
he is doing well in outdoor eateries -- and getting better.

The Gentle Leader head collar can be adjusted so that it won't slip off 
the dog's nose. For dogs with shorter, broader muzzles, that makes it 
fairly tight. I can't remember about the Halti, which is what I used at 
first with Mitzi. Her long, pointy nose made adjustment pretty simple. 
It could be pretty loose and still stay on. It did not survive its 
introduction to Zay of the short, broad muzzle. Chomp!

Otherwise, the basket muzzle may be what you need for awhile, with 
praise and reward when he bypasses temptations he can't get to anyway. I 
guess with the muzzle, you couldn't use treats, but a head scratch with 
the praise or something? The real trick with that method is knowing 
about temptations when your dog isn't pointing them out by giving in to 
them. /lol/ I think that being kept from the reward of turkey sandwiches 
will also help so you may be able to phase out the muzzle in time.

Good luck with your clever goat boy.

Tami

On 10/05/2015 09:06 AM, Tracy Carcione via nagdu wrote:
> Yesterday, I happened to have lunch seated near a buffet table.  When I got
> up to leave, Krokus jumped up on the buffet and helped himself to a
> sandwich.  I corrected him very sharply, but I suspect the turkey made a
> bigger impression than my correction.  Clearly, we still have impulse
> control issues.
>
> He's very smart about knowing when he's being set up.  When we're practicing
> impulse control, he's an angel, otherwise, not so much.  I'm not sure if
> it's a question of duration-I can resist that sandwich for 20 minutes, but
> not a minute longer-or that he knows to the millisecond when I'm not
> expecting trouble and takes advantage.
>
> And no, I didn't have the Gentle Leader on him, because, when I've left it
> on while he's lying down, he very quietly wiggled it loose enough to eat it,
> and then I had to worry about that passing through him.  Good thing he's
> part goat.
>
> I have a call in to the school, but so far their suggestions have not been
> effective.  I guess I'll ask them about the basket muzzle, but I'd rather
> get some way to convince him to be good.
>
> Tracy
>
>
>
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