Bucky and the Baby Birds - Long Post - Need Help with "Drop It"

[Bucky's Mom]

Apparently some psychotic (sp) bird mother thinks pushing her babies out of the nest to learn to fly is a GOOD idea when Bucky is in the pen that contains these nests

Yesterday while Michael the wonder hubby was home alone with him - he saw Bucky snatch up one of the babies and so "of course" thought chasing after him in the pen was a "good" way to get the bird out of his mouth - Um NO - that didn't work.

This morning - same pen - same dog - different baby bird :( - I saw Bucky grab "something" (still pretty dark out) I figured it was another bird sacrifice - so I yelled "drop it" Apparently he didn't hear me (yeah right) - so I called him in a happy voice - and came to me - head down and turned away

with leeetle tiny bird feet hanging out of his mouth

I could NOT get him to drop it (bad me) so I grabbed a towel and tried to pry open his mouth and collect bird in towel for proper burial - Um......nope.

SO admitting defeat (this time) I went in the house - got a oiece of cheese - and swapped cheese for the remainder (not much) of the baby bird

I offer myself to the training gods and ask - can I really work on "drop it" to the point where ANYTHING and EVERYTHING should be dropped on command?

Or am I expecting too much? - sorry to be sooooo long - thanks for your help -

[Judi W]

The answer to both questions at the bottom of your post is "yes". Yes, you can teach this, and yes at this time you're asking too much.

In such situations I use my big voice with such a tone that I would use had a semi be headed for them. It works pretty well. On the other hand, from Bucky's point of view, what is has is the equivalent of "bones raining from the sky"...............

[sophie's-mom]

Oh my gosh!!! I'll bet that was terrible for you!!!

I'm so sorry!!

I have no ideas for you I just wanted to say good luck!! I hope you can come up with something.....I hope someone here can help!

:(

[Bucky's Mom]

Originally posted by Judi W
from Bucky's point of view, what is has is the equivalent of "bones raining from the sky"...............

LOL - I see your point - can you suggest a method to work towards compliance?

In the mean time I will do a baby bird sweep of the pen before he is allowed in

[poohbearsmom]

In exchange for the cheese, did he offer up a big wet baby bird kiss for you?????

Gotta go for now... but, I will be thinking of a response while I am cooking Chicken Cordon Bleu for 50 today....LOL

Elisabeth

[Bucky's Mom]

Originally posted by poohbearsmom
In exchange for the cheese, did he offer up a big wet baby bird kiss for you?????

Gotta go for now... but, I will be thinking of a response while I am cooking Chicken Cordon Bleu for 50 today....LOL

Elisabeth

I KNEW I could count on you :D!

[DNeff]

The best way to train drop it is using items that aren't so valuable. Start with an item he is only moderately interested in, ask for the drop it and reward and treat lavishly. Lots of repititions using fairly easy items.

Practice using your panicked (OMG what does he have?!?!!!) voice with the less interesting items. Always make the exchange very appealing for him. The more repititions you get in, the better he will become.

I would gradually work up to tougher items. A large loaf of stale french bread is a great item to use. It's very appealing for the dog, but hard for them to scarf down. Work on his drop it with the loaf until you are getting immediate compliance. You could also work with extremely large bones, that he can't hold all that well. Don't progress on until you see him willingly and eagerly dropping an item.

Practice, practice, practice. You want to establish a pattern, that what ever he give up will give him a bigger reward in the end.

Hope that helps some.

Dawn
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[Miabella]

McNuggets Happy Meal for Bucky. He was probably wondering where his french fries were. :)

Sorry you had to go through that, not a great way to start the day (at least not for you).

The way I teach "drop it" (or "out" in my case) usually starts with toys. Initially, a simple trade, treat for toy, and then give back the toy. When he will spit out the toy immediately on command without seeing an obvious treat waved in front on his face, move onto the next stage. I usually progress to a game of tug, asking the dog to out the toy, but then immediately giving it back and resuming the game. I think that giving the toy back is really important, because the dog doesn't think that once he gives something up he won't get it back. Also make the dog out the ball when playing fetch, make a quick out the criteria for having the ball thrown again.

Then move onto higher value items, like food and bones. I would start again with trading, treating and giving it back. I'm sure there are other systems, but this has worked for me. Make sure that something good always happens when they drop the item, and they will think it's a game. A couple weeks ago, Ilsa spit out an Oreo cookie for me (someone had left them on the coffee table and she cruised by). I didn't give back the Oreo, but I told her what a great girl she was and we ran into the pantry to get her a dog biscuit smeared with peanut butter.

[Bucky's Mom]

I understand what you are saying - I guess we will start small and build up to really special things when the "not so special" items have been trained.

So - I ask in great awe - does this mean that a dog REALLY well trained would drop "meat" when commanded to??

[Burnsway]

Originally posted by Bucky's Mom


So - I ask in great awe - does this mean that a dog REALLY well trained would drop "meat" when commanded to??

Yes and I have seen dogs do it...........:D

Not mine of course..............:o

[Bruce Lanthier]

Originally posted by Bucky's Mom
So - I ask in great awe - does this mean that a dog REALLY well trained would drop "meat" when commanded to??

LOL I don't know if I would call Buster (Mr. posession) well trained but he will drop anything I tell him too. That is just one of the "must do" commands we worked on over and over and over. I believe that many, many repititions are what make these commands work. Both of the dogs get the "out" at least a few times a day just in the matter normal business.

[Bruce Lanthier]

On another note, why couldn't poor Bucky just have his snack in peace and quiet? Geez, every time he tries to have a little appetizer you guys are trying to take it away.

[Bucky's Mom]

Originally posted by Bruce Lanthier
On another note, why couldn't poor Bucky just have his snack in peace and quiet? Geez, every time he tries to have a little appetizer you guys are trying to take it away.

If you saw those leeetle feet hanging out of his mouth - with the look on his face that said "What bird?? - I don't have a bird in my mouth" -:p :p

I am so Rott.Net oriented my first thought was "what would Judi W do?" :D

Then my next thought was that he had decided to try BARF on his own :)

[lblax]

Originally posted by Burnsway
Yes and I have seen dogs do it...........:D

Not mine of course..............:o

mine niether lol i think every dog even the best will find something some time that he wont spit out

[rottie_rotten]

I just wanted to say everyone on here needs a pat on the back:D I have not been on this site long but I can tell you all I love it! I do belong to another (I hope no one from there, if on here miss understands what I am about to say)but I never want to post because they are always at each others throats They are the perfect owners with the perfect dogs so when I do check in I feel like I have a monster of a rottie With all of the great people her (and Lisa so close I will try to come and meet you sunday) I feel that I am not prejudged and the infromation you all five is WONDERFUL and from the heart! Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

Shelley

PS...Lisa it would be funny if we already new each other!