Occassionally, I will lift questions/ concerns from the forum and request that a trainer address that topic. Those Q and A sessions will be posted here. If you have a burning question, let me know - http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/list.php?18 Wed, 08 Sep 2010 17:55:38 -0700 Phorum 5.2.11 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?18,795,795#msg-795 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?18,795,795#msg-795 Val wonders what a typical day for lucy should look like - Valerie, i hope i've captured the essence of your question:

val wants to know what a typical day in the life of a DAD should look like. Most of her days are structured and scheduled, but when she is at home - on the weekend or for holidays - ?what should she expect of Lucy? does lucy ever have 'down time' - is there ever a time for her to "be a dog"? IN this discussion (about having the dog leashed to you/ in a place or in a crate at all times, val says , " I did not have lucy leashed to me at all times. I wish I had done that. I am doing it now and trying to retrain that behavior. I think my biggest problem was that I didn't know what was normal to expect of a dog let alone a puppy. I let lucy off her leash a lot around my house because i felt like she was leashed to me all day long it was unfair to not give her more free time at home. I'm still really struggling with this issue. How much exercise does she need everyday? If i throw a ball for her for 45 to an hour every morning then should she really be leashed and following me then laying down for the whole rest of the day? I want her to be happy and well adjusted but, also a great service dog. Any input?"


a powerful question! Thanks, Valerie]]> nobodybutjustme Q and A Sat, 14 Nov 2009 07:49:36 -0700 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?18,792,792#msg-792 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?18,792,792#msg-792
Jessica wrote: dray is in full 6 month puppy mode right now . . . . he has a really good 'watch me' and i try to tell malia to make sure she has his attention before she asks for something so she doesn't have to repeat herself. she's only 9 so sometimes she'll panic and say "it's too hard!" but at the clinic we went to last jan with nick to rita's . they said not to get mad just to lure them into what you want and do alot to get their attention. this has worked really good with dray's heel. but he's just a pupp so we have to use a ton of treats still. i could def use advice on the puppy stage dray and nick are very different dogs. dray is much more serious than nick is. but he loves to work, esp for treats!]]> nobodybutjustme Q and A Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:51:44 -0700 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?18,780,780#msg-780 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?18,780,780#msg-780

"I wondering what you all do when your dogs don't listen/obey the first time you give a command. I know its not good to repeat a command because that teaches the dog not to obey the first time you give a command. I always make sure lucy is looking at me so I know she can hear the command. I sometimes say "hey!" or "what did I say?" and that used to work. She doesn't consistently not listen it just seems to happen at random times maybe once a week."]]> nobodybutjustme Q and A Mon, 09 Nov 2009 07:07:07 -0700 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?18,776,776#msg-776 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?18,776,776#msg-776
H E L P.....we've been trying to get Tammy interested in the meter by letting her play with an old one (looks exactly like his current one). Tammy LOVES playing with a ball so we started throwing the meter in with the ball. She acts like she's afraid to grab it. She very, very timidly puts her mouth on it & will only *start* to grab it before she lets go. We act crazy & excited & treat her for touching it but she still won't "grab" it in her mouth. Any suggestions?????]]> nobodybutjustme Q and A Mon, 09 Aug 2010 16:54:15 -0700 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?18,775,775#msg-775 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?18,775,775#msg-775 Also, be warned of the danger of a 'buffet style' training plan with your dog: picking this or that tidbit from one trainer and something else from another OR blending ideas MIGHT not be a sound idea.

YET . . .many of us are trying to train without on-site accountibility. Many of us have more questions than answers. Since I desire for the site to be a source of HELP and encouragement, I think this section holds more potential good than harm.

this is NOT a spot to BASH a trainer's ideas or comments; however a healthy discussion of methodology is always welcomed.]]> nobodybutjustme Q and A Mon, 09 Nov 2009 06:16:46 -0700 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?18,772,772#msg-772 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?18,772,772#msg-772
" I'm speaking for Brady on this one but he is having a hard time keeping her "back" in her heel. She doesn't pull or get distracted but she stays about 6 inches too far in front of him. He wants her head beside his knee & (right now) her shoulders are beside his knee. ????? "]]> nobodybutjustme Q and A Tue, 19 Jan 2010 09:27:52 -0700