Not <i>mean</i> mean. Just..."testing her self control" mean. A little background: earlier in the day, I had given her a Monster Mouth. I noticed at the time, but didn't follow up on it, that one of the little molasses cookie treats I'd used to stuff it with had bounced out of the "area of play". Several hours later, Elka was chewing on something, which I instructed her to drop it. And she did.
So, I upped the ante.
That's right, my friends. I took a slice of apple, smeared peanut butter on it, put Elka in a down, and told her to "Leave it". And then, when I didn't quite have the picture I wanted, moved the apple.
(I know, her nails, we're working on it.) Pay attention to how awesome Elka's self control is instead.
Then, when I said "Okay", it was like she didn't believe me at first. So then I said "Take it" and she did.
Somehow, she screwed it up, though, and ended up with peanut butter in one place and apple in the other. So then she had to lick the peanut butter off the floor, leaving a Doberman saliva smear. It looks kind of like a Rorschach, doesn't it?
Woof! Woof! That's GREAT! Exactly how I learned. I am very familiar with the word LEAVE it! ... Happy Tasty Tuesday! Hope you get more apples with PB. Lots of Golden Woofs, Sugar
ReplyDeleteThanks Sugar!
DeleteI'd actually never tried "leave it" to that length before (on her paw!!). Mostly it's my sandwich on a plate on the table, which she'll also leave.
In my experience peanut butter always ends up on the floor. It lasts longer there maybe.
ReplyDeleteMaybe floor food is just better, who knows?
DeleteI just wait until my people aren't around and hope they've left something I can get hold of - usually it's the cat food. Elka, you have much better self control than me.
ReplyDeleteElka's pretty good about not stealing apparently unclaimed food as well. I guess she just trusts us to give her goodies!
DeleteKolchak and "leave it" have a long and complicated history. He finally has it mastered and I have no hesitation to make him prove it from time to time (ie. every night, at dinner, to give Felix a head start so maybe he can eat all his dinner without some snot-nosed puggle trying to muscle him out). That's hardly mean!
ReplyDeleteTruth be told, I don't know how I taught "leave it". I know I didn't do it in the "doggie zen" way...maybe redirection? There are portions of Elka's puppyhood in which we had a mischief spirit in a dog's body, we just had to survive!
DeleteI have no self control and would never be able to do that. Now licking the peanut butter off the floor....I am an expert at that!! BOL!!
ReplyDelete~Higgins
How much peanut butter do you find on the floor in your house? Elka wants in!
DeleteHi Y'all,
ReplyDeleteDon't know if I'd leave a treat resting on my paws like that. My Human has put treats in front of me and told me to leave it...but never on my paws like that.
Y'all come now,
Hawk aka BrownDog
I'd done "leave it" in front of her with a toy before, never treats on the paw before. I'd even looked at pictures of dogs with treats on their paws and thought "yeah, right". Not sure what made me try it, but I'm glad I did!
DeleteWe use "leave it" too, but some dogs here understand it better than others. Elka has the patience of Job! lol
ReplyDeleteSometimes she's very patient! She didn't even talk to that peanut buttered apple slice while she waited for it.
ReplyDeleteVery cute and very good self control.
ReplyDeleteThats not mean!
ReplyDeleteStop on by for a visit
Kari
http://dogisgodinreverse.com
Great job Elka! Thats the same way I taught Kyuss. =D
ReplyDeleteI have a photo of him floating around somewhere where his front paws, legs, head and nose are covered in bits of cheese. LOL!
Did she do the "stare at the object, then slowly look at my human" look? Kyuss always does that, with a gob of saliva on his lip haha.
She does do the "stare and look". She will also frequently get a toy (like Gumby) and bring it to you, but not want to play with it. She'll release it to your hand, look pointedly at the food, and then look at you! "wanna trade?"
Delete