From: mlhb@mammoth.dr.att.com (Sky Warrior)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
Subject: Re: Selective hearing VS playing dumb?
Date: 30 Sep 92 21:57:51 GMT

In article <30SEP92.12021468@wums.wustl.edu>, trimpe_b@wums.wustl.edu writes:
|> 
|> I've been following this selective hearing thread for a bit but I don't think
|> anyone's really addressed the playing dumb part.  For example- I have a lab
|> that I walk most every morning but before we leave I throw the frisbee a 
|> few times in order to "induce a dump" before our walk.  Well today I guess
|> he really wanted that walk so after a few throws he dropped the frisbee in
|> the middle of the yard and stood by the gate.  I tried to make him get the
|> frisbee from the middle of the yard but he acted really stoopid about it.
|> He's fetched and 'gottn his frisbee' a million times but this morning he
|> circled all around it searched 'hi and lo' in the far corners of the yard
|> with out quite being able to locate it.  He HAD to KNOW  where it was.  In
|> this case it's not really an "obedience" problem (altho technically i guess
|> it is) but a 'lets train my master to do it the way I want without really
|> pissing her off' problem.  Any one experience this sort of thing where it's
|> really play time not obedience but equally annoying?  Any one know of a
|> good response to that?  He's generally very good about behaving on or off
|> lead- will return to heel position from 50 feet(maybe more) etc.   but I
|> can't figure this one out.
|> Bev

Conan, my Newfy-Samoyed mix, plays the "acts dumb" part *VERY* well.  In
spite of this, I trained him to be a command leader of my team.  I have
trained him under a nationally acclaimed trainer (who incidently, did wonders
for my other dog, 1st place, etc.) who could do a little more than what I
have done.  She stated Conan was the most insecure dog she had ever met in her
professional training career.  Conan tied for last place in the same class,
but managed to pass basic obedience (I think the trainer didn't want to deal with
him again ;-)

Conan has since had a notorious history of conveniently "forgetting" things.
One Christmas, he conveniently "forgot" he was housbroken.  I was unable to
correct him until I bought a crate and crate trained him.  (This went on for
a month beforehand).  He was two years old at the time.

Conan is now five years old and has mellowed somewhat, but that stubborn
northern breed still shines through.  Nowadays, Conan just "forgets" commands 
like "lay down".  Each time I have given him consistent corrections and force 
him into the action.  I usually give the command and then follow up.  In 
recalls, he will start to come and then dawdle.  If I start walking towards him
to correct him, he will rush right towards me (to avoid the correction -- see
he *knows* he's going to get corrected if I have to get him, but I can't 
correct him for coming to me.  But he sure as hell won't get praised for such
a sloppy recall).

Although I make a lot of jokes about Conan being the canine with no brain, I
sometimes thinks he's very smart and *very* stubborn.  How else could I
have taught him to be command leader?

BTW, his latest trick is in the team.  When he doesn't feel like pulling me 
uphill, he'll dawdle.  I'll jump off the runners to correct him.  He'll speed
up.  I'm rushing after the sled.  Conan laughs. 

I know if I stop the team, he'll think the correction is for stopping.  But,
I'm going to try it anyway....

Sky Warrior

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SKY WARRIOR aka MLH Bonham  | "Good tea.  Nice House." -- Lt. Worf
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