Discussions »Behavior

Freckles is driving me crazy

NosyRosie on Behavior - Sat, January 26 2008

BLARRGHHH!! As you all know, Freckles is trained to ring a bell attached to the handle of the sliding glass door. She rings it to indicate that she has to go potty. It comes in handy especially since she's had so many urinary tract issues. Well, in the past two weeks or so she's been ringing it to get treats. And it's pretty much occuring constantly.

She rings the bell, steps outside and immediately turns around to face the door. She stands there...you have to force her to get off the deck to do anything. If she doesn't need to go potty, she just stands there. You make her come in, she bolts inside and heads to the cookie jar. If you don't get her any, she goes back to the bell and starts the cycle over.

I know this whole thing is due to my father being a big sucker! She has him completely trained to give treats. I recently explained to him that he needs to lay off the treats. I know he's backed off giving treats for going outside. But I think he's feeding them when Brian and I aren't home. Freckles and Maggie whine incessantly when anyone is eating food or even walks into or through the kitchen. We're sort of at wit's end on this whole issue of our dogs being deprogrammed.

I thought about taking the bell away. But then how do I know if Freckles legitimately needs to go potty? I'd hate to not have the bell available but how do I make her use it for good and not evil?

Deuce on Jan 26 at 08:26 PM

Way to go,Freckles! Isn't it fun driving our moms crazy??? I'm driving mine crazy too today!:-)

Sunyr on Jan 26 at 08:39 PM

Ok, I really feel for you on this. But I gotta tell you, I can just picture my dear friend Freckles doing all this, and it just makes me smile. Sorry. I guess I wasn't much help. Love ya Freckles.

NosyRosie on Jan 26 at 08:54 PM

I've considered taking her and Maggie to obedience school but if I can't reinforce at home what they learn at school, it won't matter. Like right now my father is eating a snack at the table and Maggie is whining under his feet. Freckles is on the other side staring at him, whining and slobbering.

Kelly on Jan 26 at 09:15 PM

LOL, i don't really have any advice, but this just makes me laugh!! freckles is so cute, i can imagine her doing that and thinking is't SOOOO funny! sounds like something joe would do!

Kirby on Jan 26 at 10:04 PM

Schmoopie and I are 2 peas in a pod. I do the same thing. I bark to go out, go out, turn around and bark to come in. This, I do, about 5 times per evening. I also beg and whine at the table and mom blames MY grandpa for starting this by sneaking table scraps. Sorry, mom has no advice because she lives this, too. :)

Ann on Jan 27 at 08:33 AM

So Freckles training program is working very well, isn't it? Casey would like to enroll her grandparents if there are still openings.

I wouldn't take the bell away but I'd ignore her once she starts the "ring the bell get a treat cycle". I know - easy enough for me to say. All you can do is reinforce your training while you are there and try to get Grandpa to as well. Again easier said than done I think. Good Luck!

Peaches on Jan 27 at 09:30 AM

Oh Freckles, you crack me up! My mama says she has no advice as she has nothing to do with training any of us. She's way too soft hearted for her own good. The bell thing sounds like a good gig to me though....maybe I can get mama to put one up so I can ring for my treats too. Sorry!

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