[nagdu] Impulse control

[Danielle Cyclorama]

Tracy,
Your description of Krokus sounds startlingly similar to Thai. He behaves perfectly well when he knows he's being set up, then tries to eat anything that resembles food in real life. The only training scenario where he'll actually try to eat something is if I leave food somewhere while he's not looking and walk away. Of course, that's the most difficult situation to work with. For many food motivated dogs, getting the food and receiveing a correction. is preferable to no food at all. The Halti helps exponentially, but isn't completely effective if there's food inches away at nose level or right between his paws when he's laying down. I remove the Halti when Thai lays down for any extended period because I know it's not the most comfortable. That being said, I either put it back on before he stands up or hold the leash very close to the collar as he's standing up so he can't grab anything.   
I wouldn't feel comfortable using a basket muzzle for my dog, since it would prevent the use of food rewards. If this isn't a concern for you, it might be a good option.

Danielle and Thai
Sent from my iPhone

> On Oct 5, 2015, at 3:27 PM, Tami Jarvis via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> 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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