Tricks For Mature Staffy

[twinkle]

hi, im wanting to connect with my dog a little more, and thought that i would try and teach her some tricks or maybe even just one

she 8 years old and maybe a little set in her ways, she can sit , stay (not all the time) walk off lead and lie around on the sofa alot!!

id like her to play fetch as it would be a great way for me exercising her in the yard while playing with the kids and id like for her to lie down, lying down she just doesnt get i have to physicaly move her legs.

any advice? or is it too late?

[shoemonster]

Are you using food? Most staffords will do anything for food!

Does she chase the ball and not bring it back, or does she have no interest in chasing it at all?

If she will pick up the ball, try trading her for a piece of food, she should get the idea that picking up the ball means a treat.

If you are using treats for training, also make sure that you adjust her normal meals to account for it, so she doesnt put on weight, you dont want her to pork up at that age (or any age really)

With the drop, try luring her down with a piece of food, til she gets the idea, and then once she will drop, extend her stays out, treat her for short periods and gradually build up the time

It's never too late to try something new with her

Hope this helps

[twinkle]

Are you using food? Most staffords will do anything for food!

Does she chase the ball and not bring it back, or does she have no interest in chasing it at all?

If she will pick up the ball, try trading her for a piece of food, she should get the idea that picking up the ball means a treat.

If you are using treats for training, also make sure that you adjust her normal meals to account for it, so she doesnt put on weight, you dont want her to pork up at that age (or any age really)

With the drop, try luring her down with a piece of food, til she gets the idea, and then once she will drop, extend her stays out, treat her for short periods and gradually build up the time

It's never too late to try something new with her

Hope this helps

thanks, yep ive been using food, sometimes she will chase the ball/stick but sometimes just looks at it go and thinks nah! :rolleyes: when she does get it she'll either lay down and chew it into tiny pieces or will want to play tugg with it.

as for lying down i will continue to lure her down with food but whenevr she smells a treat she sits and gives me her paw, it will to take time for that change i suppose.?

[shoemonster]

Yeah be patient and ignore the behaviour you dont want, if she gives you her paw dont take it, just ignore it completely

She will realise that its not a paw and sit that you want and will hopefully then follow where you want her to go

[Arya]

Is it too late to teach her stuff NO WAY!!! She is giving you her paw because she is unsure of what you want. It's called 'superstitious behaviour' by some. She will pull something out to try to get a reward. As others have said, just ignore. But, use it as a key to tell you if she's understanding what you want when you are teaching her something else. If she gives you her paw when teaching something new, take a step back and have a look at where the confusion lies. But with the paw, if she likes this why not expand on it? Get her to wave. Get her to shake with both paws and then work on getting her to target your feet with her paws. Then gradually turn around. Soon you'll have her marching. You can teach an older dog most things like that ;)

BTW, a little OT did anyone see that Mythbusters program the other night on SBS, 'You can't teach an old dog new tricks'? It was FAB. They taught two Malamutes from a shelter sit, stay, drop etc. Then they had this fabulous guard dog they were trying to get around. Then they had a police man trailling dog they were trying to throw off the scent. Great fun For sure they proved you can teach an old dog new tricks though for anyone who thought you couldn't.

[shoemonster]

Yeah that was a great show, I laughed watching them teach the dogs, and that blood hound was fantastic!

I missed the guard dog section, bugger